[Refreshing & stylish]
No.240EX "Smooth Struttin'" by Hiroko Kokubu
Hi. It's an instrumental day today. The song we would like to introduce to you this time is, "Smooth Struttin'" by "Hiroko Kokubu".
A little laid-back, refreshing, but stylish piano instrumental song, "Smooth Struttin'" is the opening truck of a nice Jazz-Fusion album "Pure Heart", which was released in 1992, by a Jazz pianist "Hiroko Kokubu" as her 5th full album.
Our writer "Satsuma" remembers that he shopped for this album soon after it was released in 1992, but not because of its contents, but due to its charming cover art.
The most of the record shops were still not providing listening samples at least around him. So, picking up CDs because of an inspiration or gut feeling he got from cover art, even not knowing the contents, were not a rare action for him at that time.
As you rightly imagine, the most of his such inspirations were actually illusions. But in this case, it was a brilliant exception.
"Pure Heart" was an excellent album, and therefore it has been one of the a favourite albums for him.
So, if you like, please give it a try.
Links to the music shops, offering song samples, are located on the bottom of this page.
Some contents have been put away in tabs with "▶" mark in each section, so please click it to see.
We are now working on improving appearances of our posts.
If you find anything odd, please kindly let us know.
Thank you.
Cover art today
Song data
| Title | Smooth Struttin' |
|---|---|
| Artist | Hiroko Kokubu |
| Album Title | Pure Heart |
| Catalog Number | VICJ-127 |
| Track No. | 1 |
| Duration | 4:20 |
| Released | 1992 |
| Publisher | JVC |
| Lyricist | Instrumental music |
| Composer | Hiroko Kokubu |
| Arranger | Hiroko Kokubu |
About the creators
Instrumental music Lyricist
This is an instrumental music, and there is no lyrics for this song.
Hiroko Kokubu Composer & Arranger
"Hiroko Kokubu" is the composer & arranger, and also a performer of this track.
So, We would like to come back to her later in "About the artist" section.
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Some notes on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Bright & refreshing
This song seems to be a sunny & refreshing piano instrumental music in walking rhythm.
In the morning sunlight
The acoustic piano, electric guitar, bass, drums, and percussion begin a relaxed but refreshing introduction, then a gorgeous brass section also join.
In the main part, the acoustic piano by "Hiroko Kokubu" plays upbeat phrase just like walking down an avenue in shiny sunlight in the morning.
In the latter half, the piano throws down a joyful, and spirited solo play, and bright sound of brass section support it powerfully.
Musicians
The album was recorded in Los Angels, the United States.
Musicians participated in this track are therefore as follows.
- Alto Saxophone
- Gary Herbig
- Drums, Percussion
- Alex Acuña
- Electric Bass
- Abe Laboriel
- Electric Guitar
- Michael Landau
- Grand Piano
- Hiroko Kokubu
- Handclaps
- Akira Taguchi(Producer)
- Alex Acuña
- Clark Germain
- Hiroko Kokubu
- Synthesizer
- Larry Williams
- Tenor Saxophone
- Kim Hutchcroft
- Trumpet
- Bob Findley
- Chuck Findley
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Hiroko Kokubudrawing card for Jazz
"Hiroko Kokubu" is a Jazz Pianist, composer, music arranger, and a visiting professor in few music colleges.
"Kokubu" has been a popular Jazz-Fusion pianist since the late '80s. Her skilful, but warm piano play is loved not just by domestic followers, but also the fans in overseas.
Because of her friendly personality, she often appears on various media as a guest.
Hiroko Kokubu debuted in 1987 with her 1st album, "More Than You Know". Since then, 3 singles, and 19 original, and 5 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Hiroko Kokubu)
Early times
Some interview articles on the internet mention that "Hiroko Kokubu" began piano lessons at the age of three.
The motive of the three year girl was not particularly unique, but she just wanted to do the same thing that her elder sister was doing.
Fortunately for "Hiroko", the piano teacher coaching her was good at finding talents or strength of each student.
The teacher soon recognized that "Hiroko" had a very good ear for music, in other word, she was able to catch music very quickly, and also in correct pitch and rhythm.
Teacher told her to practice some of "Bach Invention", but in various keys.
For small "Hiroko", it was like a play on the piano, and therefore an enjoyable lesson. But this exercise actually nurtured her fine sense of music, and free, creative, and flexible music style.
"Hiroko" continued to play the piano throughout her middle school & high school era.
And in the late '70s, "Hiroko" went onto a piano department of a reputed music college in Tokyo.
Go to America & debut
Since childhood to college, "Hiroko Kokubu" learned the classical piano primarily, so what she mastered so far covered that direction mainly, quite naturally.
But in college age, she came across the crossover music performed by Jazz-Fusion pianists like "Dave Grusin" or "Joe Sample".
She felt so attracted to their piano, and this type of music, namely Crossover Jazz, and wished to play it by herself.
"Kokubu" had enough to be a professional level classical pianist. But therefore, she realised that she need to learn a bit of very different playing style of the piano, if she wish to play the music like them.
"Kokubu" had already been a distinctive player as a member of an amateur band.
But in parallel, she began to learn Jazz piano, by joining a class led by a pioneering Jazz pianist "Ei'ichi Fujii".
"Kokubu" nurtured a dream of studying Jazz piano in the home of Jazz the United States, during college time.
And after graduating from the College, she moved to New York, and started to learn the piano particularly under "Barry Harris", a legendary pianist of bebop, modern Jazz.
After having a fruitful time in the US, "Kokubu" returned to Japan, and contracted with JVC as a musician.
And in 1987, "Kokubu" started her career as a Jazz pianist, by releasing a Bebop leaning very fresh acoustic piano trio album, "More Than You Know".
This is not closely linked with her later Fusion line, but this album is indicating the original position of "Kokubu" for itself.
Become a drawing card for Jazz
Fortunately, her debut album was accepted well mainly by Jazz fans.
And as early as in 1988, she launched her 2nd album "Globetrotting".
In 1990, "Kokubu" smoothly released her 3rd album "Point of no return".
Interestingly from this album, she added a noticeable amount of Fusion taste to each tracks.
Actually, the sound of this new album matched with the trend of the times.
And "Kokubu" swiftly emerged as one of the remarkable Jazz musicians in the beginning of the '90s.
Then in 1992, she finally released one of her mile stone album "Pure Heart" as her 5th album.
This refreshingly bright Fusion album was recoded in LA the United States. And its smooth & joyful sound backed by the masterly skill of each musicians were appreciated very well in Japan.
Auspiciously, one of the flagship news program of a broadcaster selected few songs, including today's song "Smooth Struttin'", as an opening theme, ending theme, and BGMs of the program.
And they used them for exceptional four years, because the music were perhaps the part of identity of the program.
Anyway, this helped the name of Hiroko Kokubu to be a national musician.
Coincidently in 1992, "Yamano big-band Jazz contest", one of the traditional & renowned annual Jazz competitions for students, suddenly named "Kokubu" as the 2nd Master of ceremony of the contest even she was still pretty young.
But much to people's unease, she brought off this big job beautifully.
Since then, she gradually has become like a spokes person or, a drawing card for Japan Jazz.
"Yamano big-band Jazz contest"
One unique role that "Hiroko Kokubu" keeps taking on for a long time is the overall host for "Yamano big-band Jazz contest".
Just for your information, "Yamano big-band Jazz contest" is one of the most famous, and prestigious contest for college & university Jazz big-bands in Japan.
The contest has been held once a year since 1970.
In 1992, when the contest was marking its 23rd round, "Hiroko Kokubu" was suddenly selected as the honourable 2nd overall host of "Yamano big-band Jazz contest" even she was still pretty young around that time.
Actually, "Kokubu" was one of the most visible, and rapidly rising Jazz & Fusion pianists at that time. And she was so young, and just like an elder sister for the contestants who were all college & university students.
That might be why the organizer of the contest hand-picked her to a key role.
In the very beginning, "Kokubu" was not really sure how she could act nicely as an MC.
But soon, she recognised that doing MCing is not much different from an Ad-lib in Jazz session, and not necessary to be too proper. After she noticed it, "Kokubu" established her own style as an MC of the famed contests.
And now, "Kokubu" has been a face of the match.
And today, "Kokubu"'s chaffing or joking to the contestants are famous, and one of the specialties of this music event.
Quite a few of contestants, actually college student, join music related industries, and some of them naturally have opportunities to work with "Kokubu".
And whenever they see "Kokubu", they recollect the funny memory in the past, and appeal to her that "I was joked around by you on Yamano's stage".
"Kokubu" seems to be enjoying it.
Collaboration with Hiromi Iwasaki
Since 2016, "Hiroko Kokubu" has been collaborating with a singer "Hiromi Iwasaki" by forming a loose unit basically by two of them.
As you probably aware, but "Hiromi Iwasaki" is one of the national popular pop singer, and often referred as one of he best vocalists in main stream pops category in the history.
"Kokubu" was talking about this in some interviews, but coincidently, "Iwasaki" and "Kokubu" were customers of a popular "Monjya-yaki" (a traditional public gourmet dish in Tokyo local) restaurant.
"Iwasaki" and "Kokubu" did not know each other before. But the manager of the restaurant knew both, and were talking about the topics of others to each of them from time to time.
One day in 2015(or 2016 possibly), "Hiroko Kokubu" received a call, and it was from "Iwasaki".
"Iwasaki" talked "Kokubu" that she was wishing to work with "Kokubu", because "Iwasaki" was planning to start a simple Piano & vocal style concert tour in small scale, and definitely needed to have an excellent pianist, but must be musically compatible.
The request was not just an honour for "Kokubu", but at the same time, it was a good opportunity to expand the world of her music.
"Kokubu" immediately went along with "Iwasaki", and they came to form a new unit for the purpose.
As a starter, "Kokubu" and "Iwasaki" recorded & released their first album "Piano songs" in 2016.
The album consisted of 12 beautiful songs performed only by vocal and the piano.
The accompanying piano played by "Kokubu" was very suppressive, and it is audibly explaining the concept of the album.
Since then, they are regularly holding concerts in various "small" (still accommodates 1000+ audience) venues across japan.
("Kokubu" later understood the fact that the halls accommodates 1000+ audience are "Small" venues for singers in different class like "Hiromi Iwasaki"...)
Now a days, the members of "Hiroko Kokubu" trio, namely "Yoichi Yahiro" (B), and "Tappi Iwase" (Ds) are often joining with team, and contributing to make the concerts far more gorgeous.
Recent
"Hiroko Kokubu" has been quite active as a leader of her band, "Hiroko Kokubu special trio", or a special session team "Hiroko Kokubu Fantastic eight".
And travelling a all over Japan to bring excellent Jazz to the fans live in various cities and towns.
In parallel, she is putting a lot of effort into bringing up musicians of next generation.
Few college of music asked "Kokubu" to become a visiting professor in there, and teach the piano and and Jazz to their student.
"Kokubu" accepted their request with good grace. And she has been teaching music to her young students in colleges.
References
For more details about "Hiroko Kokubu", please have a look at the references linked below.
-
Shobi college of music, Special lecture by Hiroko Kokubu, 2021)🇯🇵 -
(Ref: kokubuhiroko.net,
profile)🇯🇵
Video clip
Lastly, we would like to introduce a music clip of today's song "Smooth Struttin'" by "Hiroko Kokubu".
Fortunately, a music video seems has been uploaded as "Hiroko Kokubu topic" with permission.
So, if you like, please listen to.
Music Samples
1
(試聴する)
AD: Listening samples (Free)
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
music.apple.com (Track No.1)
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | Smooth Struttin' |
|---|---|
| Artist | 国府弘子(Hiroko Kokubu) |
| Album Title | Pure Heart |
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