Masabumi Kikuchi Trio - Sunrise (ECM 2012)

An ECM debut from Masabumi Kikuchi and a last session from the great Paul Motian. Motian and Kikuchi were friends for many years and Paul understood the idiosyncracies and the wayward charm of the Japanese pianist’s highly personal style perhaps better than anyone. The trio - completed by Zen bassist Thomas Morgan - makes new art out of the interactive free rubato ballad. A strangely beautiful album.

Masabumi Kikuchi piano
Thomas Morgan double bass
Paul Motian drums

Ballad I
New Day
Short Stuff
So What Variations
Ballad II
Sunrise
Sticks And Cymbals
End Of Day
Uptempo
Last Ballad

Recorded September 2009
ECM 2096