Customer Reviews

Place to Be

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this album after listening to it on [...] Personally, I love it. I am not a huge fan of what I call 'unstructured' music, but I find this music brings just enough structure to make it work for me. Meaning there is an underlying structured beat or rhythm to most of it that I really enjoy, while still retaining that chaotic jazz feel, if that makes any sense. I am listening as I type through my surround sound system. Her Pachelbel's Canon track is really unique.

If I had to catagorize Hiromi I would place her somewhere between Chick Corea and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. But what really sets her apart from other contemporary pianists is her ability to frustate anyone who attempts to place her in a pigeon hole. She is so emotionally connected with her music that she cries when she plays the title track "Place to Be" on the bonus DVD included with the Japanese import version of Place To Be.

Hiromi's "Place to Be" is the theme song to a lovely but sad Japanese movie entitled "Invitation From Cinema Orion" [Orion Za Kara No Shotaijo].

If you like her CDs you will love her live. Her concert DVDs are spectacular expessions of her wonderful talent.

If you're interested in the future of jazz, give Hiromi a listen to. Better yet - go to YouTube and search for a few of her video performances. This is a remarkable artist and she plays with such passion that it's a joy to hear. I'm going to be ordering more of her music and I think that anyone who loves jazz would be well served to give her a chance.

Truly fantastic.

I first heard Hiromi on Stanley Clarke's Jazz in the Garden and was captivated by the clarity and beauty of her playing. I was then fortunate enough to see her live (with SC) at Blues Alley in Washington. That took my respect for her ability to a whole new level. She is simply phenomenal to listen to and watch live, as, I must say, were all the ensemble that night.

The first thing I did on returning home to New Zealand (where unfortunately Hiromi is not well known) was to purchase this album (thanks Amazon for the awesome delivery time). I'm not disappointed!

This album positively overflows with both Hiromi's technical genius and the sheer joy she brings to the piano. I will listen to this many many times, it is beautiful, uplifting music.

Don't hesitate. Buy this album. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks Hiromi. Hope to see you down under some time real soon.

I discovered Hiromi on YouTube and enjoyed both her solo music and trio performances as well, but I found myself always wanting to hear more of just Hiromi. That's what I got with this CD. Each piece is distinct and has considerable depth. Technically, it is flawless, yet she also maintains incredible creativity. I especially enjoy her unconventional use of the piano, with pieces for prepared piano and pieces that feature her plucking the piano strings as if it were a bass. Even after multiple listenings, the album continues to captivate.

This "review" is not meant to be an objective perusal of Hiromi's first solo cd release. I am way too big a fan to pull that off. No, I am writing to simply endorse her latest release and first solo effort. A common thread of excellence permeates all of her recorded works and the latest cd is no exception. She plays with such a disciplined and detailed abandon. That almost seems like an oxymoron when one considers most who play with such a high level of discipline and attention to detail cannot add the words "free and spirited" to their description. Listening to "Place to Be", I am struck with such a feeling of freedom and perfection wrapped up in the same notes. Hiromi has risen to a higher spiritual plane in her performance which goes beyond the physical. She is able to energize the intellectual while stirring the emotional. I highly recommend this varietal collection of songs played by one of the most innovative voices of our time. Once you've sampled "Place to Be", the other works in Hiromi's fine discography await you.

That's right! Not a stitch! Well, obviously, I meant unaccompanied by any other musician, just her alone on an acoustic piano, with no effects, no synthesizers, etc. What did you "think" I meant?! Huh?
Anyway, another great piece of work by the brilliant pianist, with more incredible speed, phrasing, dynamics, beauty, humour, fire and wit. It may take part of the first song, or even a couple to adjust to the unaccompanied instrument, but it soon feels quite nice! Quite natural.
Not content to simply play brilliant piano with her own unique touch, she'll imitate a stand up bass by somehow (I'm guessing) pounding on the bass strings in one song, or tapping away somehow in another, (again on the strings), to reproduce something akin to a harpsichord. Having seen the Hiromi DVDs, I can picture Hiromi stretched out, practically inside the piano to hit the strings with one hand, while simultaneously hitting the regular keys with the other! Not only is Hiromi a brilliant player, but I really enjoy her writing too, having written all but two tracks on this CD.
I now have almost all her albums, except "Another Mind" which I'll soon be getting. Since Hiromi has featured so much wonderful piano on all of these albums, I'm hoping that one of these days she'll also give us something on a Fender Rhodes and Hammond B3 (picture Hiromi playing Brian Auger's keyboards, for example). Wow! I can imagine it! But for the toally "acoustic", totally Hiromi and piano only, this CD is an absolute gem!

If I had to catagorize Hiromi I would place her somewhere between Chick Corea and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. But what really sets her apart from other contemporary pianists is her ability to frustate anyone who attempts to place her in a pigeon hole. She is so emotionally connected with her music that she cries when she plays the title track "Place to Be" on the bonus DVD included with this import. Hiromi's "Place to Be" is the theme song to a lovely but sad Japanese movie entitled "Invitation From Cinema Orion" [Orion Za Kara No Shotaijo].

If you like her CDs you will love her live. Her concert DVDs are spectacular expessions of her wonderful talent.

The PLACE TO BE is with Hiromi's creative, interpretive and entertaining music. She is wonderfully talented and both inspired and inspiring. Enjoy!

I saw Hiromi's performance on "60 Minutes" and was dazzled. I then watched and listened to several of her pieces on utube which reinforced, for me, her brilliance. I think the music on the disc is wonderful and haven't taken it out of my car cd player yet!