Arina Fujiwara – Neon (Self-Produced, 2023)
Arina Fujiwara’s debut album, Neon, released independently, highlights the burgeoning talent of this emerging pianist and arranger-composer, a recent graduate of the prestigious Manhattan School of Music. This ambitious and inventive six-song EP features a stellar ensemble, including vibraphonist Vid Jamnik, guitarist Brad Kang, bassist Dan Finn, drummer Mikkel Blæsild Vuust, and a string quartet.
The opening track, “Yuki Ga Furu,” sets the tone with a laid-back jazz waltz, immediately unveiling Fujiwara’s distinctive musical personality on the piano. Her composition, bookended by exquisite chamber strings, keeps listeners engaged as it unfolds.
The traditional piece, “Hotaru Koi,” begins delicately with the cello leading, gradually building momentum, and incorporates Fujiwara’s electrifying organ sounds, resulting in a performance filled with surprises, fiery fusion, and fantastic drumming.
The title track, “Neon,” is a moody medium-tempo ballad enriched with tasteful chamber strings, featuring outstanding piano and vibraphone solos. Meanwhile, the mesmerizing romantic interplay between Fujiwara and vibraphonist Jamnik in “Komorebi” echoes the chemistry of legendary duos like Chick Corea and Gary Burton, yet it remains a unique and original expression.
“Vol. 1” stands out as a harmonically advanced piece, exhibiting dazzling piano work and a superb electric guitar performance by the talented Brad Kang. The EP concludes with a modernized, mostly out-of-tempo solo piano exploration of Scott Joplin’s timeless “Maple Leaf Rag.”
Fujiwara graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 2018. She earned her Master of Music at the Manhattan School of Music under the guidance of mentors like Elio Villafranca and Joel Ross. It’s not an exaggeration to say that she exhibits tremendous promise for the future. With the release of Neon on October 2nd, 2023, Arina Fujiwara took a giant step forward as a significant jazz artist, showing not only great potential but also a remarkably original keyboardist.
Musicians: Arina Fujiwara on piano and keyboards; Jaycee Cardoso on violin I; Sammy Andonian on violin II; Jeremy Klein on viola; Clara Cho on cello; Vid Jamnik on vibraphone; Brad Kang on guitar; Dan Finn on bass; and Mikkel Blaesild Vuust on drums.