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"

CD Review: Yoko Miwa Trio, "Keep Talkin"

Pianist, Composer, Arranger and Berklee College of Music Professor Yoko Miwa has just released her definitive Piano-Trio Album, "Keep Talkin" and it highlights her brilliant playing and composing.  Listening to Miwa and her talented trio is like getting an open invitation to join them in a master class in "The Jazz Piano Trio".  Her composing is wonderful and "JazzWeek" quoted "her music is bright and accessible".  I couldn't agree more with this statement.  Her understanding of melody and Jazz arranging is so comforting that I felt at easy the first time I played her songs on this CD.  When listening to Miwa, you can clearly hear the influence of Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner and Oscar Peterson.  Miwa listened to these Jazz giants and then continued to work to bring her own voice into their approach to creating great Piano Jazz Trio music.  Her composing and playing is so measured and yet free and fresh.  Miwa has learned well from her Piano heroes and has produced music that is warm, understandable and yet creatively fresh.  She has performed with the members of her trio for many years and it shows.  There are times when each member gets to show their technical chops and then the three seem to merger into one glorious sound.  This is one of the best Jazz Piano Trios I have heard, and I have heard many.  It's not only the brilliant playing, it's the composing and Arranging.  The combination makes this Trio a winner, just like this CD!

The Yoko Mira Trio still tours around the country, so don't miss a chance to see them in person.  They are worth any effort to hear them play.

Miwa's composing is so good that I was tempted to attach two of her original songs from her CD but changed my mind after I heard her version of "Golden Slumbers/You Never Give Me Your Money".  The first YouTube is the first cut in the CD, "Keep Talking"that Miwa composed. However, I could not resist attaching her version of the two songs from the Beatles' "Abby Road" CD, "Golden Slumbers/ "You Never Give Me Your Money".  This medley of these two underplayed Beatles songs are breathless beautiful.  They remind me of the brilliance of John and Paul and also the brilliance of the Yoko Miwa Trio.

 The first YouTube is the first cut in the CD, "Keep Talking".   The second YouTube is "Golden Slumbers, You Never Give Me Your Money."























"Keep Talking"

"Golden Slumbers/You Never Give Me Your Money"

CD Review: Yoko Miwa Trio, "Pathways"

The new CD from "The Yoko Miwa Trio" is simply wonderful Jazz.  Planist/Composer Yoko Miwa's performance is nothing short of spectacular!  Her sense of melody and phrasing even when improvising is perfect.  She plays with clarity and spontaneity even when she is exploring new places in each song. The listener experiences something new in each song and there is the sense that every improvised note is in the right place.  She is joined on this CD by Bassist Will Slater and Drummer Scott Goulding who she has been playing with for over 15 years.  It shows because the three players are in lock step knowing and anticipating every move each makes.  At times, it feels like one voice because the fit is so strong.  The Trio plays in the Boston area almost every weekend so they have a lot of time to write and try out new material.

The CD features the songs of Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Marc Johnson and four songs written by Yoko Miwa.  The brilliant musical dexterity and Phrasing from all three players on the CD is sparkling and refreshing.  I know there are a lot of people who just don't get what Jazz is all about.  It's not easy to explain what makes Jazz so exciting,  but if you listen to this great CD, I feel confident you will find the answer.

Players:
Yoko Miwa, Piano
Will Slater, Acoustic Bass
Scott Goulding, Drums
Brad Barrett, Acoustic Bass (Track 8)

Playlist:
1. "Log O'Rhythm"
2. "Lickety Split"
3. "Court and Spark"
4. "The Goalkeeper"
5. "After You"
6. "Lantern Light"
7. "Was It Something I Said"
8. "Dear Prudence"


I have attached a "YouTube" of "The Yoko Miwa Trio" playing the first cut from the album, "Log O'Rhythm".  This song was composed by Marc Johnson who performed as the Bassist for "The Bill Evans Trio".  It's a master class in Jazz performance.  Enjoy!