Ub-X with Piera

Shinjuku Pit Inn October 31, 2008

Ichiko Hashimoto – piano, vocal
Atsuo Fujimoto - drums
Nobuyoshi Ino - bass
Piera Savage - vocal
David Zikovitz – computer, vocal

This piano trio is one of the most unique and original in a city awash in piano trios. Their recent addition of vocals and computer makes them all the more original. At the center of the sound are the vocals of Hashimoto. Her voice is mesmerizing, startling, strange, a palimpsest of half-heard voices and urban sounds filtered through her vocal cords in the most appealing of ways. Her piano playing, too, keeps a constant counterpoint to the vocals, creating a depth and intensity to the total sound.

On drums, Fujimoto seems to be playing several types of rhythm at once. His polyrhythmic style keeps a groove, but on top of that dips into swing, rocks forward and breaks it all up with a polyrhythmic pulse. Bassist Ino thundering notes rove like a spinal cord up through the sound. He anchors it all and keeps both rhythms and piano/vocals centered and flowing. Their interactive feel is amazing.

After several tunes, taken from their several excellent CDs, the trio was joined by Piera, whose strikingly beautiful vocals fit in perfectly. Having seen the trio before several times and loved them, I was reluctant to admit another member, but Piera fits in marvelously. She took the lead vocals, freeing Hashimoto to play more piano. But the magical part were the dialogues the two vocalists created. They played, exchanged, commented, and whirled the melody lines back and forth between them. A vocal match made in heaven.

I am also always skeptical of computer beats, so when computer/drummer/beats-man Zikovitz joined the trio-turned-quartet for the last two numbers, I gritted my teeth. However, I was pleased to hear how the mix worked. Zikovitz’ computer grooves freed Fujimoto up tremendously to explore and create. Shifting the burden of rhythm to the machine ironically made the music more human, which is just what you want, but rarely get when a computer comes on stage. They also give Ino more space to accent, comment, and interact.

The heavier music of all five together established not just a swelling orchestral sound, a certain freer, nimbler approach. Being unafraid to change fundamentals is the mark of great musicians. Ub-X has no fear in this regard, but a will to keep pushing for new musical spaces in which to express themselves. With originals and fantastically reworked covers, the trio thrives on creativity and a constant kind of self-re-construction.  Really, though, Ub-X thrives on a special live fluidity that is marvelous, energetic and very, very unique.