Eri Yamamoto Trio's New CD, "Redwoods," Now Available on AUM Fidelity

AUM Fidelity is proud to announce the September 9th release of pianist/composer Eri Yamamoto's latest recording, Redwoods (AUM049), her second on the label this year and fifth at the helm of her longstanding New York- based trio. The group, which currently features bassist David Ambrosio and drummer Ikuo Takeuchi, has toured the U.K., Japan and Spain, but is perhaps best known as a fixture on New York's jazz scene thanks to its regular performances at Arthur's Tavern since 2000.

“Right after moving to New York from Kyoto, Japan almost 13 years ago," writes Ms. Yamamoto in the liner notes, “I started performing, mainly in the trio format. Ikuo is my original drummer and David joined us 4 years ago. It is wonderful to play music with them. I aim to have a band sound. Every time I perform, I try to paint a picture with the three of us together." The eight original aural portraits on Redwoods are inspired by scenes from nature, including the famous redwood trees in Muir Woods outside San Francisco, as well as other simple pleasures.

“Let's agree that pianist Eri Yamamoto's days of being described as a talent deserving wider recognition are now over," declared AllAboutJazz.com's Mark Corroto in his review of her current release, a series of duets entitled Duologue (AUM048), which hit the streets June 24th. “Her jazz signature is marked by the economy of Hank Jones and the percussive attack of Tommy Flanagan." The All Music Guide's Michael G. Nastos called the disc “an often wondrous, highly listenable and tasteful musical offering that is easily recommended."

Critics have called her “an expressively versatile pianist" (Philip Clark, The Wire), a “pianist who possesses all the tools necessary for greatness" (Thom Jurek, All Music Guide) and an artist with “an extraordinarily rich compositional sensibility—to say nothing of a delicate touch" (K. Leander Williams, Time Out New York). “As the denizens of Arthur's Tavern in Greenwich Village undoubtedly know,” adds AllAboutJazz-New York contributor Terrell Holmes, “pianist Eri Yamamoto is one of jazz's most dynamic new talents. Her compositional style augments her deft, inventive playing."

Trained in the classical tradition since the age of three, Ms. Yamamoto first heard a jazz piano trio perform live by chance during a visit to New York from her native Japan in 1995. Prior to that fateful encounter with noted pianist Tommy Flanagan, she had never studied or performed jazz. Four years later she burst on to the New York scene at the now defunct Avenue B Social Club in the East Village after completing her studies at New School University's prestigious jazz program with legendary bassist Reggie Workman among others.

She has worked extensively as a leader with her trio and enjoyed widespread recognition for her membership in two of renowned bassist/composer William Parker's groups, his “Luc's Lantern" trio and his “Raining on The Moon" sextet. She has also worked with Daniel Carter, Whit Dickey, Hamid Drake, Arthur Kell, Ron McClure, Andy McKee, Christopher Dean Sullivan, Michael T. A. Thompson and Kevin Tkacz among many others.