Yoko Miwa Trio - Songs of Joy - TEASER
YOKO MIWA

Online Video

Jazz music community with review and forums

New single Largo Desolato released November 6, 2020
Yoko Miwa Trio - Songs of Joy (video by Dave Habeeb) http://www.yokomiwa.com/
The new recording by Yoko Miwa will be released on Ubuntu Music on February 12, 2021. Yoko Miwa, piano. Will Slater, Acoustic Bass. Scott Goulding, drums.
“Songs of Joy” refers to the overall feeling of the songs on this album. My recordings and performances always feature eclectic contrasts of musical styles and this recording is no exception. The difference is I tried to push the envelope much more this time resulting in each song having a very different emotion. I made it my mission to connect directly with the listener in each song that I played, to go directly to their soul and touch their heart. The one emotion that unites all the songs is one of JOY. 

When the pandemic started, I decided I would compose every day and as a result I came up with five new original compositions which are all included here. I also recorded six songs composed by other musicians but in doing so I chose them very carefully to fit with the feeling of the album. I specifically chose the songs because of their meaning to me and when I performed them, as always, I made them my own. The one thing I tried to keep intact though was the original emotion of the song and why it spoke so deeply to me. I put aside any agenda and listened carefully, letting the songs play themselves instead of inserting my ideas or trying to impress the listener with my own playing.

To me, this album conveys just as many different emotions as it does contrasting styles of compositions. I drew my improvisation with inspiration that already existed in the songs and my hope is that you will hear the overwhelming feeling of JOY that I felt in making this music.
--Yoko Miwa