Beyond The Silk Road
Mandacara, 2025
8/10
Listen to Beyond The Silk Road
The Japanese pianist and composer Hiroko Mina brings us 9 worldly tunes that embrace New Age ideas and plenty of Eastern and Western sensibilities.
“Wings Of Celestial Maiden” opens with much ambience, before Mamiko Uchiwa’s stunning voice suits Mina’s mesmerizing keys and Ron Carter’s moody bass, and “Sky Voice” follows with Liu Wei’s expressive throat singing and whistling amid Mina’s lovely key progressions that radiate dreaminess.
“Floating Temple” and “Moonlit Oasis” land in the middle. The former blends Hideki Tsutsumi’s synth with lush keys via much color and cinematic qualities, while the latter recruits Susumu Otsuka’s meticulous pan flute to add much grace to the heartfelt piano.
Near the end, “Nomad” welcomes Calin Farcasel’s flute and Nicusor Mardarescu’s oboe for the poetic album highlight, and “The Path Beyond Infinity” exits with Uchiwa’s voice and hazy synth complementing the hypnotic keys.
A very eclectic and unpredictable version of jazz that’s nothing short of captivating, Mina surrounds herself with incredible talent for a memorable listening experience.
Travels well with: Wink Winkelmann- Be It Known; Elijah Rock- Memories Unleashed- Impulse 1