Euphoria

Pianist and composer Keiko Matsui has been making records since 1991, but it somehow seems surprising that Euphoria is her 30th album. Matsui makes music that embraces and balances tradition, modernity, and the contemporary in jazz, classical, and pop. She is relentless in adding harmonic and rhythmic invention and imagination to virtually everything she does, yet keeps her music (mostly) readily accessible. Euphoria is no exception. Conceptually, she focuses on musics inherent potential to deepen human experience. With her studio and road bands, and co-producer Bud Harner, she worked at Hollywoods Studio A, while her guests added their individual parts in studios across the country. Opener "Steps on the Globe" juxtaposes big-band horns, contemporary jazz piano, and a Rhodes (by arranger Ron Pedley) with lithe funk thanks to some killer guitar vamping. The swing quotient is high with a horn section soaring above the groove. Guitarist Mike Stern assists on "The Choice"; he tracks Matsuis knotty vamp and rides above Alex Als rubbery bassline as drummer Greg Bisonette drives them all. Funk meets elegant contemporary fusion, with brief solos by the principal and guitarist. Trumpeter Randy Brecker appears on "Neo." Piano, bubbling percussion, and bass grooves deliver the vamp before Pedleys Rhodes colors the body. Brecker enters unhurriedly playing and improvising on the melody. The conversation he shares with Matsui as the tune ratchets is a set highlight. Immediately following is the single "Love and Nothing Less," featuring vocalist Lalah Hathaway and harmonica player Gregoire Maret. Its a silvery, tender ballad rife with intimate atmosphere, simmering passion, and grace. The interplay between singer, pianist, and harmonicist is seamless. The third consecutive guest spot belongs to contemporary jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum on "Luminescence." Soulful horns, sweeping piano, organ, and Rhodes gather the groove intensity; its the perfect vehicle for Whalums tenor solo before trading canny fours with Matsuis hard-bopping blues. "Rosso Cantabile," featuring percussionist Luis Conte, balances traditional tango with Astor Piazzollas tango nuevo atop brooding groove jazz and classical strings in the sets most dramatic track. "Legend of Yaguaron" is finger-popping, Latin-tinged contemporary jazz that showcases dazzling interplay between Matsui, Conte, and flutist Brandon Fields, whose Dave Valentin-esque solos are breathtaking. Vibraphonist Joel Ross guests on the dramatic title track. Introduced by strings and piano stating the theme, its rhythmic pulses -- on drums and percussion instruments -- are syncopated, shifting time signatures with startling regularity. Ross initially paints the changes while Matsui appends and extrapolates her harmonic reach on the melody, before Ross grounds it in blues in his killer solo. Buoyed by Michael Thompsons electric guitar and arranger John Beasleys synth, Matsui grabs Ross blues and builds on them, pushing the harmony toward the transcendent. In Matsuis vast discography, Euphoria stands apart for its edifying compositions, musical diversity, and careful yet seamless integration of musicians and themes. ~ Thom Jurek