Keiko Matsui - The Piano (2003)

*Keiko Matsui – The Piano* (2003) is a solo piano album by the Japanese contemporary jazz and new age pianist. Departing from her usual smooth jazz ensemble sound, this album features stripped-down, intimate renditions of her most beloved compositions, performed solo on acoustic piano.
The recording emphasizes Matsui’s lyrical playing, gentle touch, and emotional sensitivity. Tracks like “Forever, Forever” and “Light Above the Trees” are reimagined with a focus on melody and atmosphere, offering a peaceful, reflective listening experience. *The Piano* highlights her classical influences and showcases the quiet strength of her compositions in their purest form.

Tracklist

1 Presence Of The Moon 2:48
2 Water Lily 2:43
3 Whisper From The Mirror 4:40
4 Between The Moons 5:31
5 Light Above The Trees 6:57
6 Doll 2:13
7 Beyond The Light 2:48
8 Trees 3:32
9 Forever, Forever 4:21
10 See You There 4:16
11 Dawn 1:50
12 Distance 0:53
13 Be With Me 2:19
Keiko Matsui - The Piano (2003)

Since she emerged in the late '80s, many of the acclaimed Japanese composer/keyboardist's most popular contemporary jazz hits featured either a very prominent sax melody or a great deal of exotic percussion and Eastern-flavored instrumentation. Since signing with Narada Jazz in 2000, Matsui's work has drawn more from her classical piano background, featuring intricate percussion but none of the pop-soul sax textures that defined her early work. This beautiful recording, licensed by Shout! Factory from a previous Japanese release, should fascinate longtime fans who wondered what her most compelling work would sound like as new age solo piano works. A few tracks, most notably "Whisper From the Mirror" and "Between the Moons," feature some electronic percussion accompaniment, but in general, the tracks are all about her lovely melodies, dramatic chordings, wistful melodies, and the intimacy of the ivories. As on all Matsui projects, there's a perfect balance of elegant romance ("Beyond the Light," "Forever, Forever") and jazzy drama. It's a whole new way to experience an artist whose melodies sound timeless regardless of their presentation. The Piano is one of six hard-to-find Matsui recordings being repackaged and re-released (with the original Japanese bonus tracks) on Shout! Factory. ~Jonathan Widran