Hiromi in the UK

[Blair N. Cummings]

The great jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara is playing one night only, November 1 at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.
If you`ve never seen her, don`t miss out.

[Martin Johnson]

I've seen and heard enough of her on YouTube and on TV to know that she's worth a visit to the 'frozen north'.

[nowmedical]

Solely on Blair and Martin's recommendation I've booked two tickets, fourth row
Blue is a bit quiet on this??

[blueonblue]

Solely on Blair and Martin's recommendation I've booked two tickets, fourth row
Blue is a bit quiet on this??

Hiromi is immensely talented, but I don't feel the urge to see her.

Now if it had been Burt.......

'blue'' (from the "frozen North")

[pljms]

What is it about Oriental female pianists? If the Japanese Hiromi is the most exciting pianist in jazz at the moment then the Chinese Yuja Wang is probably the equivalent in the classical music world. I saw Yuja Wang give a stunning solo recital at London's Barbican Hall last year which included no less than seven encores, including this tour-de-force.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7U-L_n9tAJM

[Blair N. Cummings]

Stunning!
But, if they`d tried, couldn`t the promoters have found a venue that kept the audience at an even greater distance? Although it must not have been, it looks as if it was an acoustical nightmare, too.

[Martin Johnson]

I saw Yuja Wang at the BBC Proms last year and she seemed to revel in having the audience literally a few feet away. She can play the lighter repertoire very convincingly but seems to come in to her own with the more percussive and technically demanding pieces, Prokofiev being an obvious favourite composer of hers:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AVpnr8dI_50

[Blair N. Cummings]

Hiromi playing Schumann at age fifteen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKP9AJeewG4

[pljms]

I think it's a real shame Hiromi isn't playing London or anywhere else in the 'sultry south' for that matter as Manchester is just too far to travel and return on the same night for us poor wretches that like to be able to relax and have a few drinks. Still, the more I watch videos like this the more I'll feel inclined to book a hotel.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=l3oSh4MLWMY

[blueonblue]

You've twisted my arm....I've just booked a ticket !

Really looking forward to the concert.

'blue' (from the "frozen north")

[nowmedical]

pjlms that is amazing piano. Looking forward to the concert.

[nowmedical]

Why don't you all book tickets then we can have a beer in the bar before the concert

[pljms]

At the moment I don't think I'll be making the trek up to Manchester, although that could change nearer the time. However, there's certainly more chance of me going to that gig than to see Bacharach's overpriced shows with Joss Stone at the now ghastly Eventim Apollo in July.

[Martin Johnson]

I don't know about Hiromi in Manchester but if I was based in New York I'd definitely descend upon the Village Vanguard this week to see the Renee Rosnes Quartet. She's been a favourite jazz pianist of mine for years and I've been lucky enough to see her perform live twice, once in London at the Festival Hall and the other time at Marion's in Bern, Switzerland:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gbJy3fc21YY

[Blair N. Cummings]

Renee is great!
But don`t miss Hiromi.
I once had reservations for a performance by Carmen McRae -the only singer I ever really loved -at the (then-new) Blue Note. Something that I can`t recall caused me to miss the gig and she died not long after. Here`s a great show of the kind I missed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhVgJaOr5c8 Only Tony Bennet comes close to being the better interpreter of lyrics. (I just wish she had not included the crummy "Evergreen" at the end).
I don`t think Hiromi is on her death-bed but see her if you can.