Satako Fujii's 2008 release introducing her then new ma-do quartet of Satoko Fujii on piano, Natsuki Tamura on trumpet, Akira Horikoshi on drums, and late bassist Norikatsu Koreyasu, the band name signifying "window" and "the silence between notes", in an album of superb, lively, eclectic and absolutely exciting improvisation from 9 original Fujii compositions.
Label: Not Two Catalog ID: MW 806-2 Squidco Product Code: 31009
Format: CD Condition: New Released: 2008 Country: Poland Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold Recorded at Epicuru Studios, Tokyo, Japan, on April 19th, 2008, by Katsumi Shigeta.
"This is Satoko Fujii's 40th disc as a leader or co-leader and she continues to impress us all with each and every disc she puts out. Satoko is joined here by her most constant collaborator, trumpet great Natsuki Tamura. Her bassist, Norikatsu Koreyasi, has worked with her in small groups before and the drummer plays in one of Satoko's Japanese big bands.
The title track opens this extraordinary disc with some majestic piano and trumpet over a sublime free-flowing groove. The powerful rhythm team do a great job of fleshing out Satoko's sprawling, modal-sounding piano. Each of the nine pieces provides a different challenge or structure. At th beginning of "Mosaic", Satoko plays inside the piano and rubs the strings with an object. Soon the songs difficult structure provides a challenge for the entire quartet. The ever-incredible Natsuki Tamura takes the first incredible trumpet solo that must be heard to be believed. When Satoko takes her explosive solo the massive rhythm team erupts powerfully and tightly around her. Most impressive! "Ring a Bell' begins with a stark, somber unaccompanied trumpet solo which is soon joined by haunting bowed bass. I love Akira's ultra-subtle drumming, just cymbals and a bit of hands-on-drums. The gorgeous and poignant melody is played superbly while Satoko mutes the strings of the piano while she plays with rhythmic grace. The aptly titled, "Tornado" explodes open with some high flying trumpet while the rhythm section spins underneath. This outstanding piece is broken into sections, the free section midway is especially outstanding and balanced just right between charted and uncharted territory. Just when you think that you have this band pegged, they break into "The Squall in the Sahara" which has a charming theme in the beginning and end with some more incredible free solos from the piano and trumpet in between.
This band's name, like it's music, has many layers. Ma-do means "window" in Japanese. But "ma" also means "the silence between notes." Fujii chose the name to show how the music opens to the outside (just like window) and that silence can have more meaning than notes. In an acoustic setting, the group's absorbing improvisations explore subtle textures and tone colors, using silence and group interaction to build brilliant collages of sound, melody, and rhythm. They have released two CDs, Heat Wave (2008) and Desert Ship (2010)."-Not Two
Heat Wave is the fourth record released in 2008 featuring the prolific and talented Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii. In honor of her 50th birthday, she organized an intensive release schedule, issuing three albums so far on her Libra imprint, including Trace a River with her veteran trio featuring bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Jim Black, Cloudy Then Sunny with the collective trio Junk Box, as well as appearing on her husband trumpeter Natsuki Tamura's recent Gato Libre album, Kuro.
Ma-Do is Fujii's newest ensemble, specifically chosen to interpret her heavily notated compositions. An intimate acoustic quartet with a vast dynamic range, this line-up lacks the electronic excess of her more rock oriented quartet and eschews the open-ended excursions favored by her longstanding trio in favor of thematically concise improvisations.
Fujii is once again joined by Tamura; from intimate duos to big band settings, their empathetic rapport has developed over the years to virtually telepathic levels. Their rhythm section consists of bassist Norikatsu Koreyasu, from Tamura's Gato Libre ensemble and drummer Akira Horikoshi, courtesy of Fujii's Tokyo big band. Fujii regularly breaks the quartet into trio, duo and solo formations, which allows space for her compositions to breathe, as they veer from ghostly serenity to vibrant expressionism.
Fujii's knack for writing infectious harmonic counterpoint, staggered polyrhythms and interlocking arrangements is exemplified by the spirited interplay of the dramatic title track and the pseudo-baroque "Spiral Staircase." A diverse stylist, Fujii's full range of expression, from romantic neo-classicism to strident angularity comes to the fore. A perfect foil, Tamura's own contributions range from mellifluous contours to coarse fragments. Navigating these episodic compositions, the rhythm section alternates between supple accents and funky downbeats.
A wide range of tonal colors are expressed with extended techniques on "Beyond The Horizon" and "Amoeba." On the later tune, Fujii plays directly on the strings of her piano to harp-like effect, Tamura blows ghostly howls and Koreyasu bows sonorous harmonics while Horikoshi scatters scintillating accents, all unified by the specter of a melancholy melody.
"Mosaic" and "The Squall In The Sahara" demonstrate the ensembles dynamic potential, as they build from lush lyricism to harrowing angularity, while the aptly titled "Tornado" summons a vortex of blustery turbulence. The group even embarks on a Middle Eastern travelogue on "Ring A Bell," conjuring exotica-tinged modality.
The lilting anthem "To The Skies" provides a final reminder of Fujii's tuneful capabilities as Koreyasu bows coarse long tones accompanied by Fujii's dulcet piano filigrees while Tamura plies tender refrains, closing the album on a bittersweet note.
Another superlative recording from Satoko Fujii, Heat Wave is a perfect introduction to the work of one of today's most vital composers."-Troy Collins, All About Jazz