Track Listing

1. Intro: Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
2. Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
3. Clair de Lune
4. Caravan
5. Ue Wo Muite Aruko
6. My Favorite Things
7. Led Boots
8. Xyg
9. I've Got Rhythm

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67263 in Music
• Released on: 2008-06-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
Hiromi's supergroup, Sonicbloom, has shattered the formula of making records written solely by the celebrated pianist/composer. Their latest outing, "Beyond Standard," finds Tony Grey (bass), Martin Valihora (drums), and Dave "Fuze" Fiuczynski (guitar and otherworldly sounds) helping Hiromi craft unique versions of familiar tunes such as Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm," Rogers & Hammerstein's "My Favorite Things" and even Jeff Beck's "Led Boots."

The group has been recognized for its energetic virtuosity by music industry and mainstream publications alike: Downbeat, JazzTimes, Keyboard, and The New York Times. Playing festivals such as Glastonbury, Fuji Rock, and Playboy Jazz proves that Hiromi's unique fusion nuevo has been accepted in the world of jazz as well as rock. "Beyond Standard" is a showcase for Hiromi and her band's abilities, with each player getting plenty of room to shine.

While most of the music on the album was penned by songwriters other than Hiromi, the album as a whole is a continuation of her previous release, "Time Control" (2007). "Beyond Standard" starts with a quick "Intro" that includes the popping and scratching sounds of a vinyl record, a signal that what you are about to hear are retro compositions performed in an updated and unique way. The music starts with an extension of her original tune, "Time's Up," the final track on "Time Control." Hiromi then gives a dramatic voicing to the theme of "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise." As the tune progresses, she and Fiuczynski trade some very playful fours, and Valihora takes a fresh approach, occasionally giving a backbeat to the jazz standard.

In keeping with her defiance of easy categorization, Hiromi then covers Debussy's eternally famous "Claire de Lune," followed by the driving jazz standard, "Caravan," written by Juan Tizol and made famous by Duke Ellington. Hiromi's rendition has an almost Zappa-esque feel with a heart-pumping drum solo.

Paying homage to the legendary Jeff Beck, the group covers "Led Boots," with Hiromi's keyboards sounding very much like the whah-whah effect on a guitar. In a complete 180, the band follows the Beck tune with Rogers & Hammerstein's "My Favorite Things," a song from the stage and film versions of The Sound of Music that later became jazz standard repertoire thanks to John Coltrane.

"Ue Wo Muite Aruko" ("I Look Up When I Walk") was the only Japanese pop song to make it to #1 on the American pop charts. The song was released in Japan in 1961 and in the United States in 1963. Hiromi takes the still popular song and turns it into a funky explosion.

"XYG" is Hiromi covering Hiromi. The track is an in-your-face adaptation of the song of the same name from her 2003 debut album, with the addition of Fiuczynski's roaring guitar. The album closes with Hiromi on solo piano, putting her spice on the Gershwin classic, "I Got Rhythm." She begins the tune with a playful, delicate touch that escalates to a landslide with bone-breaking riffs.

About the Artist
Mentored by giants like Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal and Chick Corea, Hiromi's roots are in jazz but her music explores a world of new ideas by blurring the boundaries of pop, rock, classical, avant-garde and other genres.

Born in Shizuoka, Japan, in 1979, Hiromi discovered jazz when she took up the piano at age six. Within a year, she was a student of the Yamaha School of Music, whose progressive approach to musical training allowed the young student to tap into her emotions as well as mastering the technical aspects of writing and performing. At age 14, she went to Czechoslovakia and played with the Czech Philharmonic. Three years later, Corea invited her to perform with him. In 1999, Hiromi came to the United States to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Hiromi established her reputation when her 2003 Telarc debut, "Another Mind" - produced by Ahmad Jamal - shipped gold in Japan (100,000 units) and won the Recording Industry Association of Japan's (RIAJ) Jazz Album of the Year Award.

Her 2004 release, "Brain," won the Horizon Award at the 2004 Surround Music Awards, Swing Journal's New Star Award, Jazz Life's Gold Album, HMV Japan's Best Japanese Jazz Album, and the Japan Music Pen Club's Japanese Artist Award (the JMPC is a classical/jazz journalists club). "Brain" was also named Album of the Year in Swing Journal's 2005 Readers Poll. Back in the U.S., Hiromi has been featured on the covers of Keyboard, Jazziz, Billboard, All About Jazz-LA and Goldmine.

In 2006, Hiromi won Best Jazz Act at the Boston Music Awards and the Guinness Jazz Festival's Rising Star Award. She also claimed Jazzman of the Year, Pianist of the Year and Album of the Year in Swing Journal Japan's Jazz Readers Poll for her 2006 release, "Spiral."

Customer Reviews

Just when you thought she couldn't get any better...
Just when you thought she couldn't get any better, she releases BEYOND STANDARD. It is similar in some ways to her previous CD, but this one is a little more "jazz" and a little less "fusion." I hate to use those terms, but it may be helpful. Anyway, hear for yourself. She is a talent who will be around for a long, long, time. I just wish she would tour more in the USA. We would love it. But as for the CD, do not hesitate to get it.

Awesome playing, creative arranging!
Hiromi never ceases to surprise. Just an amazing album sparkling with originality and creativity. She is one of the very few musicians today who can play genuine fusion without sounding anachronistic. This album is as brilliant as its predecessor, except this time she is playing the standards, rather than her own compositions. However, her renditions are characteristically witty, fresh and quirky. Just listen to the old Japanese pop tune "Sukiyaki". If you've never heard the original, you'd never guess it's not a fusion tune. And the chords on "My Favourite Things" take that classic Coltrane vehicle into new directions. Hiromi never runs out of ways to make each song her own. She leaves plenty of room for herself and the band to improvise and have fun. The interplay between the band is very tight, I love the way everyone plays a passage or run in perfect unison. Couldn't recommend is more highly to anyone who loves Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and contemporary jazz.

great jazz
This is great music, just seems like Hiromi was SO dominating... like she picked musicians that couldn't quite keep up with her (although all still great), in my opinion. Who knows, maybe that was the plan. However, still all GREAT music, especially Caravan, Led Boots, and XYG. WELL WORTH the little money.