Some jazz instrumentalists, such as Lester Young, were known for their ability to tell stories through their playing. Others, like pianist Satoko Fujii, are known for their ability to paint pictures. As the title of her latest release suggests, Fujii, along with trumpeter Natsuki Tamura and drummer Ramon Lopez, create a musical vision of Yama Kawa Umi — the mountain side sea. Much like the breathtaking vistas, towering cliffs, deep blue waters, cascading waterfalls and secluded coves of the mountain side sea, the music of Yama Kawa Umi offers a sense of raw, untamed beauty. The opening track — “Headwaters” — is a case in point. It begins with a thunderous explosion of sound coming from the full trio only to be silenced by some well-placed single piano notes morphing into cascades as Tamura and Lopez tumble along the water’s path. Many of the other eight tunes on this journey follow the same pattern — shifting from serene passages to turbulent collective improvisation. At times, Lopez’s sensitive brush work conjures up images of sand slowly shifting on the shore only to be engulfed in a wave of rhythmic flurry. Tamura’s range of whispers, snarls, blasts and blurts emulate the wind as it travels through the rugged terrain. Like a waterfall, Fujii’s piano playing can be as precise as a single drop or as imposing as a torrential downpour. There are moments in each tune when all three musicians interact while at other times they perform as soloists or in various duo configurations. On “Signposts”, Fujii’s single notes are echoed by Tamura as if in a secluded cove.  There is also an echo of Thelonius Monk’s “Misterioso” on this tune. On “Cold Water” Lopez and Fujii play a call and response pattern with Tamura’s trumpet interrupting the conversation. Although this is only their second recording as a trio, it is obvious that Fujii, Tamura and Lopez are totally in sync, working together to create an aural picture of the raw, untamed beauty of the mountain side sea. They deliver a masterpiece with Yama Kawa Umi!

BOTTOM LINE: The music on Yama Kama Umi shifts from calming, pristine themes to
thundering, powerful passages. Using their individual and combined improvisational skills, pianist Satoko Fujii, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura and drummer Ramon Lopez create an aural portrait of the untamed beauty of Yama Kawa Umi  (Japanese for mountain side sea).

from https://papatamusredux.com