Yosuke Yamashita's New York Trio

[relyles]

Tonight I was able to catch Yosuke Yamashita’s New York Trio with Cecil McBee and Pheeroan akLaff at Wesleyan University’s Crowell Concert Hall. Overall, the show was more than worth the $12 non-student admission price. The trio has been playing together for fifteen years and as a result has established a good rapport with each other. They played a very diverse set of tunes. There were the post bop piano trio songs, a few songs influenced by Japanese traditional music and a couple of tunes that ventured somewhat out. Despite the variety, everything fit and everyone in the trio seemed to be enjoying themselves. Yamashita was very impressive, showing a virtuosity and imagination that was matched by his ability to listen. At times I thought some of the unaccompanied bass and drum solos went on a little too long. The group really sounded best when everyone was interacting with each other. Nonetheless, both McBee and akLaff proved themselves to be able to produce musical solos that held your attention and always sounded related to the piece.

Like I said, an overall enjoyable live experience, which was completed by me searching for an ATM machine after the performance and driving back to the hall during the reception so that I could purchase the trio’s 15th anniversary recording, Pacific Crossing, which akLaff and McBee stated has only been released in Japan.

[Late]

Fourteen years later, somebody says: "Man, that sounds like a good concert."

Been listening to Yamashita lately. May have to start a new Artists topic ...

[relyles]

It was!