1. La Estacion
2. Canopy of Stars
3. Solitude
4. Borders
5, Waltz for Willy
6. Tango Soledad
7. Appalachian Trail (North)
8. Behind the Clouds
9. Secret Sources
10. The Silver Screen
11. Appalachian Trail (South)
Yoko Miwa – Piano
Massimo Biolcati – Acoustic bass
Scott Goulding – Drums
Bronek Suchanek – Acoustic bass (tracks 3,
8)
At
last year's San Javier Jazz Festival, I heard
Hiromi for the first time. Despite the glowing
reports I had heard, I found her flat-out
assaults on the piano not to my liking at
all. There was no warmth or beauty in her
music for me, although I must confess many
in the audience thought it was wonderful.
I
had not heard of Yoko Miwa before hearing
this record and thinking that she probably
had a similar background, I prepared for the
worst. I was right about the similar background.
Both pianists came from Japan and both attended
Berklee College of Music in Boston. The music
however is totally different. Hiromi’s all-out
assaults on the piano could not be less like
the gentle melodic approach of Yoko. She describes
her playing as singing through the piano and
it’s a good description. She is a fluent mainstream
player, with a gentle touch and the ability
to sound very self-assured.
It
reflects great credit on Berklee College that
two such different keyboard talents could
be nurtured through the same channels.
I
would have liked to hear her play a couple
of standards in the programme to enable me
to compare her interpretations with those
of others. Each of her compositions is interesting
and accomplished, but I don’t expect to hear
anyone else play any of them in the next year!
Both
bass players and drummer Scott Goulding seem
to understand her mission in jazz and provide
appropriate and effective support.
If
she plays a concert anywhere near me, I shall
go to hear it!
Don
Mather
CD Reviews
P.J.L.Polystar
Jazz Library - MTCJ-3020
