Eriko Shimizu “SORA”
(Casnet 2010)
Eriko Shimizu 清水絵理子—piano
Toshihiko Inoue井上淑彦—saxophone
Saori Sendo仙道さおり—percussion
Kumpei Nakabayashi中林薫平—bass
Daisuke Yoshioka吉岡大輔—drums
Eriko Shimizu plays a slow, stately beginning to “Sora” (which translates as “sky”), with the title song, a calm, capacious number with a gorgeous melody. All her melodies are gorgeous, though! Her other originals, which comprise most of her CD, are equally appealing and delivered unhurried. “Out of the blue,” another original, is equally contemplative, open and full of feeling.
That sense of calm control is an asset on each of her songs, but when Shimizu starts to play harder, her muscular left hand and deep sense of rhythm is just as appealing. The brisk-paced “Rockin’ in Rhythm” is great fun, making the classic Ellington piece into more than just a tribute. The band pulls and pushes the song into fresh territory, and nimble speeds. On “Noturno,” they slow things down for a reflective, calming number.
On “Cat Trucks” the band delivers a full-open number that is funky and swinging, and sounds tremendously like a cat truck. Nakabayashi and Yoshioka work easily through the shifts and changes that Shimizu leads them through, with each song’s sections becoming intriguing, unpredictable and cooler than the last. Shimizu’s other original “Terra,” is a powerful piece, slightly longer than the others, with a broader, almost symphonic palette.
The children’s song (that’s so much more than a children’s song), “Furusato,” closes out this delightful set of straight-on, richly melodic and deeply felt jazz. Shimizu’s playing is central to every song, with a clear, well-mastered recording that shows off her tone and technique. She’s not out to impress, she’s out to create beauty.