Whether she’s playing solo piano or leading one of her various large ensembles, pianist and composer Satoko Fujii will tug you toward the details.
The leader of a dizzying array of ensembles both large and small, Fujii is arguably the most prolific pianist in jazz — if also among the most underrecognized. Since the 1990s, she has released close to 100 albums, mostly through her own Libra Records label. Two years ago, celebrating her 60th birthday, a milestone known as kanreki in Japanese culture, she put out a new album each month, including both solo piano and big-band works.
Fujii says that she seems to hear music everywhere, and she feels challenged to channel the sensations of the world as directly as she can. “This probably sounds strange, but when I compose, I feel like the music is already there — we just didn’t notice,” she said in a recent interview from her home in Kobe. “I feel like I’m just looking for something that was hidden but that is already there.” The sound of an airplane overhead, an overheard conversation, even the rustling of trees can provide a spark.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.