A wonderful earlier release by talented Japanese trumpeter Hikari Ichihara. For this album she surrounds herself with some very notable other Japanese musicians to produce a brilliant album showcasing her versatile playing skills as well her ability to write five of her own captivating compositions. Two others were penned by the group's drummer Kay Hirai. The rest are a couple of well-known standards or pop songs, including a beautiful cover of Stevie Wonder's My Cherie Amour. Overall, a very pleasurable album that sets the dynamism of a young artist for a brilliant future career, not to be overlooked!
After Beat\Pony Canyon, PCCY-60008, 2008
Musicians:
Hikari Ichihara - Trumpet,
Flugelhorn, Arranger
Masahiko Sugasaka - Trumpet,
Flugelhorn (#1,2,5,8,9,11)
Yoichi Murata - Trombone
(#1,2,5,8,9,11)
Kazuhiko Kondo - Alto Sax,
Soprano Sax (#1,2,5,8,9,11)
Steve Sacks - Tenor
Saxophone, Flute (#1,2,5,8,9,11)
Masakuni Takeno - Tenor Sax,
Baritone Sax (#1,2,5,8,9,11)
Hideaki Hori - Piano,
Arranger
Kunpei Nakabayashi - Bass,
Arranger
Kay Hirai - Drums, Arranger
Tracks:
01. Joy {Hikari Ichihara}
(5:11)
02. 大きな古時計 [Big Old Clock] {Henry Clay Work} (6:03)
03. みつけた [Found] 2008 {Hikari Ichihara} (6:36)
04. Home {Hikari Ichihara}
(5:48)
05. スプリングフィールド [Springfield] {Hikari Ichihara} (5:24)
06. My Funny Valentine
{Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (7:33)
07. My Cherie Amour {Stevie
Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy} (5:12)
08. Summer Knows {Michel
Legrand} (5:40)
09. 空
[Null] {Kei Hirai} (8:05)
10. Beginning {Hikari
Ichihara} (6:27)
11. Rub-a-dub {Kei Hirai}
(4:08)
Total Time: 66:00
Credits:
Producer - Hikari Ichihara
Executive-Producer - Mitsuo
Shimano
