Minami Hiroshi Go There “From me to me” (Airplane Label 2010)

南博 Hiroshi Minami – piano
竹野昌邦  Masakuni Takeno – sax
水谷浩章 Hiroaki Mizutani – bass
芳垣安洋Yasuhiro Yoshigaki – drums

Hiroshi Minami’s website: http://www.graphic-art.com/minami/

On this twelfth (or so) outing from Minami, the pianist and his long-time associates dig into lyrical straight ahead jazz from the first moment. They dig in, take off and go! That has always been the case with this quartet that he calls aptly enough, “Go There.” This work, though, is another level up from his previous (also excellent) recordings in terms of composition and interactive quartet playing. The melodies here are powerful, full and captivating, the musicianship deeply collaborative.

The opener “Barack Obama,” loosens things up with the swinging old friends interaction of the four. Having played together for so long, they anticipate, answer and converse with each other, adding layers and dimensions to each song. The soprano and piano work on “Sea and the ocean” stakes out the calm expressive ground for the entire CD. Takeno’s soprano really sings and soars here. Like the other songs, though, the expressiveness reveals the introspective surface of the musicians. The CD is a nice balance of extroverted post-bop and contemplative impression.

The soft, delicate “December, December” moves even further into reflective territory, capturing the mood and motion of the last month of the year, though without the overdone wildness of Japanese end-of-the-year parties. The funkier, wilder movement of “Window in the Sky” really flies. Takeno’s solo is pushed on by Minami for one of the most exciting interplays of the album. Minami’s solo is propelled by Mizutani and Yoshigaki, two of Tokyo’s most intense rhythm-atists.

“Angie Dickinson” picks up the pace mid-CD and really swings. The song would be the perfect closer to a live set--hard, free and bringing you out of your chair. That loosens things up before the stunningly gorgeous “Tears” and “Falling Falling Petals,” two songs that showcase Minami’s striking composing talents. Those two songs feel like the centerpiece, where composing meets playing on equal, shared ground.

This recording is perhaps one of Minami’s best, though the energy here does not feel as if he used up all his energy, but rather it feels like another step on the way to more great jazz. Four great musicians, nine great tunes, you don’t need anything else.

February 26, 2013