AYUMI ISHITO - View From A Little Cave
(Self produced)
Ayumi Ishito: tenor and soprano saxophone; Matthew Albeck: guitar; Takafumi Suenaga: piano, electric piano, organ, keyboards; Yoshiki Yamada: electric bass; Carter Bales: drums
Brooklyn-based tenor and soprano saxophonist Ayumi Ishito is a microcosm of this generation’s jazz musician who is able to draw upon contemporary influences in rock, pop, electronic music, new music and free improvisation and place it into a scintillating unified whole. View From A Little Cave her self produced debut album is proof of the strength a maiden voyage can have when it’s anchored by a strong tight working band and evocative compositions. Ishito’s compositions are very much about creating, mood and atmosphere even though there are solos, they are not the main focus and instead fit the overall picture.
The Ishikawa, Japan born native made her way to New York City in 2010 after graduating from Berklee and in 2011 founded her quintet which joins her on this new album consisting of Matthew Albeck on guitar, Takafumi Suenaga on keyboards, Yoshiki Yamada on electric bass and drummer Carter Bales. Ishito’s predilection for strong melody is apparent right away on the title track alternating between her thoughtful lines and a knotty chromatic labyrinth, and much funkier means. Suenaga’s rich Fender Rhodes solo spices things up atop the incredibly well oiled rhythm section of Yamada and Bales. The leader’s dark almost baritone like tenor sound makes a brief statement reminding listeners that everything is once again about the overall texture. “Still Shallow” is a pretty, melancholic poppish line thick on melodic development, and “Road Song” a Trane ish waltz has a mysterious Spanish flavor with Albeck’s magnificent guitar solo laced with wah wah effects. Ishito’s searching solo makes use at points of harmonics that recall one of her main influences Joe Henderson in the way he used them on the tune “El Barrio” from his classic “Inner Urge” (Blue Note, 1964). If there is any piece here that will become a signature of the Ishito song book, it will certainly be the reggae inflected “Walking on Mars”, a piece she has played for quite sometime in live settings. The heavy, grooving bounce is helped along by Suenaga’s chunky clavinet and Hammond organ, Yamada’s pocket bass, and is a memorable melody played by the saxophonist on soprano, enhanced by double tracking. Once again, there is sterling guitar work from Albeck.
View From A Little Cave is a promising debut from a musician that makes up an effervescent bright scene in Brooklyn but also a community of Japanese players who are making their own strong contributions. The album, along with others like tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin bring jazz to a fresh audience of listeners. Ayumi Ishito is a talent deserving wider recognition.
Reviewed by C J Shearn
(Self produced)
Ayumi Ishito: tenor and soprano saxophone; Matthew Albeck: guitar; Takafumi Suenaga: piano, electric piano, organ, keyboards; Yoshiki Yamada: electric bass; Carter Bales: drums
Brooklyn-based tenor and soprano saxophonist Ayumi Ishito is a microcosm of this generation’s jazz musician who is able to draw upon contemporary influences in rock, pop, electronic music, new music and free improvisation and place it into a scintillating unified whole. View From A Little Cave her self produced debut album is proof of the strength a maiden voyage can have when it’s anchored by a strong tight working band and evocative compositions. Ishito’s compositions are very much about creating, mood and atmosphere even though there are solos, they are not the main focus and instead fit the overall picture.
The Ishikawa, Japan born native made her way to New York City in 2010 after graduating from Berklee and in 2011 founded her quintet which joins her on this new album consisting of Matthew Albeck on guitar, Takafumi Suenaga on keyboards, Yoshiki Yamada on electric bass and drummer Carter Bales. Ishito’s predilection for strong melody is apparent right away on the title track alternating between her thoughtful lines and a knotty chromatic labyrinth, and much funkier means. Suenaga’s rich Fender Rhodes solo spices things up atop the incredibly well oiled rhythm section of Yamada and Bales. The leader’s dark almost baritone like tenor sound makes a brief statement reminding listeners that everything is once again about the overall texture. “Still Shallow” is a pretty, melancholic poppish line thick on melodic development, and “Road Song” a Trane ish waltz has a mysterious Spanish flavor with Albeck’s magnificent guitar solo laced with wah wah effects. Ishito’s searching solo makes use at points of harmonics that recall one of her main influences Joe Henderson in the way he used them on the tune “El Barrio” from his classic “Inner Urge” (Blue Note, 1964). If there is any piece here that will become a signature of the Ishito song book, it will certainly be the reggae inflected “Walking on Mars”, a piece she has played for quite sometime in live settings. The heavy, grooving bounce is helped along by Suenaga’s chunky clavinet and Hammond organ, Yamada’s pocket bass, and is a memorable melody played by the saxophonist on soprano, enhanced by double tracking. Once again, there is sterling guitar work from Albeck.
View From A Little Cave is a promising debut from a musician that makes up an effervescent bright scene in Brooklyn but also a community of Japanese players who are making their own strong contributions. The album, along with others like tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin bring jazz to a fresh audience of listeners. Ayumi Ishito is a talent deserving wider recognition.
Reviewed by C J Shearn
