snobb Hiromi's smokin' debut album's fusion opened her the doors to big halls around the Europe (and around the world as well). I can hardly think about another piano-based jazz trio (ok,with some support of guest musicians here)with such energetic level!

All compositions are muscular,groovy with no even a traces of relaxed feel.In fact, Hiromi's influence here is rock,but music played is jazz. For sure,some great additional drive comes from fusion guitarist David Fiuczynski (the future member of Hiromi's fusion band Sonicbloom), but even trio themselves are elastic and radiating demonic energy.

Compositions on this album all are Hiromi's originals,they are usually carefully composed but always have enough space for improvisation. If you will remove all that energetic field from her songs,you will find there post-bop or even swing! But in muscular (not heavy) clothes all album sounds as one stadium concert program.

Hiromi's debut (at her 23) demonstrates excellent musical techniques and compositor's abilities. The only thing could make this album even better - bigger musical freedom on the account of energy,but it is question of taste for sure.

darkshade This album is very good. A great debut from Hiromi. Though there is more piano than keyboards here than say, Time Control, this is still a worthy addition to anyone who enjoys Classic Fusion, especially the kind from the 2000s.

Things start right off with XYZ, a very fast paced number, with some nice odd time signature riffs (one in 9/8 if I'm not mistaken) This leads into some very nice piano work by Hiromi; she is probably one of the fastest pianists you will ever hear.

The second track Double Personality features some nice sax work by Jim Odgren, something not heard much on Hiromi's albums. The thing I like about this album is the approach to fusion, not relying on keyboards and their effects, but using them sparingly and relying on the naked piano, but you don't even think of this when listening, just "This is great jazz/fusion music!"

Dave "Fuze" Fiuczynski also appears on this album as a guest. He would later join Hiromi's Sonicbloom for the albums "Time Control" and "Beyond Standard". Dave's wild guitar playing throws some of the music back to the 70s fusion sound, but since he usually plays a fretless guitar, it gives it a more modern twist, with Hiromi and bassist Mitch Cohn going crazy behind him.

There are also some wacky keyboard grooves which sometimes make you feel like you're inside a computer, but this album contains some of Hiromi's more beautiful compositions (which she would expand on, on her follow-up "Brain")

Get this if you have any interest in jazz, fusion, modern prog-jazz, etc... This is a nice slice of 2000's fusion. Not as good as Time Control (her best album IMO) but an excellent release nonetheless. Enjoy!