Hideaki Hori & Wataru Hamasaki: Encounter

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Encounter is the first album from co-leaders pianist Hideaki Hori and saxophonist Wataru Hamasaki, released in 2008. Since then, in addition to their other bands and activities, the two jazz musicians have continued to perform together and release many albums under the group name Encounter.

This first Encounter album is bursting with energy, and it feels like the inspiration that each player gets from the others irresistibly drives them to reach for the stars. The four members of Encounter—Wataru Hamasaki on sax and flute, Hideaki Hori on piano, Hiroshi Takase on bass, and Junji Hirose on drums—are always busy touring and playing in this regular group lineup for their live shows. In addition, as a special guest on their first album, Satoshi Takino plays electric guitar on three tracks.

Akane Matsumoto: Oh, Lady Be Good

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Oh, Lady Be Good is a piano trio album from Tokyo-based jazz pianist Akane Matsumoto. She’s been releasing trio recordings since 2008, along with albums playing with quartets and quintets, although her recent albums have featured her in small ensembles rather than her regular combos. In fact, since this record (recorded and released in 2019), her latest releases have focused on solo and duo formations, such as her piano album Little Girl Blue (2022), her duo with trombone on For My Lady (2023, with Nanami Haruta), and her latest piano and saxophone duo release Trust (2024, with Ayumi Koketsu). All of which is to say that this album, Oh, Lady Be Good, is her most recent jazz piano trio release.

広瀬潤次 on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory

Hideaki Hori & Wataru Hamasaki: Encounter

Akane Matsumoto: Oh, Lady Be Good