A jazz pianist who balances lyricism with boldness, Sachiko Ikuta leads a piano trio on Haru No Kaze (Spring Wind) from 2012. Legendary jazz trumpeter Terumasa Hino also joins on two songs, adding an adventurous spash of avante-garde improvisation to the album.
The nine tracks feature classic jazz standards, songs by Bills Evans and Thelonious Monk, two original compositions, and a charming reconstruction of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” which swings gracefully. Ikuta even puts her well-rounded solo piano on display with a confident rendition of “Everything Happens To Me”, showcasing her dedication to the tradition of great jazz pianists.
Leader: Sachiko Ikuta · 生田さち子 · https://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/sachiko3ikuta
Members:
- Sachiko Ikuta – piano
- Hideaki Kanazawa – contrabass
- Shun Ishiwaka – drums
- Terumasa Hino – trumpet, cornet (tr. 3, 6)
Released in 2012 on Studio TLive Records XQHG-1007.
Here is a video showing a live performance of the trio performing the title track:
* Audio sample at top of page is from the opening of this album, the original composition “Haru No Kaze”.