Scot Ranney's LearnJazzPiano.com archive: Hiromi

LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Hiromi
Barry_UK -- 07/02/2004, 03:20:35 -- #5306
I can't believe no one's mentioned the awesome 25 yr old Japanese pianist Hiromi Uehara here yet (I've done a search). For those who've never heard of her, check out 'Another Mind' and 'Brain [LIVE]' or see her live, and get ready to eat dirt... This is the most breathtaking, unbelievable, most original playing I've heard in a long time. (Incidentally, I have no affiliation with her at all (if only!!!) apart from an acute appreciation.) Comments anyone?
Rick -- 07/02/2004, 04:16:32 -- #5307
ACK! im afraid i have to disagree lol, my opinion I'll admit isnt grounded by hours of listening (I only have one recording by her)but from what I know, I cant stand the stuff! I'll admit she has very impressive technique...but it's like "musical" athletics for me. Give me an ECM pianist anyday ;-)
Barry -- 07/02/2004, 04:26:13 -- #5308
That's interesting. I havene't heard any of her stuff yet but I've read about her. It will be interesting to hear what other people think. (Another) Barry.
quartal -- 07/06/2004, 10:17:46 -- #5444
great technique but no emotion or feel..its like chick without any of the soul..
johnq -- 07/06/2004, 12:36:37 -- #5449
sounds a lot like Chick to me too. There's a video track on her web site that you can watch as I am now.
james3 -- 07/06/2004, 12:42:40 -- #5450
Hey all, This girl is incredible. I don't mean any disrespect to the previous posters but she has plenty of soul and emotion. I've seen her perform 3 times. The first time I saw her was in a concert hall in Boston. One of the most intense and beautiful experiences I've ever seen and heard from a performer. The criticism you guys give is the standard protocol from players with lesser ability who try and bring down someone down to their level. See her live that's all i have to say!
marksdg -- 07/06/2004, 14:39:52 -- #5452
I find that a lot of the "great" players have superb technique, but little emotion comes across. Undoubtedly, all players sound better live and certainly convey more emotion. A truly great artist can create music that will sustain that emotion through the limited medium of recordings. Or perhaps a better way to say it is that a good recording artist can create music that keeps emotion in their recordings. Perhaps there are great performers who are not great recording artists?
quartal -- 07/06/2004, 15:32:31 -- #5453
I was basing it off watching a video of her live
Rick -- 07/06/2004, 15:41:18 -- #5456
LOL, thats funny ;-)
Rick -- 07/06/2004, 15:46:18 -- #5458
James, I think it's a little unfair to suggest that we are trying to bring her down. It's just my opinion, her music (and I admitted I haven't had hours of listenin to her) doesnt do anything for me. I never denied her obvious talent (although cynically I would add a comment about playing fast LOL). But for me, the stuff that really does something is a pianist like Bobo Stenson, John Taylor, Keith Jarrett or Nikki Iles, none of this Tom and Jerry music ;-)
Mike -- 07/06/2004, 17:36:43 -- #5463
Any one that has done any studio work knows there are some daysw when it just seems every note you play is sweet and you cant understand why it isnt like that for everyone. Other days life is a bitch and you cant understand why you did not become a garbage man. Similarly some people are just better recording artists than others. Some people just cant play for beans in the studio but are fine live, and for some the studio is the only place. Just cause a cat can play doesnt neccesarily mean they can play anything anytime anywhere.
Kai -- 07/07/2004, 00:23:14 -- #5471
Thanks Mike - there are many many days when I need to be reminded of such truisms.
budzgroove -- 07/07/2004, 10:46:20 -- #5479
I must say that I know of Hiromi. She is a great composer in my opinion. I am very impressed with her technical ability, but I really don't like her sound too much. Her choice of voicings and her melodic improv would be awesome for a fusion synth player. Technically she is awesome, but when she takes a song out melodically, it is more about her speed and not how she voices melody and chords. As far as her melodic choices in composition, I would put her up there with Chick's Electric band stuff. To me, she has Oscar's speed but does not hear melody as well when it comes to improvising. In other words, she is not very tasteful. I hope what I am saying makes since. She is a Miles Davis (no offense to anyone). Great writer, decent player. She sounds like a total classical player to me. Anthony Jackson on bass and her drummer are awesome. Her rag time is hella good.
budzgroove -- 07/07/2004, 11:00:20 -- #5480
Oh yeah, james3, that was a very anal comment. It is not about what you try to make it seem. Believe it or not, anybody can have her ability if you study classcal piano and go through hanon everyday. She is not a heavyweight in my opinion when it comes to improvisation. I gave her respect as far as technique and composing, but her feel and improv are not hot to me. Maybe you just suck!! I played her cd to death for about 4 weeks, but I was impressed by composition not her playing. Art Tatum vs Oscar Peterson, same quality technique, melodically, I'll take Oscar. Hiromi does play the hell out of her 1 scale though!!! ;)
james3 -- 07/07/2004, 14:41:07 -- #5484
anybody can have that ability...sure...if you study classical and Hanon for many many years!!....yes her technique can be learned but such a small number of people are trained that way these days and are disciplined enough especially at a young age....she's special. 1)how many players actually do that?....tiny number of players 2) her dynamics and sense of tension and release are incredible...better than most jazz piano players I've ever heard. I won't say that she's the best ever but the fact that she's 26 and 5' nothing and can play the piano with as much technique as a Liszt or a Peterson (2 very big men) is incredible. 2) Hiromi has perfect pitch and everything she plays comes from her heart. She can sing it all. Maybe you don't like her choice of melodies....but there true. She's not just running scales. How do I know this? I've jammed with her! Anyways...thanks for trying to lamely knock my playing over the net....when you haven't even heard me play. Gotta go now...student of mine is here.
Jazz+ -- 07/07/2004, 23:28:46 -- #5486
She is a great player, no doubt, and I do enjoy her playing. She relies heavily on dazzling continuous scale runs and continuos patterns. I would like to hear more phrasing in her solos, she tends to run one continuous scale run or pattern into the next. It's like listening to somebody speaking very long run on sentances without any periods. There are no pauses, her phrasing rarely takes a breath, it doesn't breath often and she ends up sounding like a well trained continuos note machine. I also find the faces she makes and the flying hair somewhat distracting.
budzgroove -- 07/09/2004, 19:18:51 -- #5528
James3, you must play urban gospel music. Nothing wrong with that, but you sound stupid when you make references to her age and size like that is supposed to get her some brownie points. Anyway, it is not about how long you have been playing, nor what size you are. It is about what you study and how your music comes across to the listener. It seems like everyone else is on 1 accord while you kiss butt!! Keep being a music appreciator.
comrade c -- 07/10/2004, 00:57:05 -- #5535
umm... we are all here for the love of music aren't we? can't we just respect each others opinions?
james3 -- 07/10/2004, 02:39:14 -- #5538
Hey Budz, Yeah I've played gospel. Also played polka and sang Happy Birthday to a friend once...what does style have to do with anything? I played 197 gigs last year....117 were jazz and 82 were in other styles. Does that not make me a real jazz piano player cause I play other styles? What exactly are you trying to say with the gospel comment. If you're looking for a keyboard player to run Bud Powell licks and play entirely bebop lines and bebop phrasing.....she's not that player. She can do it though..trust me. Like I said I've jammed with her. She just has a different approach to her playing than other people. It's more texture orientated. Her rhythmic concepts are also different than one might expect. It's cool if you don't dig her man...no worries. lol...one more thing....I'm not kissing butt. Who's butt would I be trying to kiss? That part didn't make sense in your post. You seem very bitter and are for the most part attacking me in each of your messages. I must have struck a "chord" on something that you're very sensitive on. Sorry if I hurt your feelings. Every man is allowed to have their opinion. God bless you Budz....keep practicing Peace
Rick -- 07/10/2004, 12:46:11 -- #5551
but it does come across with comments like "keep practicing" and the comment about the criticisms being possibly due to the fact that those making them were not as adept as Hiromi, and a couple of other comments too for that matter that you are being a bit acidic. Peace
budzgroove -- 07/10/2004, 14:51:33 -- #5560
James3, I can tell you have an ego problem. The first post you made actually did not strike a chord with me. I thought you were being anal when you wrote "The criticism you guys give is the standard protocol from players with lesser ability who try and bring down someone down to their level." You wrote everything between those 2 markings. Nobody else was on that page. Like I said, I like her for different reasons, and I can appreciate her. You are the only person that tried to make this and issue of people being less than another person. It's cool though. Tell the pastor of your church that I said he needs to pray for your pride issues. Have a nice day in church 2morrow!!!
Dr. Whack -- 07/10/2004, 15:43:15 -- #5563
ya know there are a lot of people who are really great, a lot of people who suck, and a lot of people somewhere in the middle, and a lot of this is subjective....bottom line.... who cares? Chick is a great player, but I never really cared for his stuff...so what...same with Jarrett...who cares what I think? (just me I suppose:)
Mike -- 07/10/2004, 16:39:06 -- #5565
Hm a heated thread with insults and stuff that I was not the target in??? Sorry I wasnt paying enough attention. I'll try to do better next time.
comrade c -- 07/10/2004, 20:16:00 -- #5571
mike: i don't like you. how was that?:) j/k man. heh. didn't want you to feel left out though:)
Mike -- 07/11/2004, 05:29:17 -- #5574
thanks Comrade! you have really been coming thru for me lately. much apreciated.
Bram -- 07/29/2004, 06:02:05 -- #6131
I've seen Hiromi playing live at the North Sea Jazz festival this year and I must say I was impressed by her performance. It's an intense experience, with both aggressive and soulfull playing. It moved me...
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