Nakamura

KITCHEN. LABEL presents haruka nakamura PIANO ENSEMBLE’s new album entitled “Hikari” in a special 2CD box set edition to be released on 8th August 2017. “Hikari” is the final set of the trilogy of albums (Ongaku No Aru Fuukei and CURTAIN CALL) to feature the current PIANO ENSEMBLE lineup before they go on a indefinite hiatus after their last show at the grand St Mary’s Cathedral in Tokyo on 21st July 2017.

With Sun/Moon, Somei Satoh speaks with the ancient, distinct voice of Buddha, with enough melodramatic romanticism to stir the emotions of even the most Western ears. Perhaps less cinematic than his previous album, Toward the Night, but no less passionate in tone, with gorgeous, rich dialogue between shakuhachi and koto that circulates between whispers, cries, gasps, and deep contemplation. The opening piece, "Kougetsu," is the sound of a rock garden minding its own business, a dragonfly dreaming restlessly amongst the bamboo. "Sanyou" follows in much the same way, in an expression of (as the composer puts it) "the purity of the early morning air." Shin Miyashita plucks his 17-string koto with patience, reverence, and in perfect symbiosis with Akikazu Nakamura, a stoic virtuoso on the shakuhachi.

February 26, 2020, 10 years after the passing of musician Nujabes. Even though a long time has passed, the number of listeners around the world who desire the music of Nujabes continues to grow. During this turbulent world, Nujabes' label, Hydeout Productions, which is still in charge of the band, asked Haruka Nakamura to make a tribute album to mark the 10-year anniversary of his death, saying, 'I want you to move forward 10 years as time stands still.'

Hachidai Nakamura (1931-1992) was a Japanese songwriter and jazz pianist.

Nakamura wrote the music of the popular Japanese song Ue o muite arukō, released in the United States under the name "Sukiyaki". He worked closely with lyricist Rokusuke Ei and many of his songs were popularized by singer Kyu Sakamoto. ~ Wikipedia

This album brings a very diverse repertoire of worldwide popular songs and some Hachidai Nakamura’s originals. Songs are presented as solo piano, with strings, with brass, piano quartet…