Ayumi Koketsu - Rainbow Tales (2012)

Saxophonist Ayumi Koketsu creates exciting modern jazz on her third album Rainbow Tales from 2012, where she leads of group of accomplished Norwegian musicians on a modern-sounding recording. The session was beautifully captured at the famous Rainbow Studios in Oslo, where the European-label ECM sound seems to influence the session under Koketsu’s leadership and virtuosity. With crystal clear sax and cymbals riding above the warm, full piano and deep wood bass, this style is particularly noticeable on “Mikazuki” (Crescent Moon), a folk/rock-like tune reminiscent of Keith Jarrett. The album contains a nice balance on its eleven songs. Along with three swinging original numbers, Koketsu also picks some jazz standards including a lovely “Bewitched”, a driving “Summertime”, a Paul Desmond-like “When Joanna Loved Me”, Lennie Tristano’s “Two Not One”, and Ornette Coleman’s “Bird Food”. Throughout, Koketsu’s versatile bop playing and improvisation are on display, along with exquisite modern solos from the pianist and a sharp rhythm section elevating the sound and color spectrum. ~ Brian McCrory, jazzofjapan.com. 

M & I Records, MYCJ-30620, 2012
Recorded 22nd, 23rd & 24th March, 2012 at Rainbow Studio, Oslo, Norway 

Musicians:
Ayumi Koketsu - Alto Saxophone, Arranger
Svein Olav Herstad - Piano
Magne Thormodsæter - Bass
Per Oddvar Johansen - Drums

Tracks:
01. With May {Ayumi Koketsu} (6:07)
02. Two Not One {Lennie Tristano} (4:57)
03. Bird Food {Ornette Coleman} (4:59)
04. Kayu {Ayumi Koketsu} (8:30)
05. Berkshire Blues {Randy Weston} (5:57)
06. Diversity {Ayumi Koketsu} (6:34)
07. Mikazuki {Ayaka, Yoshihiko Nishio} (5:57)
08. Near The Clouds {Ayumi Koketsu} (4:39)
09. Bewitched {Richard Rodgers} (7:29)
10. Summertime {George Gershwin} (6:55)
11. When Joanna Loved Me {Jack Segal, Robert Wells} (4:19) 

Total Time: 66:26 

Credits:
Producer, Supervisor - Hiro Yamashita
Executive-Producer - Ryuichi Sawazaki
Recording & Mixing - Jan Erik Kongshaug
Mastering - Shuji Nose
Art Direction, Design - Hiromi Adachi
Photography [Cover] - Arata Kato
Photography [Studio] - CF-Wesenberg
Liner Notes - Ayumi Koketsu 

Near The Clouds