Scott H. Thompson
Internationally-Acclaimed Songstress
TAEKO Explores from McCoy Tyner to Doug Carn with
CONTEMPLATION - Her 4th Release in the U.S.
Internationally-acclaimed jazz songstress from Japan, TAEKO releases her 4th album in the U.S. as a leader on October 10, 2019 entitled CONTEMPLATION (Flat Nine Records).
In TAEKO's own words (pronounced Tie-Koe):
"This album shows my true love and dedication to the African-American classical art form called jazz, as a singer who came from Japan where this music is truly loved."
With a never-ending stream of musical ideas and fluidity of delivery that shows years of studying her craft, TAEKO has built a distinctively unique approach to jazz in addition to mastering the traditional vocal and instrumental aspects. This album features songs written by the beloved jazz greats such as Ceder Walton, Mal Waldron, Billie Holiday, Chick Corea, Bill Evans, and Benny Golson, with TAEKO's unique point of view and arrangement.
The album's title track, McCoy Tyner's "Contemplation", continues Taeko's exploration of the Doug Carn songbook, her latest interpretation of the keyboardist/composer's lyrics, following her successful previous recordings of his words to Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes", Bobby Hutcherson's "Little B's Poem" and Miles Davis's "Blue In Green". Taeko's arrangement of the song adds Sumie Kaneko's koto (Japanese 13-string harp) to the group, giving the pensive piece a distinctive Eastern tinged meditative flavor.
Track Info:
1. UGETSU: FANTASY
2. LEFT ALONE
3. CONTEMPLATION
4. GRACIOUS
5. HAMABE-NO-UTA
6. THE SONG IS YOU
7. BETCHA BY GOLLY, WOW
8. WALTZ FOR DEBBY
9. THE SUN DIED
10. HIGH WIRE
11. I REMEMBER CLIFFORD
Personnel:
TAEKO - Vocal
Theo Hill - Piano
François Moutin - Bass
Victor Jones - Drums
Guest: Sumie Kaneko - Koto
Producers: TAEKO, Victor Jones, Jeff Jones
Executive Producer: Michael Wolk
Upcoming Performances:
September 27th
The 75 Club
75 Murray Street, New York, NY 10007
212-406-7575
Reservations, click here.
October 10th
Birdland Jazz Club
315 West 44th St New York, NY 10036
212-581-3080
Reservations, click here.
SCOTT THOMPSON PR
www.scottthompsonpr.com
scott@scottthompsonpr.com
203-400-1818
New York | Palm Beach | Buenos Aires
About the Author | Scott H. Thompson
Scott served as Assistant Director of Public Relations for Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York for almost a decade. With a background in broadcast journalism, Thompson’s voice and work has been heard on the Associated Press Radio Network, the Mutual Broadcasting network and NBC-AM New York, on The Morning Show. His experience spans radio, television, print and the internet. Thompson co-produced the New Haven Jazz Festival from 1994-2000. A prolific writer, Thompson has contributed to DownBeat, JazzTimes, Jazziz, and the All Music Guide. He penned the CD liner notes to Herbie Hancock Head Hunters, Weather Report 8:30, George Duke Brazilian Love, Stan Getz The New Collection, The Essence of Maynard Ferguson, and The Essence of Al DiMeola. Scott is one of the original members of the Jazz Journalists Association. Editor’s note: Style Quarterly is very pleased to make the connection with Scott and values his enthusiastic support of Jazz.
