Masabumi Kikuchi - Japan's (Possibly) Greatest Jazz Pianist Dead At 75

[charles t]

Masabumi Kikuchi, died July 6. Whether his passing was noticed on this forum or not, I can't say.

His trio: Tethered Moon - with Gary Peacock & Paul Motian recordings on Winter & Winter are out-a-sight!

First Meeting...Chansons d Edith Piat...Tosca.

As well as Plays Kurt Weil...Plays Jimi Hendrix on (Japanese) JMT.

NY Times Interview 2012:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/arts/music/masabumi-kikuchi-finds-new-direction-with-sunrise.html?_r=0

[Serial_Apologist]

Indeed Charles, I'll give this link a listen. To be honest I hadn't heard of him. I guess those slanted towards the avant-garde and experimental end of music have been interested more in their contributions to improvised and electronica together with some of Japan's contemporary classical composers, with whom the former have associations in some cases. We certainly see more of the latter over here, as MrGG will tell us.

[Ian Thumwood]

I haven't heard a gret deal of Kickuchi's music ther than "Tethered moon" which cmes out of the Bill Evans school of playing. When I heard this group I was a bit surprised as I had previously associated Kickuchi with the avant garde, largely through this Gil Evans arrangement of his "Lunar Eclipse"

Later Gil Evans is a bit of a mixed bag. Some of the 1980's music was a bit ragged but the 1977 disc "priestess" remains his finest "electronic" recording. It has never been issued on CD to my knowledge and appeared on "Island" is I am correct. The record has always been a massive favourite of mine with the track "Lunar Eclipse" always being extremely exciting;-

What I think is interesting is that Japanese jazz musicians no seem less of a novelty and more likely to have their own creative voice. I think Toshiko Akiyoshi still takes some beating but I have been listening a lot to Satoko Fujji's album "Jo" which takes it's cues from Evans and Akiyoshi but pushes the music to extremes.

[Ian Thumwood]

As for claims about "Japan's greatest jazz pianist", I think Fujii might be worthy of consideration whilst I would strongly recommend the music if Eri Yamamoto , a frequent collaborator with William Parker and very much a disciple of Paul Bley.

In an era where the piano trio is beginning to be mistreated and loosing it's potency, I think Eri Yamamoto really needs to be more widely appreciated.

[Tenor Freak]

I have only heard one track of his - but it really was excellent. It was a track from Paul Motian's "On Broadway Volume 4" LP on Winter & Winter. I was very impressed with his use of space...and the vocals too...

this is fucking brilliant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omlz9ouecEY[/VIDEO]

[charles t]

Bruce, here is the bookend to your Masabumi selection.

If there could be a nomenclature of Jazz Minimalist applied to a player...so beautiful.