Satoko Fujii Orchestra Tokyo - Peace

Satoko Fujii Orchestra Tokyo

Peace

Libra Records

Satoko Fujii: conductor/composer; Kunihiro Izumi: alto sax; Sachi Hayasaka: soprano sax, alto sax; Kenichi Matsumoto: tenor sax; Ryuichi Yoshida: baritone sax; Natsuki Tamura: trumpet; Yosihito Fukumoto: trumpet; Takao Watanabe: trumpet; Yusaku Shirotani: trumpet; Haguregumo Nagamatsu: trombone; Yasuyuki Takahashi: trombone; Toshihiro Koiki: trombone;Toshiki Nagata: bass; Akira Harikoshi: drums; Christian Pruvost: trumpet; Peter Orins: drums

Of Satoko Fujii’s five orchestras (Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, New York and Berlin), Orchestra Tokyo might display the best balance between composition and improvisation. Whereas Orchestra New York, in particular, has leaned heavily in the direction of showcasing individual talent, perhaps because of the collection of all-stars she has in her band, Orchestra Tokyo provides some compelling evidence why Ms. Fujii has been called “the Ellington of the avant-garde.”

Knowing this, I listened to the opening of 2014, the lengthy first track on the album, with some growing trepidation as a trumpet (Tamura I believe) led off with an exploration of extended techniques that eventually wore out its welcome. However, at about the ten-minute mark, things really got underway and from there the listener is treated to an experience that continually shifts between composed sections and improvised ones, with varying degrees of dark and light. Christian Pruvost and Peter Orins, members of her small group Kaze, are on board for this album and they integrate seamlessly.

Peace is dedicated to the late Kelly Churko, the guitarist associated with the noise genre and who played on Orchestra Tokyo’s previous release, Zakopane. Throughout the album you hear sadness, anguish, anger and some grudging hope. Peace resolves with the closing Beguine Nummer Eins, which mixes majesty with folk-like simplicity, resulting in a melody that will stay with you. Not quite peace, but at least a sense of hopeful resignation.

Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York - Shiki

Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York

Shiki

Libra Records

Oscar Noriega, Briggan Krauss – Alto sax

Ellery Eskelin, Tony Malaby – Tenor sax

Andy Laster – Baritone sax

Natsuki Tamura, Herb Robertson, Steven Bernstein, Dave Ballou – Trumpet

Curtis Hasselbring, Joey Sellers, Joe Fielder – Trombone

Satoko Fujii – Piano

Stomu Takeishi – Bass

Aaron Alexander - Drums

Shiki is Satoko Fujii’s ninth album with her Orchestra New York, and for the occasion she’s brought back her collection of downtown all-stars. It’s a testament to Ms. Fujii’s tenacity and vision, and the regard with which the musicians must hold for her, that she’s been able to keep a core group intact for eighteen years.

The album continues in the vein of its predecessor, Eto, in that the title composition plays more of a supportive role rather than standing out for its theme. Shiki, which means “four seasons”, presents a series of long simple motifs that rise and fall like the swell of waves, constantly building and releasing tension. The composition serves as a backdrop, framing a series of explorations by individual soloists. Just when you think the band has lost its way, Fujii re-introduces a thematic thread to pull the performance back together. 

Gen Himmel, which was the title track from Fujii’s most recent solo album, is a beautiful composition, given a somber, processional feel by the band, with aching interjections by a trumpeter, I assume Natsuki Tamura. Here his extended techniques work well to convey what comes across as profound grief for the loss of bassist Norikatsu Koreyasu, a member of Tamura’s Gato Libre quartet. The shortest of the tracks at less than seven minutes, it left me wanting more.

Bi Ga Do Da by Natsuki Tamura is a tribal romp, with slightly deranged vocal exhortations by the band of the rhythmic words that make up the title. Here the band is front and center, as opposed to any particular soloist, although Fujii does contribute some of her signature fractured piano runs, something that is kept to the background for most of the album. 

Shiki, both the composition and the album as a whole, comes across as the trumpet section’s showcase, given the solos on the title track by Herb Robertson and Steve Bernstein, and for Natsuki Tamura’s contributions. They use a lot of extended techniques, and I found myself wanting to hear a good “clean” trumpet sound for at least part of a solo, but that’s about my only quibble with the album.

Dark Poetry

Craig Taborn Trio 

Chants 

ECM

Craig Taborn – Piano
Thomas Morgan – Double Bass
Gerald Cleaver - Drums

Satoko Fujii New Trio
Spring Storm
Libra

Satoko Fujii – Piano
Todd Nicholson – Double Bass
Takashi Itani - Drums

I’ve been listening to these two CDs side-by-side in my car changer, and on more than one occasion I’ve confused them in my head. Listening to them sequentially has proven to be instructive, because the two pianists do share some similarities in approach. Both blend classical and jazz influences in unique ways. Both have a brooding, sometimes foreboding style, darker hues with splashes of light. And both build tension through repetition.

Of course, they have their own voices. Taborn’s music takes on an elegiac quality, working phrases over and over, gaining ground slowly. Fujii jump cuts from motif to motif, resulting at times in a jarring transition, yet somehow making sense at the end. And in each case their cohorts are excellent partners, providing just the right colors and accents.

It’s been fascinating to see the progression in the careers of both artists. Taborn in particular has come so far since he was a member of James Carter’s band back in the day. Fujii’s style is more of a known quantity, but still exciting to listen to. These are both among the best new releases I’ve heard in 2013.