Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio - Gentle Blues (2013) [2014 SACD]

Since his stunning debut in 1974 on the Three Blind Mice label, Japanese pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto has built a career that now spans four decades.
Yamamoto's bluesy and sometimes funky piano style is buoyed by the strong, swinging support of bassist Hiroshi Kagawa and drummer Toshio Osumi. Together, they make muscular and uplifting music. The tracks are mostly well-known standards, rounded out by a Japanese song "Tsuki No Sabaku (Desert on the Moon)" and Yamamoto's original composition "Gentle Blues."

Tracks:

1. Bye Bye Blackbird
2. Cheek To Cheek
3. I Left My Heart In San Francisco
4. Gentle Blues
5. Cry Me A River 〜 Left Alone
6. Poinciana
7. Caravan
8. Tsuki No Sabaku
9. My Funny Valentine
10. I Love Paris

Personnel:

Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, piano
Hiroshi Kagawa, bass
Toshio Osumi, drums