Yuichi Kudo Trio “Birth, Longing For Sweden”
Yuichi Kudo Trio “Birth, Longing For Sweden”(24 Records 2011/ アメイジングD.C)
Yuichi Kudo 工藤 雄一—piano
Yasuhito Mori 森 泰人—bass
Göran Kroon ヨーラン・クローン—drums
This lush, gorgeous piano trio recording is a stellar example of how precise music can also be stunningly beautiful. The tone is everything here. Classically influenced and played to perfection, Kudo is in charge of every tune here, making them sing, but also swing hard. Recorded in Sweden, far from the smoky jazz clubs of Tokyo where Kudo resides, the CD is a perfect combination of Swedish and Japanese jazz aesthetic.
The original tunes here are far from the standards most piano trios would end up with, but yet, full of the energy, vibrancy and harmony of standards. All of the tunes are Kudo’s originals, except for the arrangements of Borodin, Brahms and Schumann. These three giants of piano composition swing deep and hard here, coming alive in fresh ways under Kudo’s vision.
The trio works together marvelously, helped in part by bassist Mori who has long been a link between the Swedish and Japanese jazz scenes. The playing of the trio is full and complete, not overly spare or desperate for looseness. The trio focuses on invention, harmony and feeling.
The CD opener, “Birth,” is particularly lovely, full of melodic turns, each a pleasure. This is a piano trio that’s in no hurry, with time taken to fill out the solos in an unhurried and reflective manner. It’s not ECM chamber jazz, though. Several tunes, like “Symphonic Dance,” really cook. Each of the songs is long enough to inspire great solos from everyone, but short enough to never lose focus.
The arrangements of Borodin, Brahms and Schumann also add to making the CD something special. They are well arranged, jazzy enough that you have to look at the song list to be sure it’s one of the classical inspired tunes, but once you read that, they are classical enough to be really intriguing in jazz mode. The mix creates a powerful synergy that draws on both traditions in a natural way.
This is a must-have CD for piano trio fans, and anyone who loves beautiful playing. Maybe every pianist in Tokyo should go to Sweden?