The Maker Speaks
Touches & Velvets
Minami Hiroshi, and the Defunct New York
Minami Hiroshi, and the Defunct New York
Hello. I'm here to talk about "Touches & Velvets" a 2004 jazz album of Minami Hiroshi. What's Minami Hiroshi? He is a Japanese jazz pianist who was born in 1960 Tokyo and graduated from Berklee College of Music (America) in 1991. He has released several jazz albums in Japan, but I don't know how popular (or unpopular) he is overseas at all.
One day he met Kikuchi Naruyoshi. Who is it? He's a Japanese jazz saxophonist who was born in 1963 Chiba, and got in love with Minami's piano play. In 2002, he decided to produce (direct) a jazz album of Minami. He desired to hear Minami play piano nicely as he desired. Then, what did he have to do? He first had to suggest the theme of the jazz album. No steps without any guidelines. The theme was "New York in 1950's."
"New York in 1950's" is, needless to say, very important on jazz's history. It was the golden age of "Blue Note." It was set up in 1939 New York. And in 1950's, the label had many VIPs like John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, and Cannonball Adderley with Miles Davis.
However, both were born in 1960's as mentioned above. In 1960's, the Beatles appeared and became a legend, Elvis Presley went downhill and rose up, and Tokyo Olympic made Japan be deeply in debt. Countless things were there, but it was naturally after 1950's. No way to to undergo the bygone times. Then, I suppose they longed to experience the 1950's even if it was virtual.
Great is the first song, B Minor Waltz. Bill Evans composed it for his ex-lover Ellaine who killed herself in 1973. It means it is a requiem. Minami played it as the opening theme of "Touches & Velvets." Why? My opinion is they had to set it as the first because this had to lead the listeners to the defunct New York. Requiem was necessary at the entrance.
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Release: October 21, 2004 ewe records |
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01. B Minor Waltz 02. Scrapple from the Apple 03. Madrugada 04. Quiet Dream 05. Closing Velvets Produced by Kikuchi Naruyoshi |
"New York in 1950's" is, needless to say, very important on jazz's history. It was the golden age of "Blue Note." It was set up in 1939 New York. And in 1950's, the label had many VIPs like John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, and Cannonball Adderley with Miles Davis.
However, both were born in 1960's as mentioned above. In 1960's, the Beatles appeared and became a legend, Elvis Presley went downhill and rose up, and Tokyo Olympic made Japan be deeply in debt. Countless things were there, but it was naturally after 1950's. No way to to undergo the bygone times. Then, I suppose they longed to experience the 1950's even if it was virtual.
Great is the first song, B Minor Waltz. Bill Evans composed it for his ex-lover Ellaine who killed herself in 1973. It means it is a requiem. Minami played it as the opening theme of "Touches & Velvets." Why? My opinion is they had to set it as the first because this had to lead the listeners to the defunct New York. Requiem was necessary at the entrance.
