Natsuki Tamura | Satoko Fujii | Muku | Libra Records
The music of Tamura and Fujii moves in many directions. With Muku, the duo has created one of its loveliest and most engaging recordings to date. — Dan McClenaghan Continue reading
Jazz
Satoko Fujii Orchestra | South Wind | Libra Records
The alternating Fujii/Tamura pieces are complex frameworks from which she is able to invoke dynamic sound ranges. Fujii opens the gates to permit a considerable amount of collective improvisation while still maintaining control of the reins by injecting stellar ensemble statements on top. ― Frank Rubolino, Cadence Continue reading
Natsuki Tamura Quartet | Exit | Libra Records
Typical Japanese sentiments sprinkled here and there are as impressive as, or sometimes more impressive than, the exoticism of artists of the underground scenes of Chicago and Niels Petter Molvaer. ― Takehiro Oshizuka, Musee
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Natsuki Tamura | Satoko Fujii | How Many? | Libra Records
If you turn up the volume and attune your antennae to the tonal and textural subtleties of Natsuki Tamura’s trumpet and Satoko Fujii’s piano, you’ll hear a rare breed of mood-derived propulsion. — Sam Prestianni, Jazziz Continue reading
Satoko Fujii Trio | Illusion Suite | Libra Records
Pianist Satoko Fujii leads with a powerful forces that captivates. Accessible for traditional bebop as well as avant garde listeners, her music stirs the imagination . . . A highly energetic pianist, a rollicking acoustic bassist, and a versatile drummer join forces on Illusion Suite to combine jazz’s tradition with leading-edge ideas. ― Jim Santella, All About Jazz Continue reading
Satoko Fujii | Indication | Libra Records
It’s a particularly encouraging to hear a pianist of her generation who is possesed of such a mature concept of space-it’s one thing to use space, and quite another to use it interestingly…This is a most artfully-done endeavor. — Chris Kelsey, Cadence. Continue reading
Satoko Fujii | Something About Water | featuring Paul Bley | Libra Records
Combines two piano voices in subtle, quiet interplay. The music has a crystalline spareness about it, the two players so intertwined it sounds almost like one voice. There is a floating lyricism to the music…like delicate dance…sheer beauty.” — Michael Rosenstein, Cadence Continue reading
Szilard Mezei Szabad Quintet | Singing Elephant | Not Two Records
Szilard Mezei– viola | Peter Bede – tenor sax | Adam Meggyes – trumpet, cornet | Erno Hock – double bass | Hunor G. Szabo – drums. Recorded 25 May 2010 by Laszlo Valik, L.V. Hang Studio, Budapest, Hungary. Mixed and mastered by Szilard Mezei. Cover graphic by Erzsébet Mezei. Continue reading
Max Johnson | Mark Whitecage | Steve Swell | Tyshawn Sorey | Quartet | Not Two Records
With the onset of fan donation pages all over the Internet artists, musicians and inventors of all sorts can now speak directly with their fans and solicit funds for all types of projects. Some are fantastical like ‘help me turn into a cat’ fund or ‘help make my paper clip rocket ship a reality’, but more often than not it is a musician with a book of songs that means the world to them and are looking for a way to make their vision a reality. There are even added perks to sites like these. They come in the form of incentives for the public’s donations, such as a copy of the completed album or even executive producer credits. The Max Johnson Quartet is a success story born from this new artist driven way to produce music. From a business model to recording and art work, (fantastic by the way if you can get a close look at it) to getting Not Two Records to back the recording. — Philip Coombs Continue reading
Forbes Graham | Dave Rempis | Pandelis Karayorgis | Luther Gray | Construction Party | Instruments of Change | Not Two Records
This collaborative quartet was formed in the winter of 2008, when Rempis took advantage of one of his regular trips home to visit family in Boston to start a musical relationship with some of his favorite musicians in that city. Having known Pandelis Karayorgis for almost a decade through fellow musicians Nate McBride and Ken Vandermark, the two decided to round out a quartet with the wide-ranging capabilities of Forbes Graham on trumpet, and the old-school driving swing of Luther Gray on drums. Since that time, the group has normally played once or twice a year in Boston, working on a set of compositions brought in by all its members. The band recorded in December of 2009, a recording which is came out on the Polish label Not Two Records in 2012 as “Instruments of Change.” — Stu Vandermark, Boston Jazz Scene Dec 2010 Continue reading