Keiko Matsui - Wildflower
Product Information
Track List: Wildflower
Click on or song title to hear an audio clip. Windows Media player is required.
- FlashbackDownload & Buy
- Facing UpDownload & Buy
- Sense Of A JourneyDownload & Buy
- Brand New WindDownload & Buy
- Eldest Of AllDownload & Buy
- ReflectionsDownload & Buy
- White CastleDownload & Buy
- Temple Of LifeDownload & Buy
- SeekerDownload & Buy
- Stone CircleDownload & Buy
- WildflowerDownload & Buy
More Keiko Matsui CDs and Albums
Album Details: Wildflower
- Release Date:
- 02/24/2004
- Label:
- Narada
- UPC:
- 724359790428
User Reviews: Wildflower
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Wildflower
, April 7, 2004Reviewer: michael3801a - See all michael3801a's reviews
read all (1) user reviews for Wildflower
Pro Reviews: Wildflower
| EXPERT RATING: From AMG Reviews The spiritual and charitableminded Japanese keyboardist, who blends ethereal new age textures with a rich souljazz sensibility better than anyone, is in top form on her 14th studio release. Like its recent predecessors on Narada Jazz, the CD features songs that are all about the landscape between subtlety and drama, elegant piano melodies and improvisations, dramatic flute and sax harmonies, and rich ambiences dense with percussion. Tying in perfectly with her current humanitarian work with United Nations World Food Program (WFP) efforts in Africa (most of her recent albums have tied into some charitable or health cause), the collection features subtle worldbeat threads throughout. "Flashback" features a gentle, classicalflavored piano melody over a gently throbbing bassline, before Matsui does some dramatic improvisations over dense, exotic percussion textures. "Facing Up" is quintessential graceful Matsui up until the feisty, machinegenerated wall of polyrhythmic drums (which she simply dances over). "Sense of a Journey" is a little more smooth jazzcentered in spots, but later goes on a film scorelike orchestral tangent. The intro to "Reflections" is lowkey but decidedly African jungle in vibe, while the sweeping "Temple of Life" features hints of sitar, vocal choirs, and chanting beyond the orchestral flair. The closing title track is probably the most restrained piece productionwise, but also one of the most memorable melodically; its royalty proceeds will benefit the WFP, her latest charity. Matsui is always so consistent that it's hard to decide if one album ever tops another, but like most albums in her catalog, Wildflower is irresistible in its execution of incredible dynamics throughout. - Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide |
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Keiko Matsui Biography
Fusion/new age keyboard player Keiko Matsui grew up in Tokyo and took her first piano lesson at the age of five. Influenced by Stevie Wonder and Rachmaninov as well as early fusion masters Maurice Jarre and Chick Corea, Matsui began composing while i...Full Keiko Matsui Biography
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-- ©2008 All Media Guide, LLC
Pros: Regardless of what your usual flavor of music is you will be very much impressed with this CD: it is a complete work that blends classical, new age, and some catchy R&B beats.
Cons: A few tracks sound a bit too much like Yanni's work, but not enough I don't think to be a problem as he is a great musician too.
For the true Keiko fan, you'll find this CD to be full of energy and reminiscent of the CD "Whisper in the Mirror": shimmering contrasts of vibrant melodies dancing off her piano and spirited accompanists. Her most recent greatest hits CD "The Piano" is a bit on the austere side, but with this one she comes back as a tour de force showing both range, power and a deep desire to give her fans what they want to hear and what new comers will like after about three tracks. This is Keiko at her best since "Full Moon and the Shrine" which I think tops all her recent efforts.
Again: This CD is quite good! ...