Imagine listening to a piano trio, alone in the middle of the night as you … Read Full Bio ↴Imagine listening to a piano trio, alone in the middle of the night as you sip your favourite drink. Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio offers just such a mood. Yamamoto is highly musical and his expressions natural. Neither overly technical nor overly serious, and his performance is relaxed and melodious. This album is his second, after the debut "Midnight Sugar" (TBM XR 0023). The same closely-knit trio plays here, with Isoo Fukui on bass and Tetsujiro Obara on drums.

Tsuyoshi Yamamoto was born on 23rd March 1946. He started to play the piano when he was in primary school. In junior high school, he played the trumpet. His interest in jazz began when he first heard Art Blakey's tunes in the French movie, "Les Liaisons Dangereuses". It inspired him to return to the piano, to perfect his technique. During his university years, he played for Mickey Curtis and the Samurais and began his professional career, including tours with the group in Europe. Following this, he joined other bands and played in clubs. In l973, he formed his own band. As he polished his piano skills, he came to idolize pianists such as Bobby Timmons, Wynton Kelly and Red Garland. Yamamoto's melodic technique and phrasing reflect Kelly's influence. His use of block chords in ballads is similar to Garland's. He had also heard Monk's solo. When this record was made, his chief interest was pianists such as Randy Weston. Isoo Fukui was born on 10 April 1947 and came to Tokyo in 1968. He has played in a number of groups and in 1972 joined the Masaru Imada Trio. Tetsujiro Obara was born on 23 March 1941. At the university he played in the brass band. In l965,he became a professional. He has played in a number of bands, in many clubs and formed his own band. His favourite drummer is Elvin Jones.

1. Misty - The title number is one of Enroll Garner's famous creations. Most Garner's compositions are cooly erotic and this one is no exception. The performance skillfully preserves the original mood.
2. Blues - By Tsuyoshi, this number shows his emotional affinity with the blues. It has a relaxed atmosphere.
3. Yesterdays - By Jerome Kern for the musical "Roberta", this is a famous jazz standard. Isoo's bass begins the theme.
4. Honoy Suckle Rose - By Fats Waller, it is the theme song for the musical "Load to Coal". In this pleasing interpretation Tsuyoshi begins with a light piano phrase.
5. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - As "Yesterdays", this was in "Roberta". Tsuyoshi's piano changes expression in a striding and individual manner.
6. I Didn't Know What Time It Was - This Richard Kodgers composition is a famous jazz standard - A fine performance.
7. Angel Eyes - One of Matt Dennis' representative compositions, an appropriate close to the album. In his solo,Tsuyoshi extends the mood of this ballad.

This album won the "Best Engineering Award" of Jazz Disk Award, Swing Journal Magazine, Critic's Poll 1974.

Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio Lyrics