Alive (Telarc/Concord, 2014)
Japanese keyboardist and composer Hiromi Uehara has captivated international music audiences and music critics with her effervescent and innovative style that crosses multiple musical boundaries. Alive is a live studio performance with a trio format. Although Hiromi uses electronic and acoustic keyboards, Alive showcases her acoustic side, focusing exclusively on the piano. “I’ve always enjoyed and appreciated so many different kinds of music: classical, rock, jazz and pop and so on,” Hiromi says. “And that’s why my compositions are so varied.”
What’s so exciting about Hiromi is her remarkable technique as well her ability to play various musical styles. She demonstrates that she can swing and improvise, but she also has a bluesy and classical side and then she ventures at ease into progressive music territory, with elements of fusion, progressive rock and the avant-garde.
While many American musicians are wasting their time with smooth jazz, international acts from Japan, Indonesia, India and Spain have revolutionized the world of jazz, bringing new blood and expressions, incorporating modern and traditional music elements. Hiromi is certainly one of these key international musicians who have a lot to say.
Although the entire album is superb, Alive highlights include the impressive title cut ‘Alive’ where Hiromi and the dream-team rhythm section of Simon Phillips (drums) and Anthony Jackson (bass) deliver a stellar performance crossing from jazz into progressive rock territory. “I wanted the first track to sound like the beginning of life,” Hiromi says, “with every complicated and detailed combination of life’s creation.”
On ‘Dreamer’ Hiromi channels Lyle Mays and Latin jazz, presenting an exquisite piano performance with Pat Metheny Group influence that is pure delight.
‘Warrior’ fuses exciting jazz and classical piano with a vibrant fusion-style rhythm section. “My listening skills have improved,” she says. “Over the years, I’ve learned how to listen more carefully, and respond musically to what is happening in the moment. That’s what makes my trio shine as a team.”
Another attention-grabbing piece is a blues composition titled ‘Spirit.’ “[The song] is a prayer,” Hiromi says. “People lose loved ones and friends, but when you close your eyes, you can be with their spirit.”
“Alive has a double meaning for me,” adds Hiromi. “I wanted to write songs that deal with things and emotions that we encounter in life. But the word Alive can also mean ‘played live.’ I’ve been performing with Simon and Anthony for four years. We’ve made three records together, and we’ve done so many live shows as a trio. We have a great time being adventurous, and I felt that we can make the record sound like a live recording in front of the audience.
That’s the great thing about having a working trio: We understand how to make each other shine. Anthony is an amazing improviser. He composes incredible counter-lines when I solo, and he always plays something to make [the music] shine even more. And Simon has an amazing tone and a beautiful sound on the drums; he’s like an orchestra. They can play anything, and they understand so many different genres of music. They have no boundaries. It’s been a great journey with this group.”
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