Ayumi Tanaka Trio - Subaqueous Silence (October 29, 2021 ECM)

Subaqueous Silence, pianist Ayumi Tanaka’s leader debut for ECM – following critically acclaimed releases with Thomas Strønen (Lucus, Bayou) – is a strikingly original statement. Tanaka met bassist Christian Meaas Svendsen and drummer Per Oddvar Johansen shortly after arriving in Oslo a decade ago and they have been developing their musical language together, exploring the implications of Ayumi’s compositions. Deep interest in the work of Norwegian improvisers prompted Tanaka’s move to the West, but she also speaks of a growing awareness of her own cultural roots; there is an ascetic rigour in her playing, as well as a sense of space suggesting affinities with Japanese classical music. Ayumi views the trio as “more like a chamber ensemble. We share a flow of energy, even in silence.” Per Oddvar Johansen’s subtle drumming has previously distinguished recordings with Trygve Seim, Christian Wallumrød and others. Christian Meaas Svendsen makes his first ECM appearance on Subaqueous Silence; his intensely expressive arco bass on “Black Rain” is among the album’s highlights.

1 RUINS (Ayumi Tanaka) 06:39

2 BLACK RAIN (Ayumi Tanaka) 04:52

3 RUINS II (Ayumi Tanaka) 02:42

4 ICHI (Per Oddvar Johansen, Christian Meaas Svendsen, Ayumi Tanaka) 03:35

5 ZEPHYR (Per Oddvar Johansen, Ayumi Tanaka) 03:04

6 TOWARDS THE SEA (Per Oddvar Johansen, Christian Meaas Svendsen, Ayumi Tanaka) 04:14

7 SUBAQUEOUS SILENCE (Ayumi Tanaka) 09:25

Ayumi Tanaka   Piano

Christian Meaas Svendsen   Double Bass

Per Oddvar Johansen   Drums

PREORDER

CONCERTS

November 28 Thomas Strønen/ Ayumi Tanaka/ Marthe Lea BRAND! Jazz festival Mechelen Belgium

December 07 Ayumi Tanaka Trio Jazzclub Unterfahrt Munich Germany

December 08 Ayumi Tanaka Trio Bærum Kulturhus Sadvika Norway

Thomas Strønen / Ayumi Tanaka / Marthe Lea - Bayou (April 9, 2021 ECM)

A fresh and open music, delicate and space-conscious, is shaped as drummer Thomas Strønen and Ayumi Tanaka, previously heard in the ensemble Time Is A Blind Guide on Lucus, resurface in a new trio with clarinettist/singer/percussionist Marthe Lea. The group first came together at Oslo’s Royal Academy of Music, where for two years the players would meet each week for exploratory music making. Strønen: “We always played freely- drifting between elements of contemporary classical music, folk music, jazz, whatever we were inspired by. Sometimes the music was very quiet and minimalistic: playing together generated some special experiences.”

The spontaneous spirit of the music is reflected in the trio’s debut recording, which was made at the Lugano radio studio and produced by Manfred Eicher. With the exception of the title piece, based on a traditional Norwegian tune, the music on Bayou was collectively created in the moment.

1. BAYOU 05:38

2. PASHA 06:28

3. DURYEA 03:37

4. NAHLA 03:44

5. VARSHA 04:04

6. EYRE 04:27

7. DWYN 04:14

8. BAYOU II 01:01

9. COMO 03:03

Thomas Strønen - Drums, Percussion

Ayumi Tanaka - Piano

Marthe Lea - Clarinet, Vocal, Percussion

Pre-order

Thomas Strønen, Time Is A Blind Guide - Lucus (ECM January 19, 2018)

Norwegian drummer/composer Thomas Strønen presents a revised edition of his acoustic collective Time Is A Blind Guide, now trimmed to quintet size, and with a new pianist in Wakayama-born Ayumi Tanaka. Tanaka has spoken of seeking associative connections between Japan and Norway in her improvising, a tendency Strønen seems to be encouraging with his space-conscious writing for the ensemble, letting in more light. As on the group’s eponymously-titled and critically-lauded debut album there are excellent contributions from the string players – the quintet effectively contains both a string trio and a piano trio – and Manfred Eicher’s production brings out all the fine detail in the grain of the collective sound and the halo of its overtones, captured in the famously-responsive acoustic of Lugano’s Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI in March 2017.

1. La Bella

2. Friday

3. Release

4. Lucus

5. Fugitive Places

6. Baka

7. Wednesday

8. Tension

9. Truth Grows Gradually

10. Islay

11. Weekend

Thomas Strønen, drums

Ayumi Tanaka, piano

Håkon Aase, violin

Lucy Railton, cello

Ole Morten Vågan, double bass

Tanaka / Lindvall / Wallumrød - 3 pianos (NAKAMA RECORDS 2016)

3 pianos is an album made by a unique piano ensemble consisting of three musicians with different backgrounds and experience. The curiosity for the piano and its countless possibilities was the outset whereas the wish to bend the common boundaries for piano music was the background for this project. The ensemble makes music with clear connections to the music and the ideas of the twentieth century.

The musicians develop the material in their own way by focusing on elements like tuning, register, intervals and dynamics. The material includes both written compositions and improvised pieces. The trio has a sophisticated way of instant-composing, and this quality reflects both the musicians individuality as well as there orientation towards interplay.

1. till patrick modiano no. 1

2. 34

3. till patrick modiano no. 2

4. 31

5. till patrick modiano no. 3

6. romaine brooks

7. 33

Ayumi Tanaka - piano

Johan Lindvall - piano

Christian Wallumrød - piano

Tanaka / Lindvall / Wallumrød - 3 pianos (NAKAMA RECORDS)

3 PIANOS

Tanaka // Lindvall //  Wallumrød

The piano is a vast instrument with a long history. If three pianists with highly dissimilar personalities play three pianos at the same time, would it be possible to get away from what is known as the piano sound?

Nakama Records is proud to release this innovating album by 3 of Norway's most interesting musicians. 3 pianos will be released on the 19th of November on our very own label-night at Nasjonal Jazzscene Victoria in Oslo where the trio also will give a concert. Come if you are in town! If you are not, the evening can be streamed live from here.

The recording will be available on CD, LP and digital services