Results for "Libra Records"

Satoko Fujii: Gen Himmel

by John Sharpe
November 24, 2013

A solo album tends almost inevitably to focus on instrumental chops rather than compositional skills. And that's the way it is on Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii's third unaccompanied outing, following Sketches (NatSat, 2004) and Indication (Libra, 1997), although she shows herself to be blessed with both. Compared to the exuberance and spirit of her group work ...

Kaze: Tornado

by Dave Wayne
October 23, 2013

With Tornado, pianist Satoko Fujii and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura may get you shaking your head in wonderment. Firstly, the convergence of metaphors inherent in the album title, the name of the band (kaze means “wind" in Japanese), and the fact it features two trumpeters is enough to bring a smile to anyone's face. More heartening is ...

Satoko Fujii: Gen Himmel

by Dan McClenaghan
August 27, 2013

Satoko Fujii's notoriety is based on her originality, energy, and an unmatchable sense of fearlessness and adventure in the creation of music. As a leader of numerous ensembles--duos, trios, quartets, and big bands--she is a gregarious and generous spirit. Her music ebbs and flows, a moment of captivating serenity followed by a burst of a clamorous, ...

Kaze: Tornado

by Dan McClenaghan
August 20, 2013

Kaze, one of pianist Satoko Fujii's many groups, offers up its sophomore effort with Tornado. A quartet lineup of piano, two trumpets and drums, it's sound is as idiosyncratically original and no-hold-barred as it comes. The trumpets often sound like trumpets--brassy one minute then whispery the next. The two trumpets spit hard, rapid-fire notes and long ...

Satoko Fujii New Trio: Spring Storm

by John Sharpe
August 14, 2013

Back at the start of her career, Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii's reputation was considerably enhanced by her stellar trio with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Jim Black. Together they waxed seven discs, with the last Trace A River (Libra) in 2008. Since then, the traditional piano trio hasn't appeared in her prodigious output, until the New ...

Satoko Fujii New Trio: Spring Storm

by Dan McClenaghan
May 14, 2013

Some of jazz's finest, most innovative and adventurous music can be found in the piano trio format. The list of artists pushing the boundaries is a long one: Vijay Iyer; Hal Galper; Craig Taborn; Brad Mehldau and a good dozen more, conservatively. A name rarely mentioned in that group--in part, because she leads so many groups ...

Forever

By Gato Libre

Label: Libra Records
Released: 2012
Track listing: Moor; Court; Hokkaido; Waseda; Nishiogi; Japan; World; Forever.

Muku

Label: Libra Records
Released: 2012
Track listing: Dune and Star; In Barcelona, In June; Muku; Galvanic; Patrol; In Paris, In February; Clone.

Muku

By Natsuki Tamura

Label: Libra Records
Released: 2012
Track listing: Dune and Star; In Barcelona, In June; Muku; Galvanic; Patrol; In Paris, In February; Clone.

Dan McClenaghan's Best Releases of 2012

by Dan McClenaghan
December 21, 2012

Scores of excellent CDs were released in 2012. These are some of the finest. Click on the CD titles for more in depth reviews. Hal Galper Airegin Revisited Origin Records Pianist Hal Galper has been delving deeply into his rubato explorations of the standards, along with his ...