js It seems like only yesterday when I was reviewing the previous Michika Fukumori album, “Quality Time”. Apparently Michika does not like to sit still for long because her new one is already here, “Piano Images”. Whereas “Quality Time” was a piano trio date, “Piano Images” is just Fukumori on the piano by herself, and to hear it you can tell she creates a full sound on her own, and in many ways really excels in this sort of solo setting. The music on her new one is slightly different too, while “Quality Time” dealt with a refined and elegant approach to jazz blues, on “Piano Images” we still hear some of that, but we also hear more of her classical background and more of the contemporary lyrical influence of her mentor, Steve Kuhn.

“Piano Images opens with a couple of Michika’s trademark sophisticated blues numbers, with “Colors of Blues’ being particularly striking as the blues alternate with drifting abstract passages reminiscent of French impressionism. Its on the following four Michika originals, grouped together as “The Seasons”, that we hear more of the classical influence in her writing. Much like Gershwin and Ellington before her, Michika seamlessly fuses jazz and classical elements so that they speak together. This classical and jazz blending will also show up on later tracks such as “Palco” and “My Muse”. On the Steve Kuhn original, “Oceans in the Sky”, Steve joins her on piano for some four handed dense, but lyrical tone colors.

Other highlights on here include two A.C. Jobim numbers, which impart a feeling of longing, and a couple of standards. “Every Time We Say Goodbye” is given an original arrangement as Michika provides a flowing counter melody to the original tune. Very much in the style of pianists such as Keith Jarret, Brad Mehldau, and the aforementioned Steve Kuhn, Michika tends to keep the melody in mind as the focus of her solos. Most of her improvisations are concise and to the point, and she is not one to give into pointless flash or excess. The appeal of this album goes beyond jazz and could probably appeal to fans of 20th century classical, as well those who enjoy instrumental art song as well.

js There are so many talented jazz pianists these days, its hard to keep up with all of them. Possibly you have not heard of Michika Fukumori yet, if not, then you can add her to your list of rising star pianists that you need to check out. Michika is a native of Japan who studied classical and jazz music in her home country, before moving to New York City in 2000. After arriving in the US, Fukumori immersed herself in the jazz scene and began a long lasting study with pianist Steve Kuhn, who Michika describes as her “teacher, mentor and musical hero.” On Fukumoni’s second CD, “Quality Time”, you can hear the Kuhn influence. Fukumori’s main style could best be described as sophisticated hard bop in which her refined classical training is mixed with a very bluesy harmonic language. In this respect Michika bears some similarities to Oscar Peterson, Horace Silver and Gene Harris, all pianists who approached the blues with a refined touch. On the CD’s third track, “The Story I Want to Tell”, Fukumori reveals an interest in lyrical contemporary jazz along the lines of Brad Mehldau or Keith Jarrett.

Fukumori has a great support group on here with veteran drummer Billy Drummond, who has played with Horace Silver and Sonny Rollins, manning the trap kit, and Aiden O’Donnell on bass. Aiden takes several solos, but he is sometimes hard to hear, a little better definition on the eq would have helped bring out his bass better. There are plenty of good tracks on here, with Michika supplying four originals to supplement eight standards, the best of which could be the always sublime “Solitude” by Duke Ellington. Its also great that Michika is writing originals, and as her writing style grows and becomes more distinct, this will be the feature that will help bring more attention to her recordings in the future.