Satoko Fujii Kaze Quartet - Noise Chopin

THE week starts with Satoko Fujii Kaze Quartet at Manghha with concert entitled Chopin Noise.

Satoko Fujii - photo by Krzysztof Penarski

Kaze are:

Satoko Fujii - piano (played also with drumsticks and small objects directly on the strings)

Natsuki Tamura - her husband and long-time musical partner on trumpet

Christian Pruvost - trumpet

Peter Orins - drums

(two french names i'm completely unfamiliar with).

Two-trumpet line-ups are so rare that you've got to love this band. When they both start the concert with some strange growls and almost electro-acoustic sounds duel you know you're in for a treat. Natsuki Tamura is an absolute master of the trumpet and he loves to utter from the brass very low, growling, quirky and strange sounds. And , even at his most adventourous sonoristic games, he finds a great partner/competition in Christian. And this duo front-line interacts greatly, their intervowen lines put you in this state of trans when you just enjoy the fast flurries of the sound that bond together like dna lines.

Also Peter Orins is a great surprise, very clear drumming, using mostly high-hat, bass drum and snare (i would say he has some drum'n'bass influenced playing experiences) . He's capable of playing with very propulsive drive, some nervous beats, and also rockish and steady and energetic with some nice twists to it. Had an absolutely great duo with Satoko.

And finally the leader of the group and the author (i would presume, although 1 of 3 long pieces played during the main part of the concert was composed by Peter) of the main conception. I think there's a lot written oabout her piano-playing skills while not nearly enough on her band-leader and composer talents. She is an absolute master of alchemy, combining seemingly opposite and oxymoronous elements. Both in linear and simoultaneous way. And the dou with drums was a great example of that - right in the middle of fast and furious improvisation the trumpets enter with sweet and solemn and slow melody. And it all fits! Steady rock beat with impressionistic plays. Powerhouse riffs and delicate lines at the same moment. Fast cascades of notes vs

long and echoing sounds. Free madness of improvisation vs strict rules of composition.

Another note on that aspect - I would say that Satoko and Natsuki are among the most post-modernistic players in the jazz world. They manage to combine a whole bunch of influences and musical traditions, and juggle with them, they play with sonorus and physical aspect of their given instrument, and even at their most abstract, they still having fun on stage. You can almost see them winking at You - "This is a play, a game you know, lots of fun, even if it seems so serious". And their attitude is always that of half serious- half joking. Or to put it better - they are very serious about having fun. 

PS.0

About the Chopin influence, I'm definitely no expert on Chopin music but, as i would have expected, it was very indirect. Some nocturnal echoes, some impressionistic and romantic parts on piano. None really evident quotes (which is a good thing, because this year they are really overdoing those in a cheesy way) although my word should not be cited as any kind of official statement on that particular issue.
PS.1 The concert was registered so hopefully one will be able to re-live the experience :)

PS.2 Oh man, that is a great start for the whole week.

PS.3 Before the concert there was supposed be an opening of Peter Gannushkin photo exhibition, but it was postponed till the day after (which is today) :)

Natsuki Tamura - photo by Krzysztof Penarski