Yuko Fujiyama/Graham Hayes/Ikue Mori

Sporadically recorded, Sapporo-born, New York based pianist Yuko Fujiyama continues to probe unexpected territories. Moving from acoustic sessions with the likes of Jennifer Choi and Susie Ibarra, she also commits to an electronic environment on the three-part suite and other tracks here. Confirming the change is the addition of fellow New York/Japanese expatriate Ikue Mori playing electronics, and her associate Graham Haynes, adding programming and effects to his cornet playing.

Although firmly committed to Free Jazz maturity has contributed balance and dynamics to the pianist’s playing and there are  points at which simple piano riffs or metronomic rumbles provide balance to lance to Mori’s output which can encompass outer-space-like crackles as much as gentle repercussion, reminiscent of temple bells or winds whistling through dense foliage.

Onomatopoeic vocal projection coupled with scrunching voltage vibrations, portamento brassiness and chunky keyboard emphasis undulates alongside Fujiyama intoning descriptive poetry in English and Japanese on “Kurikaesu”. But its sympathetic reading and her three descriptive solos are auxiliary to group interaction.

Crucial is “Quiet Passion’, the three-part suite that gradually builds up from relaxed piano chording that cushions portamento brass breaths besides watery splashes and slides to seriously focused piano patterns which presage an echoing rumble from the programming. Finally “Quiet Passion III” showcases low-pitched drama as half-valve strains from the cornetist, electronic swirls and squeaks and piano reverberations reach a climax. As the theme shifts from keyboard to valves to synthesis the interchange is confirmed.

“Whispering Universe” and “Sadness” are other instances of this strategy that mixes mellow with mercurial. With distant pianism and muted electronic burbles, Haynes’ playing is central. Goosing his output with electronics, his rippling slurs and expressive triplet shakes define both part of the sound equation.

It’s a shame Fujiyama doesn’t record more often. But if all her sessions would be like Grand Passion waits can be forgiven

.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Prologue 2. Leggiero 3. Kurikaesu 4. Whispering Universe 5. Agitato 6. Dialogue 7. Piano Solo I 8. Improvisational Suite 9. Sadness Is 10. Piano Solo II 11. Quiet Passion 12. Quiet Passion II 13. Quiet Passion III

Personnel: Graham Haynes (cornet and electronics); Yuko Fujiyama (piano and voice) and Ikue Mori (electronics)