The Evolution of Yuko Mabuchi

Smooth jazz is not my style of choice.  That is not a put down.  I’ve seen some very entertaining shows by established smooth jazz artists and always appreciate the high level of musicianship.  Yuko Mabuchi has evolved to fully embrace the genre in recent years.  In her Catalina Jazz Club show last night she performed her latest single, Paradiso, written by smooth jazz powerhouses Jeff Lorber and Claude Villani.  Highly polished to a glossy sheen, the song moves with a kinetic energy over pulsing funk grooves, sure to satisfy the most discerning smooth jazz fan.

In her journey into the genre, Mabuchi has not abandoned her classical and jazz roots - quite the opposite, she celebrates them, and presented a highly satisfying, varied set list.  There were nods to Caribbean as well as Brazilian rhythms.  There was everything from Mozart to Reggae to Gershwin.  Underlying it all is Yuko Mabuchi’s astonishingly fluent piano technique.  It is all music, after all. 

At about the halfway point of her show, she moved to the center of the stage, peered into the audience and asked if there were any people from Japan in the house.  When a lady raised her hand, Yuko thanked her for being there, and with tears in her eyes, announced her next number, one her fan favorites - her celebrated “Tribute to My Homeland.”    There is an honesty to her music.

Being a lover of the straight-ahead jazz approach, I was delighted to hear her perform Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm.”  Her sparkling fills and the energy with which she drove the performance reminded me a bit of Page Cavanaugh’s approach.  The song was a staple of Page’s live performances, and a crowd favorite, aggressive yet in the pocket.  It is great to hear a contemporary artist who has the chops to deliver it in such an exciting way.

It is revealing when an artist can keep a band together over the years.  Mabuchi was generous in recognizing her familiar band mates, who had her back every step of the way – Del Atkins on bass, Peter Buck on drums, and Troy Dexter on guitar.

At the front desk, Manny was in fine form as he welcomed us and took us to our table.  He was probably in an especially good mood because there was a nice full house.  But also, I suspect, because he knew what was in store for the audience. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaPAOjrx53k

“I Got Rhythm.”  Yuko Mabuchi presented by Sweet Baby J’ai at the Women in Jazz Festival, Palm Springs. Bill Saitta bass, Jim Watson, drums.