Hiroyuki Takubo

Bassist Motoi Kanamori released his third album The Live in 2023. This is a double CD album with a title that aptly reflects the energy of his group captured in a live concert recording. The two discs are divided between one set from his trio (with pianist Hiroyuki Takubo and drummer Akira Yamada) playing rearranged versions of classic jazz standards, and a second set from his trio with strings, featuring a four-piece string section of two violins, one viola, and one cello. ...

Phrases like good honest work and good clean fun convey the simple and satisfying rewards that result from high levels of skill, effort, and enjoyment. Good honest music is a simple but to-the-point description of saxophonist Seiji Harakawa’s debut album Skipping Down the Street, an excellent showcase for the agile alto sax leader and rhythm section to project their skill, effort, and enjoyment of jazz. The full group listed on the record, “Seiji Harakawa Quartet featuring Fukushi Tainaka” also emphasizes the importance of drums and groove on this album, and honors Harakawa’s experience playing living legend drummer Tainaka in New York for half a decade before Harakawa returned to Japan. ...

Jazz bassist Motoi Kanamori’s My Soul Meeting from 2018 is his album debut as leader, where his jazz group rips and swings through eight tracks of modern piano trio jazz. With a polished, fun touch, the group delivers mid- and up-tempo jazz with propulsive grooves, expressive auras, and well-timed hits. His piano trio is joined by alto and tenor sax on two tracks as well, amping up the energy with edginess and texture. ...