Satoko Fujii is my favourite free jazz pianist, period. A graduate of Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory, she is a prolific artist who features in bands ranging from duos to full-blown ensembles. Accompanied in most ventures with her trumpeter husband, Natsuki Tamura, Satoko's quartet work is extremely engaging. Arraying a vast spectrum of compositional styles, Zephyros features mostly everything that free jazz can offer - energy infused rhythms, multi-directional instrumental improvisations, mellifluous interludes - well, the list is endless. The strength that this album displays owes itself to the remaining cast - bassist Takeharu Hayakawa and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida are accomplished artists in their respective departments (Yoshida's famous skin-flaying with his band Ruins is very much at display here - both frenzied and tastefully restrained)

 The album opens with The Future of the Past - a track that would have to be labelled 'complex', featuring the afore-mentioned multi-directional instrumental improvisations - it is virtually impossible to keep track of the focus of each instrument, with each player augmenting the other's prowess. It is a storm of instrumental skills that begins quite tamely but quickly dissolves into a maelstrom of dissonant notes. This proves to be a brilliant opening, leaving the listener both attentive and eager for more. The second track, As Usual, is my favourite cut of the album - starting off with a discordant yet subtly beautiful piano passage by Satoko, this song features a gorgeous hummable melody that I was just not able to kick out of my head. The beginning of this track, however much in stark contrast to the opener, soon gives way to the familiar pattern of a chaotic affair, attaining a superb congruence of all instruments.

Another high point of the album is Clear Sky --- for Christopher. A bouncy tune, this cut is one of the most accessible tunes the quartet has recorded. The middle segment features a super-explosive solo by Satoko, which is accompanied by Yoshida who comes out all guns blazing to round off a thoroughly enjoyable affair. First Tango features a catchy rhythm and almost seems a danceable track, but watch out - there are enough rhythmic catches to leave your legs in a twist! By right, every track warrants an in-depth analysis, but suffice to say that Zephyros as a whole is sure to leave a lasting impact on the listener.

This being the third album by this, quartet the cohesiveness of the members is apparent - the interplay is fluid and each artist is at home improvising off one another. What grabs one is the manner in which these compositions are laid out - there is dissonance with an underlying blueprint, complexity with superbly interweaved melodies, energy with emotion - the most appropriate ingredients for a perfect free jazz outing and indeed, what a gratifying excursion Zephyros is!

Label: NatSat Music

Year of release: 2004