https://mirror2.jazzofjapan.com/tags/victor-lewis/ Recent content in Victor Lewis on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory Hugo en Thu, 19 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://mirror2.jazzofjapan.com/miki-hayama-trio-wide-angle/ Thu, 19 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0000 https://mirror2.jazzofjapan.com/miki-hayama-trio-wide-angle/ <p>Pianist Miki Hayama creates superb jazz on <em>Wide Angle</em>, exploring powerful, edge-of-your-seat quickness with modern dimensions. This album is her third as a leader and received awards from the Japanese jazz magazine <em>Swing Journal</em> in 2009 and 2010.</p> <figure><a href="L1200167-1024.jpg"> <img loading="lazy" src="L1200167-1024.jpg"/> </a> </figure> <p>With the album title perhaps being a nod to the angular McCoy Tyner-ish style of playing that Hayama excels at, the music is full of various moods. Hayama’s trio thrives on quick tempo and high-energy improvisation, a great platform for the pianist’s skill with rapid patterns and leaping bursts. Her agile solos are full of notes which seem to climb and swirl and fall into place like musical puzzle pieces. At mid-tempo songs and slower ballads, her graceful side shows an impressive command of modern jazz piano and smartly constructed arrangements.</p>