Nori Ogawa is director of Nori y Los Hermanos and very talented jazz pianist from Japan. From 2011, Nori is traveling to Mexico and Cuba for production of his new works. Nori has started his international career at Havana International Jazz Festival in 2009 and he made position of specialist of Cuban Jazz.
For Nori Jorge Gomez (from Moncada Band 40 years anniversary) writs recomendation. : Nori is like Cuban, although his looks like Chinese (here in Cuba we call Asian as Chinese), for the piano Nori is something more than the Cuban.
From his last album "Primavera que Viene" with their searches in worlds deeply like theme Armando's Rumba of Chick Corea, Mambo Influeciado of Chucho Valdes, Maria Cervantes and Ballada Para Yanet, it was difficult to follow with this letter to said of his music: a fusion of timba salsa and latin jazz, but there is something more.
Now recorded in Cuba, with his new art work like artisan "Hecho en CUBA" is produced with various musicians. Beyond La Comparsa of Lecuona(Cuban traditional theme), is same "Fusion" nothing less than theme of Chopin, Debussy, Mozart and Bach. I would like to say this "Fusion" is also could be said "gifted", in this point.
If you listen his disc, never imagine a Japanese pianist playing. If you see him from back side, I think like moving Cuban boy age of Jo-Jazz (Cuban youth Jazz Festival), if can not see his slit eyes (Ah, the eternal youth of Asians!). But that's Nori, as is known in Cuba ... without last name.
Hopefully next year. Something new will bring are your always friendly smile.
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