1. The Puzzle
2. The Dreams pass by the Windows (Ukraine Lullaby)
3. Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No.7 in B-flat Major, Op.83: 3 Precipitato
 
Piano Makoto Ozone
Bass Shimpei Ogawa
Drum Kunito Kitai
 
Trumpet Shutaro Matsui on “The Puzzle”
Alto Sax Shunya Nakabayashi on “The Puzzle”
 
"The Puzzle"
 
I can’t seem to get enough blues recently. I know it sounds too biased to say “Jazz is the Blues”, but I definitely can live with that. As “Jazz as an art” evolves wonderfully with the times, I am really eager to hear the blues behind the story created by the notes I am hearing. Last year, I composed and recorded three “Blues” for my piano solo album for 60th Birth year celebration. “The Puzzle” is one of them. And I’ve decided to record again only this time with young and talented musicians, Shinpei Ogawa, Kunito Kitai, Shutaro Matsui and Shunya Nakabayashi. The Groove ad the vibe they created was no different from then one I’ve always loved since my childhood. This blue that you feel as the band moves forward while being involved in the rushing energy of complex rhythms and phrases, unites the hearts of the five of us. “Blues” that you can feel because you are alive!
 
“The Dreams pass by the Windows”
 
As of June 2022, Ukraine is still under the attack from Russia. There are millions of people getting hurt, wounded and losing their lives. The war that has happened again in this 21st century, which should have shared the fact that NO WAR should ever occur for whatever reason. We pray for the return of peaceful days to Ukraine as soon as possible, and for the peace of the world, and played this song. May this thought reach you in Ukraine and to those who are hurt in Russia.
 
“Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No.7 in B-flat Major, Op.83: 3 Precipitato”
 
A song written by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev during World War II. This song was also recorded solo on the piano solo album “OZONE 60”. The war hadn't happened when I recorded it solo, but now that the nightmare.
has come true, I wanted to express what Prokofiev wanted to convey to people through this song during the war, in the form I believe by transcending the boundaries of genres and styles with two young musicians who will be creating the future. I want you to feel the energy of creation, not destruction.
 
 
Photo by Leslie Kee
Design by Maika Anno