Tag: Yuko Mabuchi Trio

Yuko Mabuchi plays Miles Davis vol 1

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Yuko Mabuchi – Yuko Mabuchi Plays Miles Davis, Volume 1  By Eddie Carter  Yuko Mabuchi has been making a positive statement on the jazz scene since her 2018 releases, Yuko Mabuchi Trio, Volumes 1 and 2.  She steps into the spotlight this morning to give her second live performance at Cammilleri Hall before an enthusiastic crowd.  Yuko Mabuchi Plays Miles Davis, Volume 1 (Yarlung Records YAR45588-171V) is a single 45-rpm audiophile album offering two jewels from Kind of Blue and two original tunes by the leader.  She’s working again with trio members Del Atkins on bass and Bobby Breton on drums, plus JJ Kirkpatrick on trumpet.  JJ is a member of Sophisticated Lady Jazz Quartet and my copy used in this report is the 2020 Stereo album. Yuko sets the groove for Side One with Miles’ All Blues, her enthusiastic notes on the introduction flowing as naturally as spoken words.  Continue Reading →

Yuko Mabuchi Trio, Volume 2 | By Eddie Carter

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I’d reached the end of a very long day and was ready to relax and unwind with some piano jazz. I went to the library and came across Yuko Mabuchi Trio, Volume 2 (Yarlung Records YAR71621-161V). The second LP from the trio’s live performance at The Brain and Creativity Institute’s Cammilleri Hall with bandmates, Del Atkins on bass and Bobby Breton on drums. The concert honored the 25th Anniversary of The Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society, plus President and CEO, Bob Levi’s 70th Birthday.  My copy used in this report is the 2018 45-rpm Stereo Audiophile release. Yuko starts Side One with a trio of solo standards, All The Things You Are by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II, Take The “A” Train by Billy Strayhorn, and Satin Doll by Duke Ellington, Strayhorn, and Johnny Mercer.  She begins with a stunningly beautiful interpretation capturing the song’s romanticism. Yuko Continue Reading →

Yuko Mabuchi: Dee Dee McNeil

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Jazz Impresario Dee Dee McNeil reviews Yarlung’s 15th Anniversary release of the iconic “YUKO MABUCHI PLAYS MILES DAVIS” Yuko Mabuchi, piano; JJ Kirkpatrick, trumpet; Del Atkins, bass; Bobby Breton, drums; Bob Attiyeh, Producer. One of the things that always impresses me about Yuko Mabuchi is her ability to transform familiar songs into shiny, new, gem-like pieces.  For example, on her presentation of “All Blues,” (arranged on her tribute to Miles Davis album), she turns the waltz-time upside down by playing the piece in 5/4 and 4/4 time.  It works!  She follows this pleasant surprise with a poignant and heart-felt analysis of “Blue in Green.”  You may remember that Bill Evans and Miles Davis composed this one and it’s a star on the ‘Kind of Blue’ album. This is such an emotionally heavy song and pianist, Yuko Mabuchi, along with JJ Kirkpatrick on trumpet, squeeze out every ounce of beauty.  I Continue Reading →

Yuko Mabuchi Trio & Branford Marsalis Quartet in Orange County

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Yuko Mabuchi Trio and Branford Marsalis Quartet ushered in the New Year in Orange County with great jazz.  Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa produces one of the most important jazz series in the country.  I drove up from my home near San Diego to attend the Yuko Mabuchi Trio/Branford Marsalis Quartet performances on January 25th in the 1800 seat Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.  I’ve been attending concerts for many years in North America, Europe and Asia and this performance will remain among my greatest memories of live jazz.  Segerstrom Center uses two concert halls for its jazz series.  The more intimate 300-seat Samueli Theater hosts most of the musicians on the jazz series, which recently included Cecile McLorin Salvant, Kurt Elling and The Kenny Barron Quintet.  But for Ahmad Jamal last year and the recent Yuko Mabuchi Trio/Branford Marsalis Quartet performances, Segerstrom needed the large Continue Reading →

Yuko Mabuchi Delivers Breakthrough Performance

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Writing in The Absolute Sound, Rick Brown reviewed Yuko Mabuchi Trio’s January 25th performance at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.  Yuko opened for the great Branford Marsalis Quartet, and the two ensembles had no problem filling the 1,800 seat Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. As Brown concludes “Mabuchi and her trio are primed to take their music to the next level.”  Please visit the article in The Absolute Sound.

Commendation from City of Los Angeles

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Yuko Mabuchi Trio performed for the 25th Anniversary gala and awards ceremony for the Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society on December 2nd, 2018.  Michael Fremer won the Founder’s Award and a similar recognition from Los Angeles, Ray Kimber won the President’s Award, Don Was earned the society’s first Audiophile of the Year Award and the City of Los Angeles recognized Yarlung Records and Yarlung Artists for the important work our board, executive producers, volunteers and staff do for musicians and composers around the world. Albert Edmund Lord III presented this award to the Yarlung team for Mr. Herb J. Wesson Jr., president of the Los Angeles City Council. Gratefully receiving the award on behalf of the Yarlung family that makes this work possible, including Yarlung musicians, composers, board members, donors and executive producers were Yuko Mabuchi, Special Advisor Billy Mitchell, Yarlung board president Aaron Egigian and executive director Continue Reading →

Jorge Capadocia, NativeDSD, review of Yuko Mabuchi Trio

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Yuko Mabuchi Trio: Some Standards and some nice surprises On this album, Yuko Mabuchi is joined by Del Atkins on bass and Bobby Breton on drums to perform some jazz standards and some nice surprises. The repertoire is varied with respect to style. We get to listen to pensive songs such as Valse Noire (which is borderline melancholic), medleys, Latin Jazz and spirited tunes. This live recording starts with What Is This Thing Called Love and Yuko’s playing, along with Bobby’s drum solo, immediately engages the audience. Throughout the album, Yuko is very sensitive and lyrical in her playing and does not go for bombast unless the music demands. When it does though, like in Sona’s Song (a composition of her own), we are in for a real treat: a very intense outburst erupts, breaking a simple delicate melody. Del Atkins and Bobby Breton are supportive in their playing, with Continue Reading →

Newsletter: Feb. 13, 2017

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Dear Friends, Today we celebrate South America! Executive producers Carlos & Haydee Mollura join me in celebrating the release of Antonio Lysy’s new album South America this Friday. Amazon and iTunes are taking preorders for Friday, and HDTracks and Yarlung Records are live and delivering today. NativeDSD will follow shortly. Tom Caulfield, Cliff Harris and I are finishing the DSD files for you in stereo and in surround sound. I love this disc. GRAMMY® Award winning cellist Antonio Lysy performs with his father, the legendary Argentine violinist Alberto Lysy in the Kodaly duo, and Coco Trivisonno (one of the last living members of Piazzolla’s ensemble) performs bandoneon in three arrangements we commissioned from him of songs by Carlos Gardel. With tango milongas taking place all over the world, the timing of South America seems fortunate. Luxuriate also in the Casals and Bach/Villa Lobos cello choirs, performed all by Antonio Lysy Continue Reading →