Hayato Sumino - Human Universe (2024) [Hi-Res]

Human Universe is the thrilling Sony Classical debut album of New York based Japanese pianist and composer Hayato Sumino aka 'Cateen'. Sumino is an exceptional artistic phenomenon: Known as 'Cateen', he has garnered over 1.5 million followers globally across his platforms and nearly 200 million views on YouTube to date. His participation at the 2021 International Chopin competition, where he reached the semi-finals, caused a sensation and gained over 8.5M views on YouTube. In April 2024, he made a spectacular Royal Albert Hall debut with his performance of Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' capturing the spotlight both online and in the concert hall. The album showcases Sumino's multi-faceted gifts in a diverse selection including works by Bach, Chopin, Debussy, Faure, Purcell, Ravel to iconic film composers like Hans Zimmer and Ryuichi Sakamoto as well as Sumino's own compositions and arrangements. The recording highlights his distinctive style, seamlessly merging his refined classical technique with the discerning ear of an arranger and exceptional improvisational talent. A prodigious composer, Hayato Sumino possesses a unique and captivating style that effortlessly combines his diverse musical interests, ranging from classical and jazz to film music, post-classical, and electronica. He is also much in-demand for film and TV scores in Japan and is rapidly gaining a place as one of the leading members of the next generation of musicians who are redefining what it means to be a classical pianist in the 21st century.