Vol. 2 Vinyl

Pianist Yuko Mabuchi performs four tunes including a Jazz Medley, Japanese Medley, Sona's Song and Sonny Rollins' St. Thomas. Yuko dedicated this release to the 25th Anniversary of the Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society, the largest association of audiophiles on the planet, and to the 70th Birthday of Robert H. Levi, Yarlung's society's illustrious President and CEO. If Mabuchi's playing can be described as tasteful, economical, and lyrical, it should also be noted that her rapid single-note runs are impeccably executed. The performances benefit from an exceptionally realistic recording that stands out for it's in-the-room ambience and tonal clarity. The repertoire includes a Jazz Medley featuring Kern's 'All the Things You Are' from the 1939 musical 'Very Warm For May' plus Strayhorn's 'Take the 'A' Train' heard first in 1941 with Ellington's band on the radio. Finishing this medley is Strayhorn & Ellington's Satin Doll which came out in 1953 on Capitol Records. The Japanese Medley features Hazy Moon (Oborozuki) written by Teiichi Okano in 1914 followed by Cherry Blossom (Sakura) from the 17th Century Edo period, which was originally played on koto to celebrate Hanami, or spring flower viewing during the Tokugawa shogunate. Ending this medley is Hachidai Nakamura's Look At The Sky, (Ue wo Muite Arukou), nicknamed Sukiyaki in English. Yuko Mabuchi wrote Sona's Song in honor of a beautiful child who was a family member living in Thailand. Yuko first recorded this melody in 2014 for her album My Life. The Sonny Rollins Quartet first released St. Thomas in 1956. Rollins adopted this tune from an 18th Century English ditty called The Lincolnshire Poacher. It resurfaced during the American Civil War as The New York Volunteer, and again in the Australian infantry as a march during WWI.