Yoko Miwa Trio
‘Keep Talkin’ ‘
Ocean Blue Tear
Music
Over the past two
decades, pianist Yoko Miwa has established herself as a top side-musician with
Esperanza Spalding, Kevin Mahogany, Arturo Sandoval, and others. Miwa is also
the leader with her own trio. The group’s latest album, “Keep Talkin’,” reinforces Miwa’s prowess as a pianist and
composer. She is comfortable in a variety of styles, from the bluesy nature of
the title track to the intricacies of Thelonious Monk (“In Walked Bud”) and
Charles Mingus (“Boogie Stop Shuffle”). Her playing is, in a word, sparkling.
Her own
compositions, like “Tone Portrait” and “Sunset Lane,” have the feel of instant
classics. And when Miwa covers pop songs, she favors unlikely choices and
reinvents them as jazz standards ripe for improvisation. On “Keep Talkin’,” The Beatles’ “Golden
Slumbers/You Never Give Me Your Money” and Joni Mitchell’s “Conversation” are
transformed. Bassist Will Slater and drummer Scott Goulding provide
strong support throughout the album, while Brad Barrett plays gorgeous arco bass on Miwa’s beautiful closer, “Sunshine Follows the
Rain.”
This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 3, 2019.
