Yuma Koda - Images on Loan, feat. Jan Urila Sas, Shun Ishiwaka (Newhere) [Jazz]
- The Slow Music Movement
- 4 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Having a father who ran an independent movie theatre, and spending a lot of time there, would have a serious impact on any child. In Yuma Koda's case, it inspired a move into the world of music and strong interests in classical music - which he studied, as well as a deep appreciation for jazz and electronic music, as well as something of a wanderlust, the artist roaming between Italy, Japan and New York, where he's been prolific in multi-media art and soundtracks for notable cultural and business names. Unusually for someone so creative and talented, his non-soundtrack recorded musical output has been minimal, confined to one collaborative single with Takuro Okada and Toshihiko Kasai, although that is about to change.
Well, I'm happy to announce a debut album is on the way via Tokyo's independent, and TSMM approved, Newhere label, and I can't help thinking he's found a good home. He's also rounded up quite the ensemble to realise his vision, including Shun Ishiwaka on drums, Jan Urila Sas recounting ethereal poetry, Marty Holoubek taking care of contrabass, TSMM fave Takuro Okada on guitar, Kei Matsumaru blowing the sax, whilst Koda takes care of synths and piano.
The album track listing, and even its release date, is a mystery at present, but "Images on Loan" would make a great LP intro. A simple, reflective, politely insistent piano anchors the unhurried song introduction, inviting some similarly softly-spun sax and otherworldly synth textures along for the ride. Ishiwaka arrives fashionably late about 90 seconds in to provides a light-touch jazz skitter, but it's not until the track's halfway mark that the easy grooving bass and percussion take shape; just in time to help anchor the spiralling synths through which Sas recounts a somewhat ambient mist-shrouded poem in his soft and husky voice. Message delivered, he then takes a bow and leaves the jazz boys to see the track to its conclusion with a minimal yet spiritual passage that rounds off this shapeshifting slice of low-gravity-jazz a treat.
I'm looking foward to the album already.
Playlist Companion
Find Koda in the Slow Jazz Playlist.