Thunderous applause filled the Chan Centre on October 7 as Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara played the first show of her North American tour.
Known for her technical prowess and genre-bending style, Hiromi boasts an unreal musical resume. She trained with jazz legends at Berklee College of Music, performed at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and recently released her 12th studio album, Sonicwonderland.
As the first show since the release of the album, Hiromi noted in an interview with The Ubyssey that she was excited to play to an audience that had already had the chance to familiarize themselves with the music. She reflected on past tours, and remembered there being a “very enthusiastic audience [in Vancouver]. [I’m] looking forward to communicating with them in person.”
Accompanied by bassist Hadrien Feraud, trumpeter Adam O’Farrill and drummer Gene Coye, the quartet is currently performing under the name Hiromi’s Sonicwonder.
“We’re not scared of taking risks in music. I feel like I can go anywhere with these guys,” Hiromi said, emphasizing the strong bond she shares with her fellow musicians while recalling moments of effortless improvisation, showcasing the musical chemistry they share.
She kicked the night off by striking the first chord of “Wanted,” the first track on Sonicwonderland.
The performance transported the audience into Hiromi's mellifluous wonderland — mellow piano notes mixed seamlessly with warm basslines, and O’Farrill’s lively trumpet solos brought a sense of brightness to the theatre, making it impossible for listeners not to groove along.
O’Farrill sometimes uses an effects pedal to spice up his sound. This intrigued Hiromi when she was seeking out instrumentalists for her band, as she had been experimenting with using an electronic keyboard. She introduced the audience to “Sonicwonderland” — the titular piece of her album — with a series of comedic sounds played on her Nord keyboard.
Hiromi adds colour to her performance by using her instrument in unconventional ways. “I’m a big fan of guitar players … for me, when I play the keyboard, it’s more like [using] it as a guitar,” she said. “You can sustain [and] bend notes, which doesn’t happen on piano.”
Playing each note at an extraordinarily quick speed, Hiromi had audience members at the edge of their seat — an unexpected reaction to classical piano technique, which is not often perceived as exciting by those not familiar with classical music.
“[Piano’s] like a best friend. It’s something that I want to keep pursuing and learning,” she said. “The more you play, the more fun you get. …You have to open yourself to learning.”
Encouraged by a standing ovation from the audience, Hiromi played two encores — bringing a close to the first stop of what will definitely be a successful tour.
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