Resilient Love

Looking back many moons ago at a time when I would find a corner and do nothing but sing, I guess, I’m a naturally born singer. I have been blessed by parents who did everything they could to make a decent human being out of their child. Classical piano was my first musical experience. It was my mom’s dream to present her own daughter to friends and family at some parties or events, and there I would be sitting on the piano playing for her audience. Social skills is a must in the family and music paved the way. But one day, I grabbed the microphone and decided to do jazz which lead me to where I am now.

 

 2013 was a turning point when a dear friend casually said that I have a voice quality that’s fit for jazz. I took that comment seriously, and started to learn jazz from Dr. Philip Strange. (Phillip Strange is an accomplished jazz artist, and educator, currently living in Japan and has performed in the US, Japan, and Europe with major jazz artists, including Joe Henderson, James Moody, Dave Holland, Peter Erskine, Marc Johnson, and many others.) From them on, i never stopped. I was able to find my voice. 

 

My first live performance was 2017. It was my first singing performance. The feeling was surreal, so I did it again 2018 and continue to do so up to the present. When people ask me who I listen to, Sarah Vaughn is at the top of my list. My ears were opened to the likes of Cathy Segal-Garcia, Lorna Cifra, instrumental jazz pianist Bill Evans, saxophone player John Coltrane, and jazz guitarist Joe Pass. My apologies, I have no more space to mention them all! 

 

In 2021, at the height of pandemic, I met two fabulous jazz guitarists and felt that there is something more after our first gig. A strong sense of chemistry, as if our being a unit band is providential. A unit made in heaven. Destiny to be more precise. Jazz guitarists Shiomoto Akira and Wataru Fuchita. It was a chaotic year! The whole world was enveloped with fear and uncertainty, not knowing what the future holds for us. But lo and behold, we never stopped playing music and eventually led us to the recording of this CD. 

 

Shiomoto Akira is absolutely indispensable for the completion of this CD. A very respected jazz guitarist and a familiar name in international jazz scene, and dubbed as an extraordinarily talented and a genius in jazz guitar. While Wataru Fuchita , at a tender age, knew what he wanted to be, a jazz guitarist (such an inspiration) thus becoming a scholar at the world famous Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. On his journey to hone his skills, he was mentored by legendary jazz masters Mick Goodrick, Hal Crook, David Gilmore, Dennis Montgomery, Leo blanco, Ralph Peterson and occasionally had the opportunity to perform with them. Surprisingly, Wataru plays the electone organ and according to my resources, his mom too. So in reality , music runs in his veins. 

 

Realization. 

 

Live performances are fun but recording a CD is another world. It took a matter of time for me to comprehend the whole scenario, but gradually, I adjusted to the situation. Same instrument, the guitar. I have two guitar players and it dawned on me that both are uniquely but wonderfully different from each other. Also, every song has a particular tuning and setting and because of the preparation time, a huge amount of Patience is necessary. As the cliche goes .’Great things come to those who wait’. That was a realization . 

 

Gratitude 

 

Arrangements of the songs were basically by Akira Shiomoto and inputs from Wataru Fuchita. Mutual respect was obvious, I might have interjected some insights, and collectively, we created this album. 

 

Huge amount of gratitude to Shiomoto Akira for his undying support and patience on our journey to complete this CD. From my observation, notwithstanding of the scholarly and academic environment, we had so much fun during the recording.

 

 Thank you Engineer Hideyuki Arima for tirelessly coping with the team. To the people behind Owl Wing Record (located in Tokyo), thank you so much. 

 

Million thanks to all the musicians, venue and bar owners, family, friends and avid jazz supporters, who in one way or another contributed to my growth as an artist. Indeed, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ 

 

We take delight in this CD immensely, and with all our hearts dedicate this to you. We hope you enjoy listening to this album just as much as we enjoyed recording it! 

 

Hiromi Narita 

‘Resilient Love’ 

July 2022

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Liner notes from Lorna Cifra 

 

When I first heard Hiromi sing at a scat workshop, I immediately thought she has that voice quality that will shake the heads of her listeners in awe. She is gifted with a golden alto voice, low-pitched, mellow, resonant and pleasantly raspy that not many female vocalists have. Her openness to ideas and possibilities when it comes to improvising clearly makes her ‘fearless’! The very essence of being resilient. Fearlessness is a powerful tool for jazz vocalists. 

 

Her passion and desire to learn more is admirable. She believes that life is a never　ending learning process. The kind of vocalist that would constantly and continuously search for the sound that will always linger and haunt the ears of jazz listeners who have discriminating taste in music. This is just the beginning of her journey and I believe that the best is yet to come. She will never stop , because that’s what she is, resilient. !!! Congratulations and I look forward to the next!