Keiko Matsui The Ring: CDs no hi-fi fan should be without

[jackfish]

Experience it on a good system.

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Is this a new CD? I have a few Keiko Matsui CDs, and her early works No Borders and Under Northern Lights are the best I’ve heard. Those were big-budget projects with a lot of talented session players, which made for an excellent production. Everything I’ve heard since she lost her big-label contract has been mostly just her and the piano / electronic keyboard, with computerized accompaniment. Where before there would be an oboe or French horn carrying the melody or solo, it’s keyboard. Certainly, she’s a fabulous composer, and the material is still mostly good, but it was soo-o-o much better when she had the flexibility of all that extra instrumentation...

I don’t think I have anything of hers later than about 1996. Has something changed with her latest releases?

Regards,
Wayne

[jackfish]

This is an October 1, 2002 release. If you have associated Keiko Matsui's music with saxophones and straight jazz rhythms, this CD may well be a disappointment. But if you want to hear Keiko's artistry without beguiling vocals and sappy saxophone solos then you'll easily get past the complementary percussion and synthesizer in this piece to enjoy her masterful performance. Another good release from her is Whisper from the Mirror, May 16, 2000. Her stuff on Narada is really a lot better than previous releases from the Shout label.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/r...117747-8158525