Keiko Matsui
Ranked #14,205 in Music, #393,224 overall | Donates to Squidoo Charity Fund
Melodies of an Angel
While listening to my favorite, no commercial cable Jazz station and writing, this lovely melody begins to play. Initially I don't look up at the screen to see who the artist is but it's obvious I've heard this very enlightening beat and tempo before.
The focus is on the particular article I'm writing and my fingers and mind begin to flow and nod with the beat. Finally glancing up at the screen it's one of my favorite jazz artist, the lovely and extremely talented Keiko Matsui. The song that's playing is called "Falcon's Wing" from her album entitled "The Road."
Keiko Matsui was born in Tokyo as Keiko Doi. Keiko started playing piano at the age of 5 years old. Her first album, entitled "
At the age of 17, Keiko began recording for the Yamaha System and later joined the Japanese jazz fusion group, Cosmos. At age 19, Yamaha sent Doi to America to record an album, and there she met Kazu Matsui, who had been selected as a producer for the project. In 1987 Matsui recorded her solo album, "A Drop of Water." The title of the album was in memory of those who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster the year before. The success of "A Drop of Water" led to a record deal with MCA Records.
Matsui's early musical influences included Stevie Wonder, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Maurice Jarre and Chick Corea.
Keiko Matsui website
The focus is on the particular article I'm writing and my fingers and mind begin to flow and nod with the beat. Finally glancing up at the screen it's one of my favorite jazz artist, the lovely and extremely talented Keiko Matsui. The song that's playing is called "Falcon's Wing" from her album entitled "The Road."
Keiko Matsui was born in Tokyo as Keiko Doi. Keiko started playing piano at the age of 5 years old. Her first album, entitled "
At the age of 17, Keiko began recording for the Yamaha System and later joined the Japanese jazz fusion group, Cosmos. At age 19, Yamaha sent Doi to America to record an album, and there she met Kazu Matsui, who had been selected as a producer for the project. In 1987 Matsui recorded her solo album, "A Drop of Water." The title of the album was in memory of those who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster the year before. The success of "A Drop of Water" led to a record deal with MCA Records.
Matsui's early musical influences included Stevie Wonder, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Maurice Jarre and Chick Corea.
Keiko Matsui website
Contents at a Glance
The Road
Keiko on Amazon
Awesome Talent
In a previous life Ms. Keiko Matsui was obviously a talented musician. Her soul has just brought forth that gift into this life for all who listen to her to enjoy. She is a phenomenal jazz pianist. Listening to her music has a soothing effect on the listener. If you start your day out with problems and concerns just listen to Keiko and see what it does to your spirit.Here's what others are saying about this amazing woman..
"The notes of her piano pierce right through me. Lots of people are gaga over Hiromi and Eldar right now, and it's well deserved, but sometimes more is just more. They may have amazing technique, but they don't have that soul like Keiko. I want to see Keiko live so bad, but she doesn't tour that much."
I too would love to see her in concert but checking her tour schedule for the remainder of this year she's in Cali, Seattle, Japan, Ukraine, Moscow and other locations in Russia. No Atlanta dates are scheduled in 2011, maybe 2012.
** Calling all Keiko Matsui fans that live in Georgia, collectively if we reach out to her, buy her music, she will come to Atlanta.
"Yeah Keiko is Awesome. I like her simplicity but at the same time very complex. She makes the piano sound so elegant and powerful like the ocean. My life has been affected very much in the most positive way by listening to her music."
"Very incredibly heartfelt somber and beautiful. Her music fills one's soul with life."
"Keiko is one of my all time favorite artists, simple, beautiful, amazing and very soulful, listening to her performances is a recharge for your essence."
"Not enough words....Excellent..."
"Forever Forever" is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. To say she plays like an angel would actually be an understatement. When has a comparison to an angel ever been considered an understatement? Rarely if ever, but that is the mindset you have when listening to this song. "Water Lily," "The Road," and many of her songs have that same effect.
"The Road" Review
The more I listened to The Road... the more I realized there are two very defined parts to the album. In the past, it isn't unusual for back-to-back releases by Keiko to be very similar in style and theme. Deep Blue and The Ring / Sapphire and Dream Walk quickly come to mind as examples. The first four songs could easily have appeared on Moyo. They're similar in style and sound and almost feel as though they could have been recorded at the same time as the songs on Moyo. Not that that is a bad thing; not by a long shot. Moyo is a terrific album and the new songs (Secret Pond, Falcon's Wing's, Nguea Wonja, Bohemian Concerto) all stand up very well on their own. To me, Falcon's Wing is the standout of the four. It is easily the best song on the CD.It's the final five songs (Embrace & Surrender, Awakening, Touching Peace, Affirmation, & The Road...) that we really get a glimpse of what has been going on in Keiko's life the past 4 years as she traveled down her "Road...". I think even the order of the songs offer us insight to her journey as she finds her way through her "hardship" (as she stated in the liner notes). I could be reading too much into it, but after multiple listens, the feeling, the beauty, the true heartfelt emotions come through her music and allow the listener to take the journey with her. It's where the album really shines and where I found a true emotional attachment to the music. As with previous albums, there are always hidden gems that don't get played on the radio, or played in concert, but are some of her most brilliant work (Rose in Morocco from Deep Blue and Marula from Moyo quickly come to mind) and The Road... is no exception. Touching Peace is one of those songs. The way Keiko delicately plays the piano along with the guitar backing is absolutely beautiful and will only get better the more I listen to it.
If you're new to Keiko Matsui's music, this is an excellent place to start. There are some fantastic songs on this album, if not some of the best of her career. Put in the CD, put on the headphones, close your eyes and take the journey down The Road... You will not be disappointed. For those who are down for only buying individual songs: Falcon's Wing, Awakening & Touching Peace are my personal favorites.
Keiko Matsui 2011 Tour Schedule
The Road...
Amazon Price: $11.43 (as of 06/01/2012)
Keiko Matsui on Twitter
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BlueTrane
Apr 23, 2012 @ 2:16 pm | delete
- One of my all-time favorite artists!
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Formosangirl
Sep 19, 2011 @ 11:00 am | delete
- I am a huge Keiko Matsui fan. My 2 favorite albums: (1) Deep Blue and (2) The Ring. Thanks for this lens.
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taskeinc
Sep 19, 2011 @ 4:05 pm | delete
- me too and I'm soooo waiting for her to come to Atlanta .. but looking at her tour schedule she's not coming this way any time soon .. unfortunately..
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by taskeinc
Barry Shaw, founder of Work Home Union, over 25 years in Information Technology, web/graphics design, network marketing. WHU aka taskeinc has written... more »
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