Ai Kuwabara - Opera (2021) [Hi-Res]

Ai Kuwabara produces her original music in collaboration with bassist Yusuke Morita for this piano trio project. While her music calls to mind a striking resemblance to that of two of her most loved and admired jazz pianists, Michel Petrucciani and Esbjörn Svensson of the Esbjörn Svensson Trio (E.S.T.), Kuwabara expresses her creative world with the backing of her lush sensitivity and precise technique.

The trio’s first album “from here to there” (ewe records) debuted nationally in Japan in November 2012, and their second album, “THE SIXTH SENSE” (ewe records), released in April 2013, reached number one on the Tower Records Jazz Chart (Japan). In addition, The Japan Timesselected it as the best album of the first half of 2013 (jazz category), a great acknowledgment.

The trio has performed at a number of festivals, including Sapporo City Jazz 2013 and the 12th Tokyo Jazz Festival (Tokyo International Forum, Hall A).Also they performed 4cities of the west coast in the US (Berkeley,LA,Denver,Anchorage) and gained great success.(Cooperator:The Japan Foundation)

They released their third album "the Window"(ewe records) released in April 2014.

Ai Kuwabara, piano