遠藤征志 on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory

Seiji Endo: Piano Pieces Collection II

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Piano Pieces Collection II is pianist Seiji Endo’s follow-up to his 2021 release Piano Pieces Collection. Continuing in the same mood and mode, Endo plays solo piano music of his own hand, compositions that are infused with his motivation to move and support listeners through his music. Although the two recordings are separated by a few years, it wouldn’t be too far off to consider this sequel the second half of a double-album record.

Seiji Endo: Piano Pieces Collection

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Piano Pieces Collection is a 2021 album from pianist and composer Seiji Endo. For this album, Endo plays 19 solo piano pieces, a similar concept to some previous albums such as his Genji Monogatari Volume 1 (2018), which evoked the drama of that classic early Japanese literature through depth and shading. On Piano Pieces Collection, Endo’s message is simpler and direct, uplifting and motivational.

At first glance, another comparison could be made to the great Chick Corea’s Children’s Songs album. Each album has 19 to 20 tracks, all short solo piano pieces. Also, both albums showcase the respective pianist’s sketches of minimal, memorable, melodic music. Beauty through simplicity. Corea’s compositions might edge towards more complex and rhythmically stimulating music, and similarly, Endo’s pieces also carry his own personality. His compositions are delicate, graceful, and subtle. More miniature than minimal, Endo aims to create moods of gentle understanding and welcoming calmness.

Rie Taguchi: The Gift II

Fri, 26 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Vocalist and pianist Rie Taguchi delivers a follow-up to her debut album The Gift with her 2021 album naturally titled The Gift II. This swinging outing features her Special Sextet as before with new outstanding arrangements.

Presenting Taguchi’s sweetly mellow voice in an exquisite frame, Pianist Seiji Endo arranged all the songs on this album, and his vision combined with the front line of saxophone, violin, and guitar creates a lush, big band-style sound from the six instruments.

Naoko Akimoto: No One Else

Mon, 15 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Vocalist Naoko Akimoto’s debut release No One Else is a seven-song introduction to the popular singer, a presentation of standard jazz and Japanese pop arranged with care and performed by top musicians from Tokyo.

The arrangements are nice, particularly on the opening track “Moondance” which opens with a deep bass, piano, and vibes setting up a grove for Akimoto to lead the listener through the atmospheric drama of the tune. The decorated arrangements include vocal harmonies with trumpet, flute, and other instruments adding beautiful layers to the music.

Ruriko Kawamura: Blossoms

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Vocalist Ruriko Kawamura released Blossoms in 2016, her second album following her 2011 debut record Loo Loo.

The album is a relaxed tour through 11 varied tracks, all arranged by pianist Seiji Endo who backs up the vocalist throughout the disc. Six songs feature Kawamura singing as a duo with the pianist, and more color is added with violinist Noriko Satomi joining on three tracks and guitarist Akira Sekine joining on two others.

Seiji Endo: Genji Monogatari Volume 1

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Through a beautiful piano sound with deep reverberations, Seiji Endo’s latest solo album releases atmospheric music as if arising from the dreams and memories of ancient Japan. Genji Monogatari Volume 1 features the pianist performing his original compositions with dramatic textures woven from this ancient Japanese epic.

As with his previous albums Sakura Meditations and Circle For Peace, Endo plays his entrancing music alone, freely and beautifully. On this album, the novel’s influence adds layers of exoticism to the dramatic compositions. The result is evocative and mysterious music that strikes the heart.

Seiji Endo: Sakura Meditation

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Sakura Meditation from pianist Seiji Endo is a gorgeous collection of evocative solo piano pieces. Through the ten tracks, Endo searches for and finds the perfect phrases and dramatic touches to draw out emotion from his beautiful and pure compositions.

Most of the songs are just three to five minutes long with strains of classical and slightly jazzy influences surface in the music. The music deeply evokes feelings ranging from pretty etude-like sketches to the childlike innocence of a lullaby, to pieces overflowing with romantic drama and emotional depth. Endo’s poetic style and his passion are directly focused through a soft touch and breath-like pulse: simplicity and brevity through understated effectiveness.

Seiji Endo: Tsutaete Ikou

Sun, 11 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

In memory of the lives taken by the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, three musicians formed the Tsutaete Ikou project. Pianist Seiji Endo and vocalists Hiroco Nagano and Shinya Nitta were touched by the brave and kindhearted students they met at a benefit concert, children who became an inspiration for the musicians.

“Tsutaete Ikou” is the resulting heart-warming anthem, dedicated to strengthening the spirit of survivors and helping to soothe painful memories. The title echoes a stone monument at Ishinomaki high school which promises to tell their story forever. After disasters such as this, one may feel hopeless individually, yet the act of remembering together, passing the message on, and uniting with music does wonders to support the spirit.

Rie Taguchi: The Gift

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Vocalist Rie Taguchi leads a swinging sextet on her first full-length album, The Gift.

Her sultry voice seems to crack smiles and reminisce on old times as she dips and sways through the music. Popular standards such as “I Wish You Love” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” convey her cheerful energy, hearkening back at times to a type of Las Vegas showroom jazz. Her bright charm describes a sparkling smile, perhaps even a tipsy grin as she gracefully sings the notes.

Seiji Endo: Circle for Peace

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Seiji Endo, a poet at the piano, plays his original compositions for solo piano on his second solo album Circle for Peace. While he plays unaccompanied throughout, a children’s choir (Zushi Iruka Jido Gasshoudan) also joins him briefly on tracks 1 and 11, reminding one of the childlike purity and hopefulness conceived in his music.

Through sincerity depicted on the album cover and title, the concept is peace and comfort. Accordingly, Endo’s playing is full of emotion: tenderness and sensitivity ring throughout, with some melancholy mixed in, alternately romantic, classical, and soft pop at times. Melodic quotes from his previous album even make appearances. Overall, Endo conveys his personality through his soothing music filled with hope and beauty, calm and peace.

Hiroco Nagano: Okurimono

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Okurimono is a two-track release from vocalist Hiroco Nagano with pianist Seiji Endo. On the first track, the duo takes a relaxed approach to the beautiful jazz ballad “Someone To Watch Over Me”. On track two, guitarist Arata Umahara joins in on “Okurimono”, an original song written by Endo with Japanese lyrics penned by Nagano.

Although there are only two tracks here, the music serves to whet the appetite and showcase the sweet, sensitive music crafted with love and care.