TATSUYA YOSHIDA & SATOKO FUJII: ERANS

Along with providing drumming for some of the Satoko Fujii Quartet's albums and performances, Yoshida has collaborated here with Fujii in a very interesting duet album - drums and piano. Satoko is a fairly incredible pianist, whose style seems to mix jazz and a pinch of avant garde fairly seamlessly. Thanks to her ability and versatility, these two have managed to record some pretty great stuff on this album. Each of them composed several pieces on the album, as well as collaborating on the writing of two tracks. Both have produced some pretty fun, fiery tracks for this collaboration, and it's really interesting to hear what they can do together.

I remember reading a while back at someone's surprise with Yoshida's playing in Satoko's quartet - they didn't expect him to be able to adapt to the slightly more subdued style expected in a jazz quartet. Based on the music on this album, I'd say that he is definitely able to go at least part way, and Satoko is no slouch at moving towards the more aggressive style required for Yoshida's compositions. The resulting interplay on the tracks is generally pretty great. The tracks are generally uptempo and fairly complex rhythmically, but both players get to show their characteristic style off, I think. I'm not familiar with much of Satoko's other work though, so I may be completely off on this one. Whatever the case though, they do play some great music here. I love Satoko's style on piano on this album, she brings a big part of her jazzy history with her which mixes quite well with Yoshida's intense drumming. The last track on the album is the only one with vocals, and it is basically the first track repeated with both musicians singing along with the melody. I don't notice any other real differences from the first take.

This is really a great album. It doesn't quite reach masterpiece status, but it's something I always enjoy listening to. As the Obi strip on the album says, these compositions really display the "passion and virtuosity of these two Japanese visionaries." (Tzadik) I couldn't have put it better myself. Along with the obvious reference point of Ruins (in Yoshida's drumming and compositions) the album somewhat resembles classical music (Stravinsky, not Beethoven) and jazz, both thanks to Satoko's piano playing. Easy four stars for this one.