He continued to improve his skills over the next several years in live performances, often appearing in a trio that included Satoshi Denpo, Yoshinori Fukui (Fukuis brother) and himself. Scenery (1976), an album by Ryo Fukui released by We Release Jazz/WRWTFWW Records. In 1976, Fukui released her first album, Scenery, and their second album, Mellow Dream in e1977. Shortly before his death, his breathtaking solos in A Letter From Slowboat (2015) unfolds as a soulful love letter to his native home. His final recordings were made upon his final return to Sapporo, where he opened the Slowboat jazz club in 1995. It's obvious from the first track, 'It Could Happen to You,' that Fukui draws a lot of influence from Bill Evans. It's a simple piano trio setup with Fukui accompanied by bassist Satoshi Denpo and drummer Yoshinori Fukui. Later chapters of his career were filled with travels, particularly to America where his mentor Barry Harris inspired some of his most exhilarating sessions. 'Scenery' is the debut album, and one of the few recordings made by Japanese pianist Ryo Fukui. Ryo Fukui’s domain existed in likewise hidden institutions - historical venues such as the Shinjuku Pit Inn, Kichijoji’s Sometime, or Nagoya’s Jazz Inn Lovely. Some researchers estimate that Japan still has the largest portions of jazz listeners in the world, with an ongoing tradition of jazz kissa‘s: cozy listenings bars which ritualise the listening of LPs, much like enjoying a fine whisky. Where jazz was deemed initially controversial as foreign culture, its gradual importation and adaptation throughout the early 20th century allowed one of the most vibrant free jazz scenes to blossom by the 1960s. As showcased in Scenery’s effortless fusing of modal, bop and cool jazz, the city at the time was peaking with the cumulative influences of American music made throughout Japan’s post-war years. Scenery exemplifies the elevated levels of perfection sought out in Japanese jazz scenes, with the skills of its musicians pressurised under the intensity and intimacy of its venues. Though his story eventually reached the ears of several millions through internet algorithms, he was noticed scarcely by Western aficionados of his time. Since recording his second, Mellow Dream (1977), the following year, regular performances in important venues continued to sharpen his musical finesse until he began to perform and teach piano internationally. Ryo Fukui’s magnum opus was in fact his first release, a recording of his trio made after 6 years of living in Tokyo, away from his hometown. With the recent re-issuing of his coveted discography and rare live recordings by We Release Jazz (sister label of WRWTFWW, who previously re-issued several experimental Japanese rarities), as one of the most widely consumed jazz musicians of recent years, the rise of Ryo Fukui reflects a surging interest in the genre’s unique history in Japan. Through many moments both upbeat and serene, his immaculate instrumentation flows seamlessly, permanently leaving his personal mark as a self-taught musician. Courtesy of We Release Jazz/WRWTFWW Records.Ĭompletely under the radar until its miraculous recent online rediscovery, Sapporo-based pianist Ryo Fukui’s 1976 record Scenery has come to be seen as emblematic in jazz’s international history. It was released in 2016, sadly the year Ryo Fukui passed away, leaving behind a legacy of works that is sure to captivate jazz lovers for generations to come, and Slowboat, where the magic still happens to this day.Ryo Fukui. Slowboat, full of breathtaking solos and exquisite moments of clarity, is another crucial piece in the career of one of the most fascinating jazzmen to ever grace the piano. Backed by longtime collaborators Takumi Awaya on bass, and Ittetsu Takemura on drums, Ryo Fukui flows through classics and originals with natural class, fluidity, and absolute precision, expressing a smooth balance between skills and heart. Manufactured By Art Union Corporation Manufactured By Trio Records Distributed By Trio Records Made By Trio Electronics, Inc. A Letter from Slowboat is a poetic, soulful, and honest love letter to Hokkaido, to Fukui's jazz club, and to endless hours of practicing artistry in a place called home. Ryo Fukui Scenery (2009, Vinyl) - Discogs Ryo Fukui Scenery More images Tracklist Companies, etc. This is where Ryo Fukui spent the latter half of his career, playing again and again, welcoming peers for unforgettable sessions, and perfecting the craft he lived for: jazz. Known for his miraculous albums 1976's Scenery (WRJ 001CD/LP) and 1977's Mellow Dream (WRJ 002CD/LP), legendary Hokkaido pianist Ryo Fukui, with the help of his wife Yasuko, opened his very own jazz club in Sapporo in 1995, Slowboat. We Release Jazz announce the official reissue of Ryo Fukui's final album, the very personal contemporary jazz offering, A Letter from Slowboat, sourced from the original masters.
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