“I have been more than fortunate to have worked and played with so many of the greatest jazz flautist in the history of this music. Names such as Hubert Laws, James Moody, Joe Farrell, Lew Tabackin and Sam Rivers. Mayu is a not a good flute player but a great flute player. She not only has an extremely expressive sound that is her own but she also plays each solo with such intense emotion and drama that each solo on this 6 song debut CD will take you on a journey, guaranteed. Mayu gives us the opportunity to add a beautiful jazz flute recording to our collection that is on the highest level. It seems more and more that so many jazz musicians today are making recordings that all sound like each other’s recordings. Her compositions, great jazz flute playing and the great band that she has for this recording make this stand out in a much more unique fashion.” – Gerry Gibbs
“Chico Hamilton has been very responsible for discovering many fine jazz artists. Mayu has been added to that long list of Chico finds. I first met Mayu when Chico called me to do a few club performances and a recording that Mayu was on. That is when I became aware of her high musical skill. She plays many different types of flutes, all very in tune while expressing herself very well in her musical compositions. She also makes every solo meaningful as each note has a true importance. Mayu is on her way to become better known to a wider audience with her first CD ‘HOPE’ as a leader. She has surrounded herself with some very wonderful musicians and has composed a series of very nice musical compositions.” – Jimmy Owens, NEA Jazz Master
Hope feels like the fifth or sixth offering from a veteran on the scene. Ms. Saeki certainly had an advantage, recording with Aaron Goldberg, Joe Sanders, John Davis and Nori Ochiai (a former student of Goldberg’s and a fine modern jazz pianist in his own right), but her self-assurance comes across without dubiety. Her solo on the title track bears a joyful swagger (immediately following a gem of a solo from Mr. Goldberg). Her playing, specifically the intro, solo & outro, on “Soshu-Yakyoku” are also moments to behold, as they encapsulate the sincerity and soul of this album. And, her band mates are on board completely, and given ample space to express their brilliance. Check out Joe Sanders’ truly breathtaking playing on “Do You Know”, and behold drummer John Davis’ brilliant, flowing solo over the vamp of the same tune. Goldberg is flawless throughout, but a highlight is his accompaniment and solo on the opening track, “Dilemma”. "Libertango" and “Oblivion” showcase Mayu’s classical training and her love for the music of Astor Piazzolla (with "Oblivion" displaying Mayu’s expertise on piccolo flute). Hope truly “offers the listener a glimpse into the musical heart of one of today’s great musicians. Mayu Saeki is a shining example of the hope we all can have when we combine passion, perseverance, and a strong voice. Mayu’s voice is a gorgeous flute sound that will surely inspire hope in everyone who hears it”. – Demarre McGill, Principal Flutist of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.
More on Mayu Saeki: With nearly a decade of her musical career in New York City, Mayu Saeki, an alumni of Elizabeth University of Music, still keeps transforming herself, apparently with no limits. Her versatile and passionate style is deeply rooted in her early childhood classical training and mentorship with Sanae Nakayama, Keiji Oshiro, Kazukiyo Inoue, Pierre Yves Artaud, Alain Marion, and NEA jazz master, Chico Hamilton. Post-Chico Hamilton, and in addition to leading her own group more frequently, Saeki’s “sideman” career continues to grow with an all-female Irish music group, Four Celtic Voices, and Cosmos Sunshine’s Butterfly Effect (appearing on Butterfly Fight Effect, released in 2016, and their new album, Comes With The Fall, due out on March 9). In addition, Saeki has recently joined a project titled “Mark Gross with Strings”, led by Grammy award-winning jazz saxophonist, Mark Gross (also the liner note writer for Hope). Saeki also regularly performs with harpist/vocalist Erin Hill’s group.
“It was a pivotal moment to record my own album, and I’m very happy that I was able to deliver before I mark my tenth year being in New York. This album is reflections of my life, filled with passion and curiosity, love of music, and hopes that I never, ever let go of. Music has been with me since I was little. It has always been honest and keeps giving me hope for a better day. I wish that this HOPE, the feeling I have, is going to reach straight to your heart and sincerely hope your day is better tomorrow. I would like to dedicate this album to the memory of my father, Kazuo, and my mentor, Chico Hamilton, who left me invaluable experiences and precious memories”. – Mayu Saeki
1 Dilemma 7:52
2 Hope 7:24
3 Soshu-Yakyoku 9:43
4 Libertango 7:34
5 Oblivion 9:57
6 Do You Know...? 7:03
Special Guest: Aaron Goldberg - piano (tracks 1,2,3)
Nori Ochiai - piano (tracks 4,5,6)
Joe Sanders - bass
John Davis - drums
