Record Reviews

SATOKO FUJII ORCHESTRA BERLIN ~ NINETY-NINE YEARS LIBRA 211-047 (Barcode: 4562169330474) ~ JAPAN ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is an album by Japanese pianist / composer / bandleader Satoko FujiiFind albums by this artist, one of the most prominent representatives of the contemporary Avant-Garde Jazz activists. The album was recorded with an eleven piece Orchestra Berlin, one of Fujii´s permanent ensembles, which features mostly German musicians, but includes also her Japanese husband, trumpeter Natsuki TamuraFind albums by this artist, French drummer Peter OrinsFind albums by this artist and Polish saxophonist Paulina OwczarekFind albums by this artist. The album presents five extended original orchestral compositions, all by Fujii and is one of the twelve albums Fujii released in 2018 (one every month) to celebrate her 60th Birthday. Her cumulating discography since 1991 includes well over a hundred albums. The music is everything contemporary Avant-Garde Big Band has to offer: composed parts expanded into lengthy improvised passages, several sub-ensembles constantly developing within the frame of the Big Band (duos, trios, etc.) sublime individual soloing and group improvisations and much more. Fujii skillfully uses the entire arsenal at her disposal to continue the splendid tradition of European Avant-Garde Big Bands, which goes several decades into the past, initiated by the British Big Bands led by Barry GuyFind albums by this artist, Mike WestbrookFind albums by this artist and others and later European parallels like Globe Unity OrchestraFind albums by this artist and others. Since contemporary activity in this particular area is rather limited today, Fujii´s recordings are even more important and significant. Of course Avant-Garde Jazz never was music for the masses, and this intellectually challenging offering is of interest to a sadly miniscule group of potential listeners, who are able to appreciate and enjoy it. The faithful aficionados will find this music absolutely stunning of course, which is hardly surprising. Wholeheartedly recommended to the connoisseurs of the genre!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 19/03/2019

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