Ishii Akira Trio “Embrace”

(Ewe Records) 2004

Akira Ishii: Piano
Masayuki Tawarayama: Bass
Yoshihito Eto: Drums

The CD opens surprisingly with children voices in the distance gradually replaced by Ishii’s statement of a beautiful theme that has a waltz feel and a strong Bill Evans taste but turns out to be a peaceful ballad in four when the bass and the drums finally click into the tempo. This song is as tender as its title suggests and captures both the gentleness of childhood and the sorrow of losing it. Some people are likely to find this music too sentimental but Ishii’s harmonic subtlety and welcome restraint make it light-years beyond the omnipresent images of happy family and healthy children on TV.

Famous Brazilian composer Ivan Lins’ number, "Aos Nossos Filhos,"whichis played as a pop song with an after beat rhythm by drummer Eto on brushes, gives another occasion to step into the children’s world and ends with high notes sparkling as if in sunlight mixed with the sound of a music-box. The next song is a lot darker and its elaborated construction is in sharp contrast with the two previous one’s clarity. It features an orchestral synthesizer sound in the middle section of the theme, before it settles in a haunting bell motive based on the Phrygian mode characteristic of Spanish music. This motive later becomes the ground for a fantastic drum solo backed by frightening rumbles of the double bass and mysterious calls of the piano in the distance. This piece undoubtedly spreads its shadow over the whole album, which otherwise might have seemed too sweet.

Among the most interesting numbers in this album is "Capriccio," a playfully bursting piece whose theme, set in octaves and a few rhythmic traps, leads to the only hard swinging, up-tempo section of this album. Ishii here delivers a nice solo starting with the right hand only in a free-bop style, with no chord changes. Also interesting is Monk’s "Mysterioso,"which receives special treatment. It is played in seven, with an odd descending line on the left hand and a glockenspiel sound underlining the top part of this innocent melody. The tricky blues ends up with a wonderful lullaby feeling. The solo section keeps the seven-four meter swinging, then rocking.

Finally, the CD ends as it started, with another superb ballad, whose title, "Eternally," nicely bookends the opening tune, "Embrace."