Ayumi Tanaka - Windflower [CD]

Experience the profound musicality of Ayumi Tanaka with her album Windflower. Praised by BBC Music Magazine for its "sparse, subtle and determined as much by silence as by sound," this collection showcases intensity conveyed through restraint and focus. Windflower marks a significant evolution, with the music largely being collectively created by the trio, allowing each player to shape the pieces in the moment.

Pianist Ayumi Tanaka, a native of Wakayama and based in Oslo, brings her decade-long collaboration with Norwegian drummer Thomas Stronen to this new project. The addition of US bassist Thomas Morgan introduces a fresh dynamic. The immediate rapport between these three musicians was evident from their first performance at Oslo's Nasjonal Jazz Scene Victoria in September 2024. Following producer Manfred Eicher's suggestion, they recorded Windflower in May 2025 at Studios La Buissonne in the South of France.

The album features eight luminous free ballads, including Tanaka's own composition, 'La Source'. This release precedes an international tour spanning Norway, France, Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland.

Key Features:

• Intense yet restrained musical approach
• Collectively created compositions by the trio
• Features pianist Ayumi Tanaka, drummer Thomas Stronen, and bassist Thomas Morgan
• Includes eight free ballads and the original composition 'La Source'

Windflower is a testament to the power of focused improvisation and the unique chemistry of its artists, offering a deeply engaging listening experience for jazz enthusiasts.