A Shade Of Blue
Evosound, 2023
8/10
The veteran Japanese pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto tips his hat to Erroll Garner, Wynton Kelly and Red Garland, where Toshio Osumi and Hiroshi Kagawa are in attendance for these 12 lively tracks.
The animated “Speed Ball Blues” begins the listen with Yamamoto’s dancing keys alongside Kagawa’s playfully plucked bass in the frisky jazz climate, and “Speak Low” follows with a glowing intimacy via the mature piano that tugs on the heartstrings, as Osumi’s lively drums enter with much charm.
The middle track belongs to the atmospheric “Black Is The Color”, where dreamy keys segue into the stylish rhythm section’s dynamic interaction, while “Midnight Sugar” spotlights Kagawa’s precise bass prowess amid Yamamoto’s flowing fingers for the album’s best.
The final 2 tracks don’t disappoint either, where “Misty” offers gentle reflection via the subdued and agile instrumentation, and “Bye Bye Blackbird” bop and shakes with an infectious exit of hard driving, timeless jazz.
The sound quality here is excellent, and the trio perform with a collaborative appeal that illustrates profound appreciation for the legends of jazz, which influences the swingin’ and gentle moments here.
Travels well with: Alex Norris- Chess Moves; Audrey Ochoa- The Head Of A Mouse