My 2.14 By Hiromasa Keya Kobayashi

 

My 2.14

By

Hiromasa Keya Kobayashi

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Hiromasa Keya Kobayashi is a relatively new name for me from the world of solo piano, but one that I have a certain fondness for musically, his mellow presentations are delightful to listen to, and that simplicity of style and construction is just what a listener needs to ease them into another day.

This new album entitled My 2.14 is a blissful parade of sublime solo piano works, ushered forth by the short form narrative of the heart-warming composition entitled Prologue; from then on in it is a journey of delightful piano themes, like the following arrangement The Last Kiss of Summer, a tender touch of the keys is needed and given with such skill and class, this is a beautiful performance, and one to be remembered perhaps as a timeless reverie.

The melodious and smooth Can't Let You Go is our next port of call, and here is a simply delightful composition, which brings me to a conclusion I have been holding back from, but this track highlights for me a similarity between the compositional style and performance, of the late but great Annie Locke, that sensitive warmth and tenderness is most certainly there with Hiromasa too.

Time for a little light hearted reverie now, in fact it’s time for Infatuation (Midnight Jazz Bar Mix). How can one not like this track, it is fluent, charming and happy, and that’s exactly what this crazy world needs this day more than ever. The following narrative For Alice will always make me think of the girl who went through a magical mirror and investigated wonderland, listening to this gentle thoughtful narrative, this could easily be used in a movie for that tale, it is that good.

There was something quite rhythmic about this next piece entitled China Rose, one could almost call it poetic too, it has a pastiche of gentleness about it that is truly palpable, and the performance is both confident and filled with colour.

Without doubt one of the prettiest pieces from this most delightful release is The Winds Of May - Letting You Go, one could imagine the sincerity pouring from this composition, a song that has a melody line so strong and uplifting, the musical expression here is also inspiring in its tone and timbre, but by using a soft palate of sound to do so, once more the artist has manufactured a piece that is utterly timeless.

The solo piano genre is vast, but I must add that there is room for someone like Hiromasa Keya Kobayashi to come into and make a name for himself, and as an example of the artists rise to piano fame one could easily point to this memorable and moving opus entitled The Room That Used To Be, a perfectly created composition, one filled with emotion, memory and a sublime and powerful performance, and yes, my favourite track from the album.

The album concludes in the same vein as it started, with a short form narrative called Epilogue (Alone Once Again), a composition that is like having the bedtime blanket pulled up around you before a calming sleep.

My 2.14 by Hiromasa Keya Kobayashi has to be one of the best solo piano albums I have reviewed this year, at its conclusion I felt fulfilled and happy, and that cannot be a bad thing can it? The artist is a name waiting to happen, a musician who clearly feels his music, understands its twists and turns, and for me was one of the most enjoyable piano based albums I have had the pleasure of listening to for a very long time indeed, this one has chart hit written all over it.