HIROMI'S SONICBLOOM: BEYOND STANDARD

Her previous album, Time Control, and this one, Beyond Standard, have been made under her Jazz Rock/Fusion band, Hiromi's Sonicbloom. The only big difference this time, except for 1 song, she didn't write the music but, like the title of the album say's, it's Jazz standard, but played version Hiromi. So, although she didn't write the material, it sound like her. When the album came out and saw that she didn't wrote most of the material on the album, I was kind of disappointed a little. But my fear vanished as soon as the first note of Softly As In A Morning Sunrise started to play. Wow! The beauty of her piano playing the first theme of the song is mesmerizing. And then we have a amazing bass solo from the incredible Tony Gray, and it's perfect for a perfect track.

Then we have Debussy's Clair De Lune. If the auteur of the track wasn't mention, I wouldn't have been able to know who wrote the track. Debussy Jazz? Yep, and it work well.

Next we have some Juan Tizol / Duke Ellington, Caravan, with some great Nord Lead passage and lot's of guitar.

Ue Wo Muite Aruko is a Japanese traditional song, best groove so far, very Funk Jazz, another amazing track.

My Favorite Things might be the most covered song in all the Jazz and Hiromi makes no exception. I was apprehensive of that one, but great variation, and she manage to infuse a big part of her personality in it.

Led Boots is a great Jazz Rock song from the Jeff Beck album Wired, and she does it justice and manage to pull it off once more.

XYG is the only Hiromi composition from the album and a song that was previously recorded as a Trio piece on her first album. This time she re-recorded the song, but as a Quartet, with David Fiuczynski adding a lot to the track with great Guitar parts.

The last song is a solo piece, like all her previous album, there is always a solo track, and the one in Beyond Standard doesn't disappoint, I've Got Rhythm from Gershwin, played like no one has done before, one of her most impressive piano playing ever!!!! A perfect end to another perfect album from one of my biggest inspiration in music, Hiromi Uehara. Another 5 stars, Essential: a masterpiece of jazz rock/fusion music.