Move (feat. Anthony Jackson & Simon Phillips)

For her sophomore “Trio Project” album with contrabass guitarist Anthony Jackson (Paul Simon, Chick Corea, Al di Meola) and drummer Simon Phillips (Toto, Jeff Beck, The Who), virtuoso pianist and keyboardist Hiromi Uehara explores new textures and tones. Writing nine strong original compositions that serve as the score to a typical workday, Hiromi flexes her often-overlooked compositional muscles. Move opens with some fleet and flawless three-way interaction on the kinetic title track, with Hiromi making a funky declaration on her first solo. Continuing her theme of writing the soundtrack to a typical 24-hour cycle, “Brand New Day” sparkles thanks in large part to Phillips’ delicate yet steady-ride cymbal work. The three-movement, 20-minute “Suite Escapism” ambitiously spans tempos and moods, while Hiromi adds some of her trademark attitudinal keyboard playing to the feel-good, samba-drenched “Margarita.”