Chris Spector of Midwest Record reviews Yuko Mabuchi

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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

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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 →

Newsletter: July 7, 2018

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Dear Friends, Music for the heat wave! Here is our first video from Yuko Mabuchi Trio and JJ Kirkpatrick performing So What by Miles Davis. Enjoy! This is part of our next Yuko Mabuchi album from The Brain and Creativity Institute’s Cammilleri Hall, not yet released. Contact MM Music Agency for Yuko Mabuchi booking info. Yuko’s first Yarlung release on LP, CD, DSD and HD Tracks continues to thrill, reviews and articles here. Yuko Mabuchi Trio Analog tape available by special order. Special thanks to executive producers Randy Bellous for both Yuko CDs, Craig & Diane Martin for the LP, and Claude Cellier and Merging Technologies in Switzerland for our DSD release. Kudos to master organist Jung-A Lee for her spectacular playing in Walt Disney Concert Hall for Yarlung’s first organ recording last month, underwritten by Jim Mulally in honor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s new CEO, Simon Woods. We are selecting images and writing text for the CD booklet now. Our friend George Klissarov underwrote the new DSD release of Ciaramella Dances, and provided a special discount through July 14th to celebrate the release of two new DACs from Continue Reading →

Yuko Mabuchi Trio helps celebrate Bob Levi’s 70th Birthday

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Happy Birthday Bob Levi! Robert H. Levi, President and CEO of the Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society, has done everything he can to encourage audiophile enthusiasts around the world.  This whipping up of enthusiasm results in tremendous support for musicians, labels and equipment manufacturers.  Yuko and our executive producers Craig and Diane Martin wanted to dedicate the new Yuko Mabuchi Trio vinyl pressing to the Audio Society’s 25th Anniversary, and to Bob Levi in honor of his 70th Birthday. Not a week passed, from concept to delivery, when Maestro Levi didn’t call me asking for updates, enthusing in advance, and generally saying thank you.  Fortunately, Bob liked the album when I sent him the first copy the other day.  He arranged a listening party the next morning with two critic friends, played the CD first, and then the sparkling new LP.  Michael Wechsberg and Richard Revell were Bob’s Continue Reading →

Jessica Duchen’s Classical Music Blog : Antonio Lysy

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Reading Jessica Duchen’s Classical Music Blog today is a treat because she publishes an essay by cellist Antonio Lysy which is a tribute to his father, Alberto Lysy (1935-2009). In her post, Duchen talks about Antonio’s recent recording on Yarlung Records: Back in 2001 Alberto and Antonio recorded the Kodály Duo for violin and cello together. This recording was released for the first time just a few weeks ago. Hungarian as Kodály may be, the album is in fact called South America and features works by Piazzolla, Villa-Lobos, Coco Trivisonno and more – paying tributes to Antonio’s multifarious background and influences. The South American repertoire is irresistibly seductive and atmospheric, while the Kodály, performed with tremendous intensity, bravura and sensitivity, is more than a treat and a half. In this guest post, Antonio tells us about the coaching his father received from Yehudi Menuhin and Zoltan Kodály himself. Read Dunchen’s blog and Lysy’s Continue Reading →

Newsletter: Feb. 13, 2017

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Dear Friends, Today we celebrate South America! Executive producers Carlos & Haydee Mollura join me in celebrating the release of Antonio Lysy’s new album South America this Friday. Amazon and iTunes are taking preorders for Friday, and HDTracks and Yarlung Records are live and delivering today. NativeDSD will follow shortly. Tom Caulfield, Cliff Harris and I are finishing the DSD files for you in stereo and in surround sound. I love this disc. GRAMMY® Award winning cellist Antonio Lysy performs with his father, the legendary Argentine violinist Alberto Lysy in the Kodaly duo, and Coco Trivisonno (one of the last living members of Piazzolla’s ensemble) performs bandoneon in three arrangements we commissioned from him of songs by Carlos Gardel. With tango milongas taking place all over the world, the timing of South America seems fortunate. Luxuriate also in the Casals and Bach/Villa Lobos cello choirs, performed all by Antonio Lysy Continue Reading →

Jorge Capadocia reviews “Yuko Mabuchi Trio” for NativeDSD

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Yuko Mabuchi Trio: Some Standards and some nice surprises 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… well executed solos. The musical rapport among them is evident in Seriously, in which the ornamented piano playing is executed over a repetitive and rhythmic bass – roles are switched for a moment and the transitions sound very fluid. Other highlights include a Japanese medley that goes from delicate to psychedelic (!) to spirited, and Continue Reading →

Newsletter: Dec 19, 2017

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Dear Friends, Greetings! And Happy Holidays to you! While it isn’t Christmas music specifically, Nostos gets into the holiday spirit with rousing acapella choral repertoire from English, German, Russian, Hanseatic and American musical traditions. Thank you Rob Istad, thank you University Singers and thank you executive producer Leslie Bigos for this fabulous album. We anticipate Nostos will also be available in Stereo, SonoruS Holographic Imaging and Quatro Surround Sound on NativeDSD this week too. Thank you Tom and thank you Jared! Here’s video from the pre-recording live concert of the American Spiritual My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord Great news on the Yuko Mabuchi Trio front: The Trio travels to New York City to be part of the Arts Presenters Showcase in Manhattan mid January. Yuko, Del and Bobby will perform at the mid-town Hilton at 4:30pm on January 13th. Guests are welcome. Also, Yarlung executive producers Craig and Diane Martin have made it possible for us to release our first double 45rpm vinyl album for Yuko Continue Reading →

Orange County Register announces Cal State Fullerton Singers CD

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The following announcement about the Cal State Fullerton Singers new CD “Nostos” on Yarlung Records was found in the Orange County Register, December 6, 2017 The repertoire sung by Cal State Fullerton’s University Singers in June on the group’s tour of Scandinavia, the Baltic States and Russia has been made into an album, “Nostos: The Homecoming of Music.” Robert Istad, director of choral studies and professor of music, said… “the students and I worked really diligently to bring the music to life for our audiences, and we were completely overwhelmed with the passion and positive energy with which the audiences embraced our performances.” “The singers performed without sheet music on their tour… and this deep familiarity with the repertoire made it possible to record each of the pieces you hear on this disc in one take. There is no editing involved.“ Please visit the Orange County Register.