CD Review: Yoko Miwa Trio, "Songs Of Joy"

 

The Yoko Miwa Trio has released their new CD, "Songs Of Life".  Like all of us, pianist Yoko Miwa found the year 2020 a tough period to live through.  The recording of this album was delayed and her long time home base for performing, Les Zygomates Wine Bar & Bistro in Boston closed its doors for good. Sadly, the pandemic has had the same effect on most musicians.  No place to perform and a lot of Jazz venues closed down forever.  In addition to this bad news, Yoko's father also passed away.  To Yoko's credit she never let these serious roadblocks stop her from continuing her musical creativity. "Once the pandemic started, I decided to write something every day.  I just tried to sit down at the piano and play whatever I felt on that day.  Of course I was frustrated, but I tried to stay positive".  The result of her super positive spirit was the birth of some uplifting emotional and optimistic music that is contained in the five original songs she composed for this CD.

Yoko Miwa plays piano with a Jazz-inspired spontaneity and when it is combined with her classically-trained virtuosity she moves to the top with the list of today's great pianists.   Legendary pianist Ahmad Jamal had this to say about Yoko playing,  "At 90 years plus, I have known and heard most of the great pianists, including Art Tatum, Oscar Dennard, Phhineas Newborn, Nat Cole, Dodo Marmarosa, Johnny Costa, and Erroll Garner.  Yoko is amazing and will continue to grow." 

The Yoko Miwa Trio has been performing together for more than 15 years and consists of Yoko Miwa on Piano, Will Slater on Acoustic Bass and Scott Goulding on Drums.  When this trio plays they seem inspired and produce music sounds that are a joy to hear.  This CD was inspired by Billy Preston's "Song of Joy" "With every note I play, I play with love...With all the happiness this melody brings".

MUSICIANS:

Yoko Miwa- Piano

Will Slater- Acoustic Bass

Scott Goulding- Drums

Brad Barrett- Acoustic Bass-Track 11

PLAYLIST:

1. Freedom

2. Largo Desolato

3. Song of Joy

4. Small Talk

5. The Lonely Hours

6. No Problem

7. The Rainbirds

8. Think of Me

9. Inside A Dream

10. Tony's Blues

11. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You

I have attached two "YouTube" songs from the CD for your listening pleasure.  The first is the Billy Preston's tune, "Song of Joy" and the second is a Yoko Miwa original "The Rainbirds". 

                                                                       "Song of Love"

                                                                          "The Rainbirds"

The Best Love Songs Written In The Fifty Years From 1960 to 2010. A Special Valentine Playlist For Your Special Person

One of my long time followers of the Music Man Blog, Zelda, recently suggested that the great Beatles' tune "Michelle" should be on the "Greatest Love Songs of All Times" list.  As I was thinking about this suggestion, Zelda offered another suggestion that maybe we should have a new list developed for great songs written after 1960. Excellent suggestion especially since Valentine's Day is just a few days away. Here is a knockout playlist to share with that special person on Valentine's Day.

1.  "Michelle" 1965 by John Lennon & Paul McCartney

2.  "Your Song" 1970 by Elton John & Bernie Taupin

3.  "The Summer Knows" 1971 by Michel Legrand

4.  "The Shadow Of Your Smile" 1965 by Johnny Mandel & Paul Webster

5.   "Something" 1969 by George Harrison

6.   "Evergreen" 1976 by Barbara Streisand & Paul Williams

7.   "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" 1982 by Michel Legrand

8.   "Yesterday" 1965 by Paul; McCartney

9.   "Just The Way You Are" 1977 by Billy Joel

10. "Send In The Clowns" 1973 by Stephen Sondheim

11. "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life" 1969 by Michel Legrand

12. "God Only Knows" 1966 by Brian Wilson

13. "My Girl" 1964 by Smokey Robinson & Ronald White

14."I'll Be There" 1970 by Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis & Willie Hutch

15."Wonderful Tonight" 1977 by Eric Clapton

16. "Save The Last Dance For Me" 1960 Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman

17. "You Are the Sunshine Of My Life" 1973 by Stevie Wonder

18. "Have I Told You Lately" 1969 by Van Morrison

19. "Three Times A Lady" 1978 by Lionel Richie

20. "You Are So Beautiful" 1974 by Billy Preston & Bruce Fisher

I am sure you have lots of your own personal favorite love songs that are not on the list.  Let me know if you have any love songs that should be on this list!  Happy Valentine's Day to all!