Went and saw Hiromi this weekend with Stanley Clark at Jazz Alley.
Outstanding show, totally not what I was expecting though. This show was "The Stanley Clark Band" featuring Hiromi on piano -- I was secretly hoping it was the other way around. I love Hiromi and wanted to really see her blow up that piano, but she was very modest in her playing -- interesting to see Hiromi acting as a sideman.
The band was great though, Keyboard player was from Israel, and when Stanley was playing electric bass, this guy would kick bass on a Yamaha Motif. He was also playing a Nord Stage for all the rhodes sounds and stuff they are made for. My favorite thing about his playing was some of the "light" pads he was playing under everything to fill it out, man it really made a big difference. It made it sound full, kind of like it would on a CD, and less like an acoustic band (where often times you can hear gaps in the music).
Hiromi is a legit chops player though, man... burning. I need to go see her play solo. I know she is a harmonic player as well, although I was not seeing any of that at jazz alley. Then again, we went on there last night, on Sunday, to see their last set, so they might have just been messing around, ready to get out of seattle.
I just wish she was featured a little more... like, allowed to play solo piano intro's, melodies, etc.
ANYWAYS - LUCID GIG this Saturday! If you are not doing anything feel free to come on down and hang out! One of the few chances you get to see the band with out a cover charge.
Cheers,
Mack
