feature photo: Cristina Marx
The extraordinary talents of pianist Satoko Fujii, vibraphonist Taiko Saito and drummer Yuko Oshima have combined to form a creative music supergroup of sorts, Trio San. Saito was the prime catalyst for this assemblage, as she’s been in duos with both Fujii and Oshima, and these like-minded women quickly forged a chemistry that makes Trio San a successful endeavor. Hibiki documents this special collaboration in the form of live performances at the 2022 Jazzdor Jazz Festival in Berlin.
This is true collective, as all three contribute compositions and while there are individual spotlights, they play very complimentary with respect to each other. As with all Fujii-associated ensembles, Trio San doesn’t use the assembled array of instruments in the way most musicians would. The piano/vibes/drums combination is a fairly unusual combination, yet it would still be possible to swing and play mainstream jazz that way. But these women are not mainstream-minded people.
“Hibiki” sketches out parched sonic terrain, where every strike of the vibraphone, the tickling of piano keys or a brush of a cymbal is precious. Barely perceptible droning resonances lend a foreboding feeling, borne out at the end when the inevitable release arrives.
“Soba,” by contrasts, explodes out the gate then abruptly brakes for Saito’s thoughtful meditation, followed by Fujii’s own before handing off to a combustible Oshima leading back to the opening charging and odd-metered theme.
Saito’s mastery of the vibes is such that she can make it softly murmur with a radiance, the only sounds coming from nearly the first half of “Yozakura.” She trades chords with Fujii during “Wa,” all while somehow making her vibes pulsate at an ever increasing intensity. Oshima’s own showcase in subtlety comes for the front end of “What You See,” Fujii’s prepared piano vaguely resembling a koto progressively coming into focus.
“Ichigo,” like “Soba,” commences with preconceived ideas with spontaneous ones liberally thrown in but the lines are blurred because the three can create in concert so closely. That said, Oshima’s drums exhibition highlights this drama-filled performance.
Satoko Fujii, Taiko Saito and Yuko Oshima are three wellsprings of creativity who as Trio San joined forces to find new ways to make uncommon — and uncommonly compelling — music.
Hibiki is available now. Get it from Bandcamp.
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