Pia no Jac Eat a Classic Album Review

→Pia-no-jaC← was founded in 2005 by pianist Hayato Tatsunari and percussionist Tadahiro “Hiro” Moritomi. →Pia-no-jaC← is a combination of Hayato and Hiro's instruments: “piano” and “cajón”.

The duo performs over 150 concerts a year. They have toured in France, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea and Japan. Tickets for →Pia-no-jaC←'s “Back in the Japan Tour” in 2010 sold out within five minutes. The duo is currently on tour throughout Japan (“First Light Tour 2012”).

This jazz group's music is a fusion that incorporates J-pop, Jazz, Rock and Classical. Hayato and Hiro describe their music as “hybrid instrumental” and they seek to entertain audiences with their technical ability, showmanship and humour shine through.

→Pia-no-jaC← has worked with several heavy hitters in the Japanese entertainment industry, including commercial creator, Michihiko Yanai, composer/director Joe Hisaishi, ARASHI and SQUARE ENIX. The duo has released nine albums to date.

Eat a Classic Highlights

Eat a Classic injects a fresh twist to well-known classical pieces, including Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite and Ludwig van Beethoven's "Ode to Joy".

“The Swan Lake” (Track 3) is a slow sultry jazz number. There is a wide dynamic range to this piece, soft and melancholy for the main theme and impassioned for the riffs. Some very bluesy riffs break out on piano between statements of the main theme. The percussion varies slightly in between the statements of the main theme. The balance between the two instruments is superb.

“Habanera” (Track 5) pays homage not only to Georges Bizet but Dave Brubeck. The syncopated driving rhythm steadily builds up to the main theme, which is filled with octaves and fifths, as well as twisting and turning triplets. The middle section is calmer, Coquettish. When the A section returns, it's more intense, with the percussion pushing the piece to a climax.

“Ode to Joy” (Track 6) starts dark and stormy in a minor key before the main theme is introduced. This number displays a wide range of dynamics, moods and rhythms. Like the rest of the CD, it is technically challenging and musically exciting.

Eat a Classic

is an upbeat album that shows that displays a fun side to classical music. The album is a classic (pun intended) example of Pia no Jac's “hybrid instrumental” style.

Eat a Classic Track Listing

1. Fugue in G minor (BWV 578) – J.S. Bach

2. Trepak from The Nutcracker - P.I. Tchaikovsky) and Can-Can from Orpheus in the Underworld - J. Offenbach

3. The Swan Lake, Op. 20 (Act 2) – P.I. Tchaikovsky

4. Prelude from Act 1 of Carmen – G. Bizet

5. Habanera from Carmen – G. Bizet

6. Symphony no. 9, Op. 125 (4th movement: "Ode to Joy") – L. van Beethoven

Label: BounDEE, 2009

Catalog Number: B001MT1JWQ

Check out Eat a Classic or some of Pia no Jac's music by clicking on the CD icon below:

Eat A Classic

Pia-no-jaC

(c) 2012 by Rhona-Mae Arca, Musespeak(TM). All rights reserved.

World Music Exploration 2010/11 Week 20 - Traditional Japanese Music

It's definitely cold and flu season. This last bout of colds means that it's time to beef up on those vitamins and regularly clean off the piano keys!Our musical exploration resumes with Japan, a country I hope to visit someday. Some traditional Japanese musical instruments include the taiko drums, the koto (stringed instrument), the shakuhachi (flute) and the shamisen.

This week's clip features the shamisen, which is a long necked banjo-like instrument with three strings. The two musicians display their virtuosity and showmanship in this clip, which reminds me of fight scenes from the PS2 game "Samurai Warriors".

Here's a clip from "Samurai Warriors" that includes the shamisen:

(c) 2011 by Musespeak(TM), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.