“Symbiosis” Nao Takeuchi - tenor sax Hideo Ichikawa - piano
Yokohama Reunion (2023)
This live recording from 2022 is a marvelously fluid, reflective duo that builds on the experience of these two great musicians and from the style of ECM recordings. It’s lyrical and calm, and bursting with energy and ideas. The symbiosis comes from two very different styles that are much more than the sum of their parts, but also from a range of musical approaches that go together seamlessly.
Some recordings also go together as a whole, as opposed to song by song. Such is the case with “Symbiosis.” Takeuchi and Ichikawa create a fluid set of interwoven textures, flowing from one feeling to another, always sounding natural and right. The stormy intensity of one song blends into the light-hearted joy of the next.
Ichikawa moves from rumbling left-hand energy to brisk, fleet bass lines. He moves from sharp probing chords to rich layers of calming harmony. The steady tempos give him room to explore and keep the music imaginative. There’s no hurry in these songs, but rather a human steadiness, punctuated by bass accents.
Takeuchi moves from meditative breathiness to lyrical melodies. He brings in his influences, from the ECM style of Jan Garbarek to Coltrane (always Coltrane!), but his sound is his own. His playing has immediacy and is recorded well here. Every note sounds close and intimate and draws you in for closer listening. He’s not the kind of musician to use every trick in the book, but rather to bring his technique to bear on creating a sumptuous depth to the music.
The two have an interplay that comes from playing together, but also from just being on the same wavelength. That makes it easy for listeners to get onto the same wavelength. The nine songs form a whole, but each one has its role to play in the whole. This is a delightful set of songs that showcases the creative depth of both musicians and reveals how powerful the symbiosis of people, and of diverse musical elements, can become in the right hands.
(March 2024)