Anthony Jackson / Simon Phillips - Alive (CD)

'Alive' is Hiromi's ninth CD as a leader and heralds the return of the Japanese pianist/composer's Trio Project, featuring contrabass guitarist Anthony Jackson (Steely Dan, Paul Simon, The O'Jays and Chick Corea) and drummer Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who, Judas Priest, David Gilmour and Jack Bruce).

This terrific triad, which DownBeat magazine proclaimed as "one of the most exciting groups working in any genre today", formed in 2011 and recorded their first CD, 'Voice', that year, followed by 'Move' in 2013. On 'Alive', Phillips' powerful, yet poetic percussion and Jackson's flowing, glow-in-the-dark basslines beautifully buoy and support Hiromi's ingenious and impassioned improvisations. Her evocative and expansive compositions evoke the myriad moods and mysteries of life and reveal the soulful, syncopated simpatico of her thrilling threesome.

As evidenced by this impressive recording, Hiromi's astonishing artistry is very much 'alive': It breathes, grows, adapts and, more importantly, it evolves. Hiromi's evolution has been fuelled by her ever-evolving gifts as a pianist, improviser, composer, bandleader and - most of all - listener. "My listening skills have improved", she says. "Over the years, I've learned how to listen more carefully, and respond musically to what is happening in the moment. That's what makes my trio shine as a team."