Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2012
Monday Michiru—daughter of renowned pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi and sax player Charlie Mariano—is revered in Japan as the eternal goddess of acid jazz. But for her new album she’s traded in hopped-up rhythms and feel-good exhortations for subtle guitar accompaniments and personal reflections.
Soulception sees the singer and flutist joined by guitarist Adam Rogers, accordionist Gil Goldstein and her husband Alex Sipiagin on trumpet for outings that explore Michiru’s love for Brazilian music, and her quieter, more contemplative side. She explains that “soulception” is a neologism for a sixth, spiritual sense.
The opening title track is a spoken word workout that asks, “Is there a God? Only the soul can really know.” On “Adventures” (the same name as her new label), Michiru weaves complex vocal harmonies over a softly funky rhythmic substratum built by drummer Nate Smith and bassist Boriz Kozlov.
But the dominant atmosphere on Soulception is a laidback, tropical vibe, over which Michiru’s sunny vocals shine brightly. The inclusion of Hamilton de Holanda’s “Brasilianos” and Milton Nascimento’s “Bridges,” a duet featuring Rio de Janeiro vocalist Ed Motta, round out the Brazilian picture.
Following on the Brazilian mood of Soulception, Michiru has also just overseen the creation of a new three-CD compilation entitled Adventure Music: Ten Years, which celebrates a decade of the label’s output of music by contemporary Brazilian musicians.
- Buy on Amazon
- More info: www.mondaymichiru.com
