Spiral [Extra tracks, Import]

Hiromi | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks, Import
• Label: Universal
• ASIN: B000AU1M48
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,103,645 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Spiral

2. Open Door-Tunning-Prologue

3. Deja Vu

4. Reverse

5. Edge

6. Old Castle, By The River, In The Middle Of A Forest

7. Love And Laughter

8. Return Of Kung-Fu World Champion

9. Big Chill (Bonus Track)

Editorial Reviews

Includes Japan only bonus track "Big Chill" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice fresh new music, January 24, 2006

By 

Jonathan Guarriello (Rutherfordton NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spiral (Bonus Dvd) (Audio CD)

I just recently picked up a copy of Hiromi's Spiral and I am hooked! For one thing it is awesome to see young players like Hiromi and her bassist and drummer playing all original music. All the songs on spiral are penned by the pianist. I like the way the songs are very composed but don't get robotic sounding. I think she has toned down her chops and focused more on the songs,but this doesn't mean that she doesn't rip on this one. My favorite tracks are spiral the first track,and #3 Edge. I really like The Return of the Kung Fu Champion,which is the only track on this album where she uses electronic keyboards. I like her use of the synths. I don't think its fair to her to compare her synth sounds with 70's fusion. As much as I love Chick Corea I think most of the synth sounds he used on mid 70's RTFE albums like Where Have I known you before, No Mystery and Romantic Warrior where really chessey. This album has definite cross over appeal because the tunes are catchy and they blend classical,jazz and funk fusion. Tony Grey the bassist on this is the man. I think he's headed for bass great status. The drummer Martin Valihora is killer nuff said buy this record you won't be disappointed!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Amazing!, April 9, 2008

By 

J. P. Pascoe (South Burlington, VT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spiral (Bonus Dvd) (Audio CD)

I was doing a little research for a radio show on music coming out of Japan and stumbled across this CD. What luck! This is the best new pianist I've heard in many years! I'm not alone in thinking this: At seven Hiromi was accepted as a student at the Yamaha School of Music in her native Japan; at 14 she went to play with the Czech Philharmonic; at 17 Chick Corea invited her to play with him! (The influence is obvious in some of her other work.) At 20 Hiromi came to the USA and attended Berklee School of Music, graduating in 2004.

Since then there have been four Hiromi CDs that I know about, and they're all utterly amazing, though each is a bit different. I think Spiral is a bit truer to the jazz genre (and was awarded a Grand Prize by Swing Journal). It features Tony Grey on Bass & Martin Valihora on drums. Her first two CDs are wildly and wonderfully energetic (and one, Brain, also won Swing Journal's Album of the Year in 2005), and her new CD Time Control is reminiscent of the best work of Chick Corea & Return to Forever. In fact, in Japan one can buy her latest CD "Duet" featuring a live performance Featuring Hiromi with Chick Corea! Pricey though...

Now keep in mind... Hiromi has done all this and yet the bio on her web site says she was born in 1979. So at this writing she's still not even 30 years old!

My recommendation? Buy all of her CDs and cherish them.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Future of Piano Jazz, June 26, 2006

By 

Jim Newsom (Norfolk, VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Spiral (Bonus Dvd) (Audio CD)

When the NPR Piano Jazz Christmas came to the Attucks Theatre in Norfolk in December, 2004, youthful pianist/composer Hiromi Uehara ignited what were otherwise fairly sedate proceedings with her musical instincts, rock star looks and physical approach to performance. With this, her third album, she pushes the boundaries of piano trio jazz into unexplored territory, creating a vibrant blend of jazz, classical, pop and rock that is beautiful, expressive, punchy, melodic, rhythmically variegated, fiery and fresh. At the ripe young age of 26, she already has her own idea of what the future of jazz should look like, and it's an alluring vision. The centerpiece of this all-original outing is the four-part "Music for Three-Piece-Orchestra," a rich suite encompassing quiet classicism, gentle lyricism, controlled furor and Emerson, Lake & Palmer prog-rock. The closing "Return of King-Fu World Champion" takes the ELP connection one step further with Tarkus-like synth and clavinet. The bonus DVD provides a brief sample of Hiromi's exciting live presence. --Jim Newsom

Originally published in Port Folio Weekly - February 28, 2006

Copyright 2006 Port Folio Weekly. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.