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Satoko Fujii

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Satoko Fujii
Fujii in San Diego in September 2008.
Fujii in San Diego in September 2008.
Background information
Birth nameSatoko Fujii (藤井郷子, Fujii Satoko)
Born (1958-10-09) 9 October 1958 (age 65)
Tokyo, Japan
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Piano, accordion
Websitesatokofujii.com/eindex

Satoko Fujii (藤井郷子, Fujii Satoko, born 9 October 1958) is a Japanese avant-garde jazz pianist, accordionist and composer.

Early life

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Fujii was born in Tokyo on 9 October 1958.[1] She started playing the piano at age 4, receiving classical training until she was 20,[1] when she became interested in improvisation and jazz. In her twenties, she received instruction in jazz from pianist Fumio Itabashi in Tokyo.[2]

Later life and career

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Fujii went to the United States in 1985, graduating from the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1987, returning to the US in 1993,[1] achieving a graduate diploma in Jazz Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1996. While at the Conservatory, she also had lessons with pianist Paul Bley, "which consisted largely of conversation over cappuccinos, [and] eased her toward self-expression."[2][3] In 1996, their duo album, Something About Water, was released; Fujii commented that it was a major event for her: "I started to accept myself, little by little."[2] She returned to Japan with her new husband, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, leader of Gato Libre. She leads various big bands in Japan, such as Orchestra Tokyo. She established Orchestra New York in 1997.[4]

Around 2007, the quartet ma-do was created, consisting of Fujii, Tamura, bassist Norikatsu Koreyasu and drummer Akira Horikoshi.[5] In 2010, Fujii co-founded Kaze, a group containing herself, Tamura, trumpeter Christian Pruvost and drummer Peter Orins.[6] She has played accordion on recordings by the band established by Tamura, Gato Libre, including DuDu and Kuro.[7][8]

Fujii has recorded prolifically: between 1996 and 2009 she released more than 40 albums.[4] In 2018, she released an album every month to celebrate turning 60.[2]

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fujii and Tamura have been releasing albums recorded in their home studio on Bandcamp on a regular (monthly or bi-monthly) basis.

In December 2022, Fujii released the 100th album under her own name, auspiciously entitled “Hyaku One Hundred Dreams”.

Playing style

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The Down Beat reviewer of Under the Water, a piano duet album with Myra Melford, stated that "Fujii varies dynamics widely, jump-cutting from a fierce, free barrage to a sprinkle of single, crystalline notes."[9]

Discography

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Satoko Fujii Discography (as of December 2022)
Title Year Label Catalog # Other details
Something About Water[10] 1996 Libra Records 202-002 Duet featuring Paul Bley
Indication[11] 1996 Libra Records 202-003 Piano solo
How many 1997 Libra Records 102-103 First duet album with Natsuki Tamura on trumpet
Looking Out Of The Window[12] 1997 Ninety-One CRCJ-9139 Trio featuring Mark Dresser, bass; Jim Black, drummer
South Wind 1997 Libra Records 215-104 First Satoko Fujii Orchestra album
Past Life 1998 Libra Records 206-004 Satoko Fujii Sextet
Kitsune-bi[13] 1999 Tzadik TZ 7220 piano solo, Trio featuring Mark Dresser, Jim Black, with Sachi Hayasaka on soprano saxophone
Jo 1999 Buzz Records ZZ76008 Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York
Toward, 'To West' 1999 ENJA Records ENJ 93822 Trio featuring Mark Dresser, bass; Jim Black
Double Take 2000 EWE Records EW0019/20 Orchestra East/Orchestra West
April Shower[14] 2001 EWE Records EWCC 0006 Featuring Mark Feldman, violin
Junction 2001 EWE Records EWCC 0034 Trio featuring Mark Dresser and Jim Black
Vulcan 2001 Libra Records 204-005 Satoko Fujii Quartet
Clouds 2001 Libra Records 102-006 Natsuki Tamura and Satoko Fujii duet
The Future of the Past 2002 ENJA Records ENJ-94572 Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York
Bell The Cat![15] 2002 on off TKCB-72369 Trio featuring Mark Dresser, bass; Jim Black, drummer
Minerva 2003 Libra Records 204-007 Satoko Fujii Quartet
Toh-Kichi (藤吉)[16] 2002 Les Disques Victo VICTO CD 083 Featuring Tatsuya Yoshida, drums and voice
Before the Dawn 2003 NatSat Music MTCJ 3010 Satoko Fujii Orchestra East (Tokyo)
Zephyros 2003 NatSat Music MTCJ 3011 Satoko Fujii Quartet
Blueprint 2004 NatSat Music MTCJ 3016 Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York
Illusion Suite 2004 Libra Records 203-009 Satoko Fujii Trio
Nagoyanian 2004 Bakamo BKM 001 Satoko Fujii Orchestra Nagoya
Erans[17] 2004 Tzadik TZ 7247 Featuring Tatsuya Yoshida, drums and voice
Sketches[18] 2004 Natsat Music MTCJ-3013 piano solo
In the Tank[19] 2005 Libra Records 104-011 Featuring Takayuki Kato, Elliott Sharp, Natsuki Tamura
Fragment 2006 Libra Records 203-013 Junk Box
Strange Village 2005 on off MZCO 1073 Gato Libre
Live in Japan 2005 NatSat Music MTCJ 3022 Satoko Fujii Four
Angelona 2005 Libra Records 204-014 Satoko Fujii Quartet
Live!! 2006 Libra Records 205-015/016 Satoko Fujii Orchestra Tokyo
Undulation 2006 Polystar CJ 3032 Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York
When We Were There 2006 Polystar CJ 3034 Satoko Fujii Four
Crossword Puzzle 2007 Libra Records 104-017 Double duo (Tamura/Verploegen/Mengelberg/Fujii)
in Krakow in November 2006 Not Two MW 774-2 Natsuki Tamura and Satoko Fujii duo
Kobe Yee!! 2006 Crab Apple records 002 Satoko Fujii Orchestra Kobe
Maru 2006 Bakamo BKM-005 Satoko Fujii Orchestra Nagoya
Nomad 2006 on off MZCO-1103 Gato Libre
Fujin Raijin 2007 VICTO CD 105 Satoko Fujii Min-Yoh Ensemble
Bacchus 2007 on off MZCO 1136 Satoko Fujii Quartet
Minamo[20] 2007 Henceforth Records 105 Featuring Carla Kihlstedt, violin
Kuro 2008 Libra Records 104-018 Gato Libre
Cloudy Then Sunny 2008 Libra Records 203-019 Junk Box
Trace a River 2008 Libra Records 203-020 Satoko Fujii Trio
Sanrei 2008 Bakamo KM 007 Satoko Fujii Orchestra Nagoya
Heat Wave 2008 Libra Records 204-021 Satoko Fujii ma-do
Chun 2008 Libra Records 102-022 Natsuki Tamura and Satoko Fujii duo
Summer Suite 2008 Libra Records 215-023 Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York
Under the Water 2009 Libra Records 202-024 Satoko Fujii and Myra Melford
Kuroi Kawa 2009 Tzadik 7720-2 Minamo
Cut the Rope 2009 Libra Records 104-025 First Meeting (Tamura/Churko/Fujii/Yamamoto)
Desert Ship 2009 Not Two MW 826-2 Satoko Fujii ma-do
Shiro 2009 Libra Records 104-026 Gato Libre
Zakopane 2010 Libra Records 216-027 Satoko Fujii Orchestra Tokyo
Watershed 2011 Libra Records 204-028 Satoko Fujii Min-Yoh Ensemble
Eto 2011 Libra Records 215-029 Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York
Rafale 2011 Circum-Libra 201 Kaze (Tamura/Pruvost/Fujii/Orins)
Forever 2012 Libra Records 104-030 Gato Libre
Muku 2012 Libra Records 102-031 Natsuki Tamura and Satoko Fujii duo
Time stands still 2013 Not Two MW 897-2 ma-do
Gen Himmel 2013 Libra Records 201-033 piano solo
Tornado 2013 Circum-Libra 202 Kaze
Spring Storm 2013 Libra Records 203-034 Satoko Fujii New Trio
DuDu 2014 Libra Records 104-035 Gato Libre
Shiki 2014 Libra Records 215-036 Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York
Ichigo Ichie 2015 Libra Records 212-037 Satoko Fujii Orchestra Berlin
Yamiyo ni Karasu 2015 Libra Records 204-038 Tobira
Uminari 2015 Circum-Libra 203 Kaze
Peace (Tribute to Kelly Churko) 2016 Libra Records 217-039 Satoko Fujii Orchestra Tokyo + Kaze
Duet 2016 Long Song LSRCD 140 Satoko Fujii, Joe Fonda with Natsuki Tamura
Invisible Hand 2016 Cortez Sound CSJ0001/0002 piano solo
Neko 2017 Libra Records 104-040 (041 vinyl) Gato Libre
Kisaragi 2017 Libra Records 102-042 Natsuki Tamura and Satoko Fujii duo
June 2017 Circum-Libra LX 009 Trouble Kaze
Live at Jazz Room Cortez 2017 Cortez Sound CSJ0005 Satoko Fujii Quartet (Fujii/Tamura/Itani and Ota)
Aspiration 2017 Libra Records 204-043 Fujii/Tamura/Wadada Leo Smith/Ikue Mori
Fukushima 2017 Libra Records 214-044 (045 vocal version) Satoko Fujii Orchestra NY
Solo 2018 Libra Records 201-046 piano solo
Atody Man 2018 Circum-Libra 204 Kaze
Mizu 2018 Long Song Records LSCD 045 Satoko Fujii & Joe Fonda
Ninety-nine Years 2018 Libra Records 211-047 Satoko Fujii Orchestra Berlin
Bright Force 2018 Libra Records 204-048 Kira Kira (Fujii/Tamura/Spence/Takemura)
1538 2018 Libra Records 203-049 This is it! (Fujii/Tamura/Itani)
Triad 2018 Long Song Records LSCD 042 Fujii, Fonda & Mimmo
Intelsat 2018 Alister Spence Music ASM 007 Fujii & Spence
Live at Big Apple in Kobe 2018 Libra Records 204-050 Mahobin (Fujii/Tamura/Mori/Anker)
Weave 2018 Libra Records 204-051 (052 DVD) Amu (Wildenhahn/Fujii/Tamura/Itani)
Kikoeru: Tribute to Masaya Kimura 2018 Libra Records 215-055 Satoko Fujii Orchestra Tokyo
Imagine meeting you here 2019 Alister Spence Music ASM 008 Satoko Fujii Orchestra Kobe
Stone 2019 Libra Records 201-056 piano solo (treated)
Confluence 2019 Libra Records 202-057 Satoko Fujii and Ramon Lopez
Entity 2019 Libra Records 214-058 Satoko Fujii Orchestra NY
Four 2019 Long Song Records LSRCD 151 Satoko Fujii and Joe Fonda
Baikamo 2019 Libra Records 202-059 Tohkichi (Fujii and Yoshida)
Koneko 2020 Libra Records 103-060 Gato Libre
Pentas 2020 Not Two Records MW 999 Natsuki Tamura and Satoko Fujii duo
Beyond 2020 Libra Records 202-061 Futari (Satoko Fujii and Taiko Saito)
Sand Storm 2020 Circum-Libra 205 Kaze & Ikue Mori
Prickly Pear Cactus 2020 Libra Records 203-062 Ikue Mori, Satoko Fujii & Natsuki Tamura
Hazuki 2020 Libra Records 201-063 piano solo
Mantle 2020 Not Two Records MW 1003 Satoko Fujii, Natsuki Tamura, Ramon Lopez
Keshin 2020 Libra Records 102-064 Natsuki Tamura and Satoko Fujii duo
Moon on the Lake 2021 Libra Records 203-065 Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio
Piano Music 2021 Libra Records 203-067 Satoko Fujii
Underground 2021 Libra Records 203-068 Futari (Satoko Fujii and Taiko Saito)
Mosaic 2021 Libra Records 203-069 This is it!
Any News 2021 Alister Spence Music Fujii & Spence
Thread of Light 2022 Fundacja Slucha! Satoko Fujii & Joe Fonda
Hyaku One Hundred Dreams 2022 Libra Records 209-071 Satoko Fujii, Ingrid Laubrock, Sara Schoenbeck, Wadada Leo Smith, Natsuki Tamura, Ikue Mori, Brandon Lopez, Tom Rainey, Chris Corsano
Perpetual Motion 2023 Ayler Records AYLCD-175 Satoko Fujii/Yoshihide Otomo
Crustal Movement 2023 Circum-Libra Records 206 Kaze & Ikue Mori
Torrent 2023 Libra Records 201-072 Satoko Fujii
BANDCAMP RELEASES
July 2020 - Emaki/Solo improv
August 2020 - Midsummer
September 2020 - Solo concert
December 2020 - Futari at Guggenheim House
February 2021 - Morning dream
March 2021 - Step on thin ice
April 2021 - Piano music Vol. 1
May 2021 - Piano music Vol. 2
July 2021 - Underground Vol. 1 (Futari)
August 2021 - Underground Vol. 2 (Futari)
October 2021 - Underground Vol. 3 (Futari)
November 2021 - Hajimeru
February 2022 - when you turn off the light Vol. 1
March 2022 - when you turn off the light Vol. 2
April 2022 - when you turn off the light Vol. 3
April 2022 - Bokyaku
April 2023 - 342: Live in Tokyo
May 2023 - Amanojaku
August 2023 - After Fifteen Years
September 2023 - Tsuki

References

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  1. ^ a b c Huey, Steve "Satoko Fujii". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Lutz, Phillip (February 2018). "Divergence Highlights Fujii's Talents". DownBeat. p. 16.
  3. ^ Russonello, Giovanni (2021-03-17). "Satoko Fujii, a Pianist Who Finds Music Hidden in the Details of Life". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  4. ^ a b Panken, Ted (April 2009) "Satoko Fujii/Natsuki Tamura – Chun". Down Beat. p. 76.
  5. ^ Drouot, Alain (September 2013) "Satoko fujii ma-do – Time Stands Still". Down Beat. p. 59.
  6. ^ Woodard, Josef (August 2015) "Victoriaville Fest Embraces Jazz, Rock & Avant-Garde". Down Beat. p. 17.
  7. ^ Hale, James (September 2008) "Trumpet Blasts". Down Beat. p. 77.
  8. ^ Margasak, Peter (September 2014) "Gato Libre – DuDu". Down Beat. p. 74.
  9. ^ Hale, James (September 2009) "Global Keys". Down Beat. p. 69.
  10. ^ "Satoko Fujii Featuring Paul Bley - Something About Water". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  11. ^ "Satoko Fujii - Indication". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  12. ^ Satoko Fujii – Looking Out Of The Window (1997, CD), retrieved 2021-03-18
  13. ^ Satoko Fujii – Kitsune-bi (1999, CD), retrieved 2021-03-18
  14. ^ "Satoko Fujii - April Shower". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  15. ^ Satoko Fujii – Bell The Cat! (2002, CD), retrieved 2021-03-18
  16. ^ Satoko Fujii / Tatsuya Yoshida – Toh-Kichi = 藤吉 (2002, CD), retrieved 2021-03-18
  17. ^ Yoshida Tatsuya / Satoko Fujii – Erans (2004, CD), retrieved 2021-03-18
  18. ^ Satoko Fujii – Sketches (2004, CD), retrieved 2021-03-18
  19. ^ Natsuki Tamura + Elliott Sharp + Takayuki Kato + Satoko Fujii – In The Tank (2005, CD), retrieved 2021-03-18
  20. ^ Carla Kihlstedt & Satoko Fujii – Minamo (2007, CD), retrieved 2021-03-18
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