SATOKO FUJII — Satoko Fujii Ma-Do: Time Stands Still (review)

SATOKO FUJII — Satoko Fujii Ma-Do: Time Stands Still album cover Album · 2013 · Avant-Garde Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
J-Man
With the untimely death of bassist Norikatsu Koreyasu after the recording of Time Stands Still, the third album from Satoko Fujii Ma-Do marks the end of this unique Japanese quartet. Led by prolific jazz pianist Satoko Fujii, this 2013 release explores avant-garde and experimental stylings while remaining under the guidance of a melodic and acoustic style of jazz. It's a unique album for sure, and although it may be tough to appreciate for fans of more conventional music, listeners with an ear for experimental sounds should enjoy this sonic journey.

Beginning with the frantic screeching of an acoustic bass before evolving into a frenzied improvisation centered around oddly melodic phrasing and dissonant chord structures, the opening tune (entitled "Fortitude") gives a pretty good idea of what you can expect from the rest of the record. Time Stands Still feels pretty esoteric at times, but the strong improvisations and group interplay keep the album from sounding "avant-garde for the sake of being avant-garde".

Time Stands Still strikes me as an inspired work created by a quartet of musicians with some real chemistry between each other. Although it's a shame we'll probably never hear another album from Satoko Fujii Ma-Do, this group has made a strong exit statement with Time Stands Still.

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

More Is Fusion
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mozart Paradox Third Stream
THOMAS ENHCO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Jazzisdead Live Eclectic Fusion
RUINSZU
Buy this album from MMA partners
Avant Gonz Avant-Garde Jazz
JERRY BERGONZI
Buy this album from MMA partners
Julien Tassin, Heikki Ruokangas : Behind the Mask Jazz Related Improv/Composition
HEIKKI RUOKANGAS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Mundoagua II Mundoagua
ARTURO O'FARRILL
js· 1 day ago
Brass Happy (Live)
DENNIS KYNE
js· 2 days ago
GoGo Penguin - Fallowfield Loops
GOGO PENGUIN
snobb· 2 days ago
Somewhere That's Green
DEB BOWMAN
js· 3 days ago
If I Try
TONY GREY
js· 3 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed