Keiko Matsui - Euphoria

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:29
Size: 134,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:20) 1. Steps On The Globe
(4:40) 2. The Choice (Feat. Michael Stern)
(4:37) 3. Prairie Morning
(5:57) 4. Neo (Feat. Randy Brecker)
(4:29) 5. Love And Nothing Less (Feat. Lalah Hathaway & Grégoire Maret)
(4:47) 6. Luminescence (Feat. Kirk Whalum)
(3:46) 7. Rosso Cantabile
(4:34) 8. Legend Of Yaguarón
(5:25) 9. Mossy Mountain
(4:26) 10. Blue Water
(6:39) 11. Euphoria (Feat. Joel Ross)
(4:43) 12. New Passage

Pianist and composer Keiko Matsui has been making records since 1991, but it somehow seems surprising that Euphoria is her 30th album. Matsui makes music that embraces and balances tradition, modernity, and the contemporary in jazz, classical, and pop. She is relentless in adding harmonic and rhythmic invention and imagination to virtually everything she does, yet keeps her music (mostly) readily accessible. Euphoria is no exception. Conceptually, she focuses on music's inherent potential to deepen human experience. With her studio and road bands, and co-producer Bud Harner, she worked at Hollywood's Studio A, while her guests added their individual parts in studios across the country.

Opener "Steps on the Globe" juxtaposes big-band horns, contemporary jazz piano, and a Rhodes (by arranger Ron Pedley) with lithe funk thanks to some killer guitar vamping. The swing quotient is high with a horn section soaring above the groove. Guitarist Mike Stern assists on "The Choice"; he tracks Matsui's knotty vamp and rides above Alex Al's rubbery bassline as drummer Greg Bisonette drives them all. Funk meets elegant contemporary fusion, with brief solos by the principal and guitarist. Trumpeter Randy Brecker appears on "Neo." Piano, bubbling percussion, and bass grooves deliver the vamp before Pedley's Rhodes colors the body. Brecker enters unhurriedly playing and improvising on the melody.

The conversation he shares with Matsui as the tune ratchets is a set highlight. Immediately following is the single "Love and Nothing Less," featuring vocalist Lalah Hathaway and harmonica player Grégoire Maret. It's a silvery, tender ballad rife with intimate atmosphere, simmering passion, and grace. The interplay between singer, pianist, and harmonicist is seamless. The third consecutive guest spot belongs to contemporary jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum on "Luminescence." Soulful horns, sweeping piano, organ, and Rhodes gather the groove intensity; it's the perfect vehicle for Whalum's tenor solo before trading canny fours with Matsui's hard-bopping blues. "Rosso Cantabile," featuring percussionist Luis Conte, balances traditional tango with Astor Piazzolla's tango nuevo atop brooding groove jazz and classical strings in the set's most dramatic track. "Legend of Yaguarón" is finger-popping, Latin-tinged contemporary jazz that showcases dazzling interplay between Matsui, Conte, and flutist Brandon Fields, whose Dave Valentin-esque solos are breathtaking. Vibraphonist Joel Ross guests on the dramatic title track.

Introduced by strings and piano stating the theme, its rhythmic pulses on drums and percussion instruments are syncopated, shifting time signatures with startling regularity. Ross initially paints the changes while Matsui appends and extrapolates her harmonic reach on the melody, before Ross grounds it in blues in his killer solo. Buoyed by Michael Thompson's electric guitar and arranger John Beasley's synth, Matsui grabs Ross' blues and builds on them, pushing the harmony toward the transcendent. In Matsui's vast discography, Euphoria stands apart for its edifying compositions, musical diversity, and careful yet seamless integration of musicians and themes.
By Thom Jurek https://www.allmusic.com/album/euphoria-mw0003913489Co

Euphoria

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Keiko Matsui - Echo

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:47
Size: 102,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:36)  1. Unshakeable
(4:14)  2. Moon Over Gotham
(4:15)  3. Echo (feat. Marcus Miller)
(5:53)  4. Esprit (feat. Kirk Whallum)
(3:51)  5. Marlin Club Blues (feat. Robben Ford)
(4:17)  6. Invisible Rain
(4:57)  7. Spirit Dance (feat. Gretchen Parlato)
(3:11)  8. Now Is The Moment
(4:21)  9. Viva Life
(5:08) 10. Return To Eternity (feat. Kyle Eastwood)

If name-dropping were a crime, keyboardist Keiko Matsui would have a helluva time promoting Echo. The album features a string of well-known artists, including guitarist Robben Ford, saxophonist Kirk Whalum, vocalist Gretchen Parlato, bassists Marcus Miller and Kyle Eastwood, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, and percussionist Luis Conte. Suffice to say, Matsui never wants for good company here, and not just the household-name variety. Trumpeter/flugelhornist Wayne Bergeron, for example, scores high marks on a series of horn charts that enhance the album’s brassy vitality and soulful allure. Which brings us to keyboardist Randy Waldman. The chief architect behind eight of the album’s 10 arrangements, Waldman makes the most of the assembled talent by avoiding tacked-on solos and routine cameos. Matsui shows a similar flair for arranging on the Brazilian-tinged “Spirit Dance,” a sensuous, multi-layered showcase for Parlato’s lithe voice and a reminder of Matsui’s often overlooked stylistic reach. Of course, Echo resonates with spiritual themes and interludes, a Matsui trademark, as the focus shifts between electric and acoustic textures. Yet she and Waldman keep things moving, sometimes pitting horns against percussion during funk excursions, sometimes exuberantly accenting Latin polyrhythms. Guitarist Ford’s input on “Marlin Club Blues” is typical of the guest turns concise and expressive and the same goes for Miller’s sinuous bass turn on the album’s title track. ~ Mike Joice https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/keiko-matsui-echo-shanachie/

Personnel: Piano – Keiko Matsui; Alto Saxophone – Brandon Fields; Bass – Jimmy Johnson; Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta; Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.; Keyboards, Programmed By [Programming] – Randy Waldman; Percussion – Luis Conte; Trombone – Nick Lane; Trumpet – Walt Fowler

Echo

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Bob James - Dancing On The Water

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:43
Size: 152,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:04)  1. Alone Together
(6:06)  2. The Green Hour
(4:03)  3. Bogie's Boogie
(8:11)  4. Altair and Vega
(6:38)  5. Hum Drum
(7:41)  6. Last Night When We Were Young
(4:57)  7. Dancing on the Water
(4:37)  8. Modesty
(5:31)  9. Tapawingo
(5:53) 10. Autumn Nocturne
(5:57) 11. Duo Oto Subito

Dancing on the Water features a collection of solo piano performances by Bob James plus duets by James with a diverse array of artists, including bassist Dave Holland, guitarist Chuck Loeb, and pianists Keiku Matsui and Joe Sample. James wrote nine songs on the CD everything except "Alone Together" and "Last Night When We Were Young." Four songs ("The Green Hour," "Bogie's Boogie," "Hum Drum," and "Modesty") receive the benefit of James performing solo on acoustic piano. His duet with Keiko Matsui, "Altair and Vega," is an eight-minute masterpiece featuring exceptional interplay between the pianists. The sweet melodies along with fine, balanced technique and tremolo earn this duet high marks. Piano and bass duets by James and Dave Holland are featured on "Last Night When We Were Young" and "Autumn Nocture"; both songs strike an artful balance with rhythmic improvisations that reflect the duo's award-winning jazz styles in a complementary setting. Chuck Loeb expands his awareness of jazz guitar on the title track, "Dancing on the Water." His joyful interpretations and subtle surprises make the music of the acclaimed jazz pianist sound fresh and new. Two tracks with Joe Sample, "Alone Together" and "Tapawingo," exhibit the emotive and superbly inventive bebop-based compositions at the hands of two masters. Their crisp, flowing lines and intricate melodic voicings reflect the influence of such jazz icons as Thelonious Monk and McCoy Tyner. This is an excellent CD and Bob James continues his exceptional musical dialogues with more pronounced affection for traditional jazz styles than on previous releases. ~ Paula Edelstein http://www.allmusic.com/album/dancing-on-the-water-mw0000625099

Personnel: Bob James, Keiko Matsui, Joe Sample (piano); Chuck Loeb (guitar); Dave Holland (bass).

Dancing On The Water

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Bob James & Keiko Matsui - Altair & Vega

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:20
Size: 108,6 MB
Art: Front

( 6:48)  1. Altair & Vega
( 6:42)  2. Frozen Lake
( 6:52)  3. Divertimento 'The Professor & The Student'
( 6:00)  4. Midnight Stone
( 4:24)  5. Invisible Wing
(13:11)  6. Forever Variations
( 3:20)  7. Chorale From Cantata BWV 147

In a culture inundated with movies that go unseen, books that go unread and music that goes unheard, it's easy for worthy art to slip through the cracks. That was the sad and undeserved fate of the 2011 Bob James and Keiko Matsui four-hand piano collaboration, Altair & Vega. Solo recordings are a standard for jazz pianists, and James' and Matsui's training and love of classical music are familiar to their fans, but two musicians playing one piano at the same time is something a little bit different. Altair and Vega are two stars that pass each other once a year, but it took 11 years for James and Matsui to link up and fully realize what began with "Ever After," their first collaboration with piano for four hands on Matsui's Whisper From the Mirror (Narada, 2000). A year later, Matsui joined James for two tracks on his underrated Dancing On the Water (Warner Brothers, 2001). After a decade, the two mainstays of smooth jazz reunited for a record highly unlikely to receive much airplay by any smooth jazz radio station. The interplay between the two is joyful and at times dazzling. James' "Divertimento," with its apt subtitle, not only allows "The Professor and the Student" to show off their considerable chops, it's playful fun. Things get a bit more serious on Matsui's "Frozen Lake," and the grandiose "The Forever Variations" is stately without being stiff or overly solemn. James and Matsui are not trying to set the music world on its ear as much as they are just coming together to jam. To the extent this is a jazz record, the playing is never less than impressive, as the pianists' pairing inspires them to greater heights than those they occasionally settle for. Whether Altair & Vega qualifies as light classical music or granola-free New Age is a subjective judgment. What is beyond question is how much effort has to go into the four-hands/one piano approach. This is harder than it looks folks, and one need go no further than the companion DVD for proof a live concert filmed at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in Pittsburgh last year. So why didn't Altair & Vega hit? Perhaps it not being remotely smooth jazz confused the pianists' usual audience. Perhaps the surnames of James and Matsui didn't catch the interest of more traditional audiences who associate the duo with smooth jazz. Either way, it's not too late for both audiences to tune into this terrific collaboration. ~ Jeff Winbush https://www.allaboutjazz.com/altair-and-vega-bob-james-e-oneentertainment-review-by-jeff-winbush.php

Personnel: Bob James: piano (lower part), Yamaha AvantGrand digital piano (2); Keiko Matsui: piano (upper part).

Altair & Vega

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Keiko Matsui - A Drop of Water

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1987
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:19
Size: 102,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:19)  1. Ancient Wind
(4:49)  2. Light Above the Trees
(5:39)  3. Harbor Wind
(4:20)  4. Mediterranean Sand
(5:27)  5. A Drop of Water
(5:11)  6. From My Window
(3:07)  7. Only Way Home
(4:34)  8. Fairy
(4:50)  9. Paper Spirit

This auspicious introduction to the many aspects of the composer's skills finds her surrounded by a slew of L.A.'s top players, some of whom had yet to begin their own solo careers at this point: Grant Geissman, Brandon Fields, Robben Ford, Nathan East, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Jimmy Johnson. Matsui balances a mystic Eastern edge with a lighthearted new agey pop appeal. "Ancient Wind" and the Geissman co-composition "Mediterranean Sand" are the best cuts, building from pastoral ideas into an explosive ensemble hook. Matsui also showed her penchant for soulful vocal pieces, using Abu Khalil and Marva King to varying effectiveness. The emotional vocal title cut was inspired by Challenger astronaut Ron McNair. ~ Jonathan Widran http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-drop-of-water-mw0000192185

Personnel: Keiko Matsui (shakuhachi, piano, synthesizer); Carl Anderson (vocals, background vocals); Marva King, Maxi Anderson, Nathan East, Marlena Jeter, Molly Pasutti (vocals); Grant Geissman, Grant Geisman, Robben Ford (guitar); Suzie Kattayama, Suzie Katayama (cello); Kazu Matsui (shakuhachi); Brandon Fields (saxophone); Walt Fowler (flugelhorn); David Garfield (piano, synthesizer); Derek Nakamoto (synthesizer); Gregg Bissonette, Bernie Dresel, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Luis Conte, Michael Fisher (percussion).

A Drop of Water

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Keiko Matsui - Wildflower

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:35
Size: 114,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:48)  1. Flashback
(4:33)  2. Facing Up
(4:28)  3. Sense Of A Journey
(4:29)  4. Brand New Wind
(4:06)  5. Eldest Of All
(4:23)  6. Reflections
(4:31)  7. White Castle
(3:46)  8. Temple Of Life
(5:07)  9. Seeker
(4:58) 10. Stone Circle
(4:19) 11. Wildflower

The spiritual and charitable-minded Japanese keyboardist, who blends ethereal new age textures with a rich soul-jazz sensibility better than anyone, is in top form on her 14th studio release. Like its recent predecessors on Narada Jazz, the CD features songs that are all about the landscape between subtlety and drama, elegant piano melodies and improvisations, dramatic flute and sax harmonies, and rich ambiences dense with percussion. Tying in perfectly with her current humanitarian work with United Nations World Food Program (WFP) efforts in Africa (most of her recent albums have tied into some charitable or health cause), the collection features subtle worldbeat threads throughout. "Flashback" features a gentle, classical-flavored piano melody over a gently throbbing bassline, before Matsui does some dramatic improvisations over dense, exotic percussion textures. "Facing Up" is quintessential graceful Matsui up until the feisty, machine-generated wall of polyrhythmic drums (which she simply dances over). "Sense of a Journey" is a little more smooth jazz-centered in spots, but later goes on a film score-like orchestral tangent. The intro to "Reflections" is low-key but decidedly African jungle in vibe, while the sweeping "Temple of Life" features hints of sitar, vocal choirs, and chanting beyond the orchestral flair. The closing title track is probably the most restrained piece production-wise, but also one of the most memorable melodically; its royalty proceeds will benefit the WFP, her latest charity. Matsui is always so consistent that it's hard to decide if one album ever tops another, but like most albums in her catalog, Wildflower is irresistible in its execution of incredible dynamics throughout. ~ Jonathan Widran http://www.allmusic.com/album/wildflower-mw0000696377

Personnel: Keiko Matsui (piano); Kazu Matsui (shakuhachi); Masamichi Nanji, Shinobu Ishizaki (soprano saxophone); Akira Jimbo (drums, percussion); Derek Nakamoto, Hajime Hyakkoku, Heigo Yokouchi, Kazunori Miyake (programming).

Wildflower

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Keiko Matsui - Journey To The Heart

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:41
Size: 107,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:44)  1. Moving On
(4:33)  2. Carnival
(3:22)  3. The Edge of Twilight
(4:43)  4. Butterfly
(5:01)  5. Casablanca
(5:14)  6. Journey to the Heart
(4:00)  7. Havana Nights
(4:53)  8. New Beginning
(5:17)  9. Two Harbors
(4:49) 10. Blue Rose

Out of pain comes growth and in 2007, Keiko Matsui, emerged from a divorce, record label troubles, and embraced her new singularity by striking out in a bold new direction as she traveled to South Africa, paired up with trumpeter Hugh Masakela and the results gave birth to the adventurous Moyo, one of the brightest and best recordings of a 30-year career. Fast forward nine years and Matsui's at it again with Journey To The Heart, a spirited and joyful project that brims with equal parts euphoric passion and unbridled brilliance as Matsui seems invigorated as a player, composer, and bandleader. Paired with a drum-head tight new band, this is her finest musical moment in nearly a decade. Don't call it world beat. Put a Japanese pianist in the studio with a Cuban bassist and drummer, (Del Puerto and Branley) add a guitarist from Peru (Stagnero) and a percussionist from Venzuela (Quintero) then just for grins invite a dazzling harmonica player from Switzerland (Maret) to join in on the festivities, and what you have is Matsui's 27th album as a leader as she stakes out a bold new direction as she moves into more acoustic music. Intact is her signature precision on the piano and her stately compositions and arrangements.

It takes supreme confidence in yourself and your fellow musicians to reign in and allow them to take the lead and compliment them instead of relegating them to little more than sidemen. Taking few solos here, Matsui has always been willing to unselfishly share the spotlight as her duet with Greigoire Maret on the riveting "Two Harbors" is ample evidence of.  "Moving On" and "Carnival" are two romper stompers featuring guitarist Ramon Stagnero who nimbly navigates his way as Matsui trades leads with him until percussionist Luis Quintero brings it home. It's exciting to follow in a way Matsui's recent outings with studio pros were not. Too many musicians reach a stage in their careers where they seemingly say, "That's good enough. I've done a few different things. I can just keep making the same old same old with different titles and it will sell." Maybe that's true for a dinosaur rock band content to go on stage and crank out the hits, but for a jazz artist, that is a shortcut to stagnation and musical death. When jazz musicians play it safe and are content to just make the donuts, it ceases to be jazz and becomes instrumental pop without vocals and who needs that? Keiko Matsui will never get her proper due for remaining true to the spirit of innovators and risk-takers who elevated the idiom, but Journey To The Heart serves as the testimonial she's richly deserving of the accolades. ~ Jeff Winbush https://www.allaboutjazz.com/journey-to-the-heart-keiko-matsui-shanachie-records-review-by-jeff-winbush.php
 

Personnel: Keiko Matsui: piano; Carlitos Del Puerto: bass; Jimmy Branley: drums; Ramon Stagnero: guitars; Luis Quintero: percussion; Gregoire Maret: harmonica; JP Mourao; additional guitar (2), Randy Waldman; string arrangement (4, 6, 8); Gary Stockdale: string arrangement (10)

Journey To The Heart

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