Emi Makabe - Anniversary (2020) [Hi-Res]

The intimate, alluring art of singer-composer and instrumentalist Emi Makabe is utterly individual, even as it resonates with inspirations ranging from Japanese folk music, jazz improvisation and beyond.

Born and raised in Japan but a decade-plus resident of New York, Makabe releases her debut album Anniversary, featuring her original songs – sung in English, Japanese and wordless vocalese – in airy, artful arrangements, with improvisation naturally part of the mix. The record features Emi on vocals and shamisen (a traditional Japanese string instrument) alongside a trio of New York jazz virtuosos: Vitor Gonçalves on piano/accordion, Thomas Morgan on bass, and Kenny Wollesen on drums/vibraphone.

Along with the shamisen-laced singles “Treeing” and “Flash,” highlights of Anniversary include the jazzy, melody-rich “O Street,” the otherworldly “Mielcke” and the romantic-minded title track. The album also features Emi’s apt setting of “Chimney Sweeper,” the sad-eyed poem by William Blake about a child abandoned.

Tracklisting:
01. Emi Makabe - Treeing (3:21)
02. Emi Makabe - Joy (7:23)
03. Emi Makabe - Chimney Sweeper (5:41)
04. Emi Makabe - Moon & I (4:52)
05. Emi Makabe - Something Love (4:54)
06. Emi Makabe - Flash (3:12)
07. Emi Makabe - I Saw The Light  (3:53)
08. Emi Makabe - Mielcke (2:54)
09. Emi Makabe - O Street (3:38)
10. Emi Makabe - Rino (4:50)
11. Emi Makabe - Anniversary (3:50)
12. Emi Makabe - Anniversary (Bonus Track) (4:22)