06.27.2009 Hiromi Uehara Workshop

I really don't review too many non-rock/indie/metal music. In fact, the last non-indie/rock/metal show was probably the Lang Lang show that I saw a year or two ago. That doesn't mean that I don't have love for the classical or jazz genres; quite the contrary, Bill Evans still ranks in my lifetime Top 5. I suppose one reason why I find newer jazz/classical live acts harder to get into is just due to the fact that there is so little promotion/press on it. Case in point, by the time I heard of Hiromi's Sonicbloom show at this years Jazz Fest, it was already well sold out. Luckily, Tom Lee was putting on a solo Hiromi Uehara Workshop at their downtown location.

Despite getting there early, there was already a line up formed in front of the Music Hall on the 3rd floor of the building. Seating was on a first come first served basis, with the audience most comprised of piano and jazz enthusiasts, Japanese ex-pats and the odd hippie. Not that I didn't expect a large following, but the small venue was rather packed from the seats to the aisles to the floors with a unnumbered amount of people waiting outside the door.

Hiromi show up to her workshop dressed casually and without the makeup or hairstyle that she is usually presented in - casting a more intimate slant on the event. Much like the seminars that I've seen in the past, the format was half playing half chatting/question and answer. Hiromi started with a piece dubbed "Shoe a la Creme"(?), which was apparently inspired by pastries in France. Her playing was quite engaging and at times mesmerizing. There were a couple of distinct idiosyncrasies in her playing. While playing she would often hum to herself and seemed to play almost in a trance during most of her playing. At one point, towards the end the first piece, she would reach into the grand piano and, I assume, manually tap on the hammers. This resulted in a more percussive muted sound.

After the first song, she spoke at length mostly about her background. She seemed to dwell on the theme that while she was hardworking and had a strong work ethic, there was a great deal of luck associated with her success. From her surprise meeting with Chick Corea, being mentored by Abdul Jamal and hooking up with Stanley Clarke, her career was built on a lot of chance encounters and fortuitous opportunities.

Afterward, she performed a rousing rendition of Bach's "Air on the G String" before taking a round of questions. Most of the questions were pretty standard fare and some bordered on either redundant or pedestrian. Overall the workshop was quite entertaining and well worth the lengthy lineup to get in. Hiromi ended the session by taking a request, the "Tom and Jerry Show", to the delight of everyone.