Completely different from classical or ambient jazz-style piano, this album blends the blues-jazz tradition from an Americana perspective with the sounds of his everyday life. Rather than field recordings, it’s a diary-like work that interweaves the sounds of him playing the keys and pressing the pedals in his home studio. He has previously released piano works as part of the “Some Piano” series, but this 2024 release, “Wethering Some Piano,” perfectly captures his current mood.
The word “Wethering” in the title could be translated as “being exposed to the elements” or “enduring hardships.” It’s an elegant choice of title befitting a veteran artist, yet his piano touch is neither introspective nor abstract; rather, it evokes the simple, sepia-toned nostalgia of the primal sadness and joy found in blues and jazz. There’s a mysterious sense of stability, with a kind of gentleness lingering beneath the surface—a worldview that perfectly matches the album artwork. And part of the reason it feels so current right now is likely because it’s released by L.A.’s AKP Recordings, the label that introduced artists like M. Sage and Kalia Vandever.
Personally, I was on a repeat loop for this one for a while—I really want this on vinyl too! (Original Japanese text by Shhhhh)