Ayumi Koketsu - Daybreak (2011)

As soon as she made her debut in July 2010, Ayumi Koketsu attracted attention in the jazz world not only for her youth and beauty, but also for her soft tone, reliable technique and emotion, and the impact of her own compositions. At the time of her debut, she was selected for the first issue of Jazz Japan magazine's New Star Award. She says: "I want to think together and create something better..." So, for this album she concentrated on playing some of her favourite jazz standards emanating from some of the core musicians she has admired and emulated whilst developing her own presence on the modern jazz scene. 

M & I Records, MYCJ-30585, 2011
Recorded 14th & 15th November, 2010 at Hitokuchi-Zaka Studio, Tokyo, Japan 

Musicians:
Ayumi Koketsu - Alto Saxophone
Yoshihiko Naya - Piano
Masayuki Tawarayama - Bass
Mark Taylor - Drums

Tracks:
01. Daybreak {Ayumi Koketsu} (4:38)
02. Subconscious-Lee {Lee Konitz} (3:55)
03. Embarcadero {Paul Desmond} (6:37)
04. How Deep Is The Ocean {Irving Berlin} (4:45)
05. Dogwood {Mashiko Tatsuro, Hitoto Yo} (5:57)
06. Evidence {Thelonious Monk} (5:11)
07. After Dark {Yoshihiko Naya} (5:22)
08. I Can't Get Started {Ira Gershwin, Vernon Duke} (5:35)
09. Out Of Nowhere {Edward Heyman, John Green} (5:27)
10. Ezz-Thetic {George Russell} (3:36)
11. Oleo {Sonny Rollins} (4:23) 

Total Time: 55:33 

Credits:
Producer - Hiro Yamashita, Yoshihiko Naya
Executive-Producer - Mitsuo Shimano
Recording & Mixing - Mizuo Miura
Engineer [Assistant] - Daisuke Takizawa
Mastering - Yoshihiro Kawasaki
Art Direction, Design - Hiromi Adachi
Photography - Kunihiro Takuma
Liner Notes - Ayumi Koketsu 

I Can't Get Started

Ayumi Koketsu - Art (2016)

Ayumi Koketsu never ceases to amaze. Since her 2010 debut with Struttin’, the traditionally inclined alto saxophonist has released an album every year and each one seems to out-do the previous. With her 2016 release Art, she pays tribute to one of the greatest of alto players, Art Pepper. Koketsu pulls all the stops to make a proper homage. She plays only Pepper-compositions or songs widely attributed to him. She is backed by an all-American rhythm section, players who are well versed in West Coast jazz despite residing in New York. In fact, she recorded the album in the Big Apple, a place where Pepper found a resurgence during the latter part of his career (encapsulated by his historic three days at the Village Vanguard). Although it would be easy to update these songs to fit a more contemporary sound, Koketsu sticks to tradition and plays these classics straight-ahead. This makes Art feel like a proper tribute to the man’s artistry. She captures Pepper’s sound so closely that you could swear it was an unreleased recording by Pepper during his prime. Her musical ideas never seem to let up as she blows through verse after verse of tight phrases. She even manages to master Pepper’s particular sense of trading fours, leading to a joyous interaction between her and veteran jazz drummer Mark Taylor. However, this is what makes Art problematic at times. Koketsu is no doubt a technically skilled player but it is hard to differentiate her from the legend she is honoring. All too often, it sounds like Koketsu trying to mimic Pepper's sound instead of throwing in her own flair, a style that has been evident in her previous albums. However, this does not make the album forgettable. Koketsu’s playing is rightfully tender and subdued, yet still gracefully passionate. Art leaves fans of Koketsu wanting more, especially since she has generated quite a bit of hype with jazz crowds. Still, Art is nothing more than a tribute to a man who has mastered Koketsu’s instrument, and what a fine tribute it is. Koketsu plays these tunes with never before heard assurance. It only leaves us hungry for her next outing…~ Extract by Nathan Nicolau, rokkupanku.wordpress.com. 

M & I Records, MYCJ-30653, 2016
Recorded 24th, 25th, 27th February, 2016 at Systems Two, Brooklyn, New York City 

Musicians:
Ayumi Koketsu - Alto Saxophone
Jeremy Manasia - Piano
Mike Karn - Bass
Mark Taylor - Drums

Tracks:
1. Cool Bunny {Art Pepper} (5:12)
2. Straight Life {Art Pepper} (4:28)
3. Imagination {Jimmy Van Heusen} (6:11)
4. Diane's Dilemma {Art Pepper} (4:57)
5. Bésame Mucho {Consuelo Velazquez} (6:02)
6. Holiday Flight {Art Pepper} (3:52)
7. Patricia {Art Pepper} (6:20)
8. When You're Smiling {Larry Shay} (4:54) 

Total Time: 41:57 

Credits:
Producer - Hiro Yamashita
Executive-Producer - Ryuichi Sawazaki
Engineer - Max Ross
Mastering - Yuta Tada
Release Coordinator - Tomoatsu Tamari
Art Direction, Design - Tadashi Kitagawa
Photography - Toru Kometani
Liner Notes [Art Pepper] - Ayumi Koketsu 

Diane's Dilemma

Ayumi Koketsu - Struttin' (2010)

In November 2010, as usual, the 6th Ginza International Jazz Festival was held, and at the 7th floor hall of the Ginza Yamano Musical Instruments Main Store, there was a live performance by the Ayumi Koketsu Quartet. I got one of the tickets from there, and I was allowed to accompany the performance. Ayumi Koketsu was born in Gifu Prefecture in 1988 and is a 21-year-old alto saxophonist. She started taking piano lessons at the age of 3 and became a jazz lover under the influence of her father. After graduating from high school, she attended Koyo Music Academy Nagoya School and started her live performances. Her performance has been well received, and her concert venues in Nagoya continue to be packed every day. And this time, her first album "Struttin'" was recorded. As you all know, there is a famous jazz record "Cool Struttin'", and it is said that her name is "Ayumi", so this album "Struttin'" was given this title. That's it. As you can hear, her alto saxophone performance ranges from ballads to up-tempo songs, and she sings well with beautiful and powerful tones. What surprises is her performance style, she literally sings cool and easy bebop blow, which is exactly cool struttin' itself and makes you feel the limitless future. Then, please listen to the beautiful alto ad-lib of the struttin' ballad played by the young lady. ~ ankle pop, 5 Stars, Amazon.com. [Translated from Japanese] 

M & I Records, MYCJ-30573, 2010
Recorded 17th & 18th February, 2010 at Hitokuchi-Zaka Studio, Tokyo, Japan 

Musicians:
Ayumi Koketsu - Alto Saxophone
Yoshihiko Naya - Piano
Masayuki Tawarayama - Bass
Mark Taylor - Drums

Tracks:
01. This I Dig Of You {Hank Mobley} (4:11)
02. Without A Song {Vincent Youmans} (4:58)
03. Kary's Trance {Lee Konitz} (4:16)
04. A Solar Eclipse {Ayumi Koketsu} (5:11)
05. I Fall In Love Too Easily {Jule Styne} (4:23)
06. The Kicker {Joe Henderson} (4:41)
07. I've Never Been In Love Before {Loesser} (4:53)
08. Orion {Rui Momota} (5:55)
09. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise {Sigmund Romberg} (5:27)
10. Del Sasser {Sam Jones} (6:33)
11. Blues Connotation {Ornette Coleman} (4:43) 

Total Time: 55:16 

Credits:
Producer - Hiro Yamashita, Yoshihiko Naya
Executive-Producer - Mitsuo Shimano
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Mizuo Miura
Engineer [Assistant] - Daisuke Takizawa
Mastering Engineer - Yuta Tada
Art Direction, Design - Yoshie Yokoyama
Photography [Artist Photos] - Mika Endo
Photography [Cover] - Hisayoshi Osawa
Liner Notes - Naoko Shimada 

Orion