Yuko Mabuchi Trio reviewed in Stereophile
Michael Fremer reviews Yuko Mabuchi Trio Volumes 1 and 2 on vinyl in the April 2019 issue of Stereophile. Continue Reading →
Category: Review
Yuko Mabuchi Trio & Branford Marsalis Quartet in Orange County
Yuko Mabuchi Trio and Branford Marsalis Quartet ushered in the New Year in Orange County with great jazz. Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa produces one of the most important jazz series in the country. I drove up from my home near San Diego to attend the Yuko Mabuchi Trio/Branford Marsalis Quartet performances on January 25th in the 1800 seat Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. I’ve been attending concerts for many years in North America, Europe and Asia and this performance will remain among my greatest memories of live jazz. Segerstrom Center uses two concert halls for its jazz series. The more intimate 300-seat Samueli Theater hosts most of the musicians on the jazz series, which recently included Cecile McLorin Salvant, Kurt Elling and The Kenny Barron Quintet. But for Ahmad Jamal last year and the recent Yuko Mabuchi Trio/Branford Marsalis Quartet performances, Segerstrom needed the large Continue Reading →
Yuko Mabuchi Delivers Breakthrough Performance
Writing in The Absolute Sound, Rick Brown reviewed Yuko Mabuchi Trio’s January 25th performance at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Yuko opened for the great Branford Marsalis Quartet, and the two ensembles had no problem filling the 1,800 seat Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. As Brown concludes “Mabuchi and her trio are primed to take their music to the next level.” Please visit the article in The Absolute Sound.
Eddie Carter reviews Yuko Mabuchi Trio, Vol 1 for Jazztracks
Eddie Carter reviews Yuko Mabuchi Trio, Vol 1 for Jazztracks, December 2018 On the stage, a beautiful young woman sits at a baby grand piano unleashing an aggressive flood of sound into the audience. Behind her are two elegantly dressed gentlemen on bass and drums, who match her creativity, precise timing, and articulation with their own musical artistry note-for-note. Her name is Yuko Mabuchi, her bandmates are Del Atkins on bass and Bobby Breton on drums. Their 2018 release, Yuko Mabuchi Trio, Volume 1 (Yarlung Records YAR88157-161V) was recorded live at The Brain and Creativity Institute’s Cammilleri Hall in Los Angeles, California on March 31, 2017. The performance was in honor of the 25th Anniversary of The Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society, and their President, Bob Levi who was celebrating his 70th Birthday as well. I know Bob from his years as a member of The Atlanta Audio Continue Reading →
Music Critic Neville Roberts on Yarlung’s mission
Music critic Neville Roberts from the UK writing for “Reel to Reel Rambler” discusses Yarlung’s important mission, “Jung-A Lee,” “Yuko Mabuchi Trio” and “Dialoghi.” Yarlung Records isn’t just about producing top quality audio recordings, it’s equally focused on supporting its growing list of young musicians. …profits from the sale of the recordings, plus donations from supporters and recording underwriters, are re-invested in supporting emerging young musicians. The 501(c)(3) tax-exempt arm of the organization, Yarlung Artists, raises money to support these young musicians as they begin their performance careers. The company’s board of directors, executive producers and special advisers help Yarlung to record, market and distribute debut albums for selected young concert artists to help them gain stature and visibility with their audiences, critics and peers. Bob notes on his website that artists like Yo Yo Ma and Martha Argerich gained worldwide acclaim through the sale of CDs, LPs and downloads, Continue Reading →
Jorge Capadocia, NativeDSD, review of Yuko Mabuchi Trio
Yuko Mabuchi Trio: Some Standards and some nice surprises On this album, Yuko Mabuchi is joined by Del Atkins on bass and Bobby Breton on drums to perform some jazz standards and some nice surprises. The repertoire is varied with respect to style. We get to listen to pensive songs such as Valse Noire (which is borderline melancholic), medleys, Latin Jazz and spirited tunes. This live recording starts with What Is This Thing Called Love and Yuko’s playing, along with Bobby’s drum solo, immediately engages the audience. Throughout the album, Yuko is very sensitive and lyrical in her playing and does not go for bombast unless the music demands. When it does though, like in Sona’s Song (a composition of her own), we are in for a real treat: a very intense outburst erupts, breaking a simple delicate melody. Del Atkins and Bobby Breton are supportive in their playing, with Continue Reading →
James Matheson’s music in surround sound
Maestro Kal Rubinson enjoys Yarlung’s first project at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and celebrates James Matheson’s music in surround sound. “Stereophile,” March 7, 2016 [Yarlung Surround Sound engineer Tom Caulfield shared early files with me from] …a group comprising musicians of the Chicago Lyric Opera and the Chicago Symphony, for a recording of James Matheson’s String Quartet, to be released this year on Yarlung Records. The opening notes were startling—I had the disturbing but exhilarating feeling that music was actually being made in my room, not merely reproduced. The sound was no more “multichannel” than it was “stereo”—the four players seemed almost within reach, and my room seemed to expand around me…. I kept thinking, If others could only hear this, hi-rez multichannel music would take off. Page 1 of Kal’s article, and Page 2.
Jason Serinus reviews Antonio Lysy’s South America
Jason Serinus reviews Antonio Lysy’s South America in the April 2018 edition of Stereophile. One unifying factor is the Boulanger-trained Argentinean composer Piazzolla, whose infrequently performed Resurrección del ángel (Resurrection of the Angel), surfaces in an arrangement for four cellos by Emilio Colón. The work is heard in an ingenuous multi-track version on which, thanks to Arian Jansen’s all-analog Sonorus Holographic Imaging technology (SHI), Lysy plays all the parts. Please view Jason’s full article.
Chris Spector of Midwest Record reviews Yuko Mabuchi
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher, MIDWEST RECORD, reviews Yuko Mabuchi November 3, 2017 New to our shores from her native Japan, this piano gal speaks perfect American jazz with her finger tips leading the way. The accent here is on the playing so while the set card may be quite familiar, the execution is a totally new experience. Leading with the classic jazz piano trio vibe, Mabuchi adds enough of her own special sauce for you to experience why the producer offered to record her the day after he first heard her. Delightfully smashing stuff that turns your rec room into your fave club, this is a timely set to chase the winter away with.
Scott Yanow appreciates Yuko Mabuchi Trio in LA Jazz Scene, April 2018
A young pianist who was born and raised in Japan and recently moved to the Los Angeles area, Yuko Mabuchi had extensive training in classical music. However she loved the music of Herbie Hancock and Oscar Peterson and listened to all types of music while growing up, choosing to play jazz instead of classical. Her recent CD for the Yarlung label has her accompanied by bassist Del Atkins and drummer Bobby Breton and is her finest recording so far. The wide-ranging but swinging set features the pianist stretching out on “What Is This Thing Called Love,” “On Green Dolphin Street,” “St. Thomas” and a medley of “All The Things You Are,” “Take The ‘A’ Train” and Satin Doll.” In addition, the pianist performs the classical-oriented “Valse Noire,” the funky “Seriously” her tender “Sona’s Song,” and a “Japanese Medley” comprised of three songs. Yuko Mabuchi occasionally lets loose with stunning runs, showing Continue Reading →