Keiko Matsui - Whisper From The Mirror (2000)

Keiko Matsui is usually classified as a jazz musician, which tends to mean that she doesn't get very good reviews, since she is reviewed by jazz critics, while her music actually is best described as a hybrid consisting of equal parts pop, jazz, and new age. Matsui can be an impressive keyboard soloist at times, but her recordings consist of textured tracks that find her featured playing set within a soundscape characterized by synthesized drums and strings. Whisper From the Mirror, her 11th album, is typical of her work, consisting of a series of four- and five-minute instrumental pieces full of shimmering, sustained sounds that pillow Matsui's delicate single-note runs and stately chord patterns. Derek Nakamoto's arrangements are occasionally stirring, but never frantic, and usually they emphasize flow over rhythm, just as the keyboardist shows more interest in sustaining moods than demonstrating her chops, even when she concludes the album with a four-handed piano duet with Bob James. It may be time to think about re-classifying Keiko Matsui from "jazz" to "new age," or even just putting her in a classification by herself. In the meantime, Whisper From the Mirror is another in a series of enjoyable recordings. ~ by William Ruhlman, AMG. 

Countdown Records, 17796-2, 2000
Recorded at Bindu Studio, Santa Monica, California [Derek Nakamoto];
and Remidi Studio, New York (Piano & Shakuhachi) [Ken Freeman] 

Musicians:
Keiko Matsui - Piano
Kazu Matsui - Shakuhachi
Derek Nakamoto - Synthesizer and Programming, Arranger
Bob James - Piano (#11) 

Tracks:

01. Whisper From The Mirror (4:38)
02. Invisible Wing (5:11)
03. Tears Of The Ocean (5:29)
04. Between The Moons (5:29)
05. Beyond The Light (4:26)
06. Torches On The Earth (5:01)
07. Dimensions (4:23)
08. Sacanna, No Problem (4:21)
09. Midnight Stone (5:18)
10. See You There (4:20)
11. Ever After (5:43) 

All compositions by Keiko Matsui 

Total Time: 54:22 

Credits:
Producer - Keiko Matsui
Producer, Jacket Design, Photography - Kazu Matsui
Recording, Mixing & Programming Engineer - Derek Nakamoto
Recording Engineer - Ken Freeman [Remidi Studio]
Mixing Engineer - Craig Burbidge [Bindu Studio]
Mastering Engineer - Steve Hall [Future Disc]
Jacket Design - Misako Kitazawa [Amnet Design Factory] 

Ever After

Keiko Matsui - Cherry Blossom (1992)

If we're talking Keiko Matsui, we can expect another impressionistic album cover which belies the often-explosive music on the disc. Matsui draws a little more from her heritage this time but textures it with soulful excursions ("Walking on the Bridge"). She once again gives radio a seductive earful while continuing her heightened exploration into more challenging orchestral sounds and several impressive, wildly percussive Latin journeys (e.g., "Sail South"). Making perfect use of Lenny Castro's spicy percussion and Clay Jenkins' punchy trumpet flavors, Matsui lets loose. The gospel vocal by Arnold McCuller is a strong one. Other newcomers to the fold are guitarist Jorge Strunz, Jon Clark (recorder) and Sam Riney on sax. ~ by Jonathan Widran, AMG.

White Cat Records, 77701-2, 1992
Recorded at:
Milagro Sound Recorders, Glendale, California
Pacifique Studio, North Hollywood California
The Club House Studio, Burbank, California
Aire L.A. Studios, Glendale, California 

Musicians:
Keiko Matsui - Keyboards Arranger (#3,4,5,7)
Clay Jenkins - Trumpet (#8), Solo (#2)
Bill Armstrong - Trumpet (#2)
Alex Iles - Trombone (#2)
Gerald Albright - Saxophone (#1,3,5)
Sam Riney - Saxophone (#2,8)
Steve Tavaglione - Saxophone (#6,7)
Jon Clark - Recorder (#6), English Horn, Saxophone (#9)
Kazu Matsui - Shakuhachi (#9)
Derek Nakamoto - Synthesizer (#1,9), Arranger (#1,9)
Gary Stockdale - Synthesizer (#2,6,8) Arranger (#2,4; [Strings],6,8)
Ron Komie - Guitar (#2-5,8)
Jorge Strunz - Acoustic Guitar (#6)
Anas Allaf - Acoustic Guitar (#7)
Richard M. Schmidt - Steel Guitar (#8)
Brad Cumming - Bass (#1,3)
John Pena - Bass (#2,4,6-9)
Jimmy Johnson - Bass (#5)
Ed Smith - Drums (#1,3)
Bernie Dresel - Drums (#2,4-8)
Robert Chiarelli - Drum Programming (#3)
Lenny Castro - Percussion (#1-5,7,8)
Arnold McCuller - Lead Vocals (#5)
Yvonne Williams - Background Vocals (#5)
Alfie Silas - Background Vocals (#5)
Jeff Day - Lyrics (#5) 

Tracks:
1. Rainy Season (4:48)
2. Sail South (5:11)
3. Walking On The Bridge (4:18)
4. Crescendo (5:30)
5. She Prays To The Wind (4:41)
6. Cherry Blossom (5:02)
7. Frontier (4:19)
8. Foot Steps (4:08)
9. Dawn Opener (5:29) 

All Compositions by Keiko Matsui

Total Time: 43:30

Credits:
Producer - Kazu Matsui
Recording - Robert Biles, Robert Chiarelli, Dennis Moody
Mixing - Robert Chiarelli (#1-4,6,7,9), Craig Burbidge (#5,8)
Mastering - Teppei Kasai
Photography - Katsuhiro Ichikawa
Art Director - Hidetake Awano [Momogumi]
Cover Art - J. Torrents Llado