11/11/2023 0 Comments Scenery jazz![]() There’s longing, despair, and a hint of hedonism within this song that feels like a cigar and scotch bender put to music. Smoky, cabaret ride cymbals accent the bass notes as the piano tells the tale of loss without words. The explosive drum solo that punctuates the middle third is the wind-up that is needed to set apart the final pummeling on the keys.įukui’s take on “Willow Weep for Me” is lounge jazz at its finest. Sure, this is technically impressive, but it’s the feeling that comes from all of this that sets it apart. His dynamics on the keys feel well beyond his years at the time, and this is hardly more evident than on this 10-minute rendition of “Early Summer” that goes from lilting on the keys in the opening moments to the frantic runs and chromatic arpeggios in the up-tempo mid-section. Ryo Fukui started somewhat late in life as a musician and even later behind the keys, and considering that Scenery is his debut record makes this whole thing even more impressive. Jazz is generally a genre of standards, and it’s the interpretation of those standards that can make or break a reputation or career in some cases. There are three instruments playing a handful of songs that cover a little over 40 minutes, but within that span, there’s an escape hatch that lets me jettison my cares, my worries, and my surroundings and be absorbed by this trio of burgeoning musicians. This is a simple album by almost any objective measurement. ![]() ![]() It is effervescent, airy, hopeful, and with plenty of room between the notes to let the imagination send you on a fairy tale where you’ve won some amazing prize that changes your life forever. ![]() When I heard his rendition of the standard “It Could Happen to You” lead off this record, it became clear that this interpretation of the song could be the definitive version. This is also one of those albums that I don’t remember when or how I discovered it, but whatever outlet offered it up to me feels like an instrument of fate. Scenery is more than likely my favorite jazz record, especially jazz which sees piano as the lead instrument. The decision to celebrate this album has filled me with one of those rare joys. ![]()
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