#2450『上西美帆／Something in Between』
Text by 伏谷佳代 Kayo Fushiya
Bonyari Records (2024)
上西美帆 Miho Jonishi (vocal)
柳原由佳 Yuka Yanagihara (piano)
座小田諒一 Ryoichi Zakota (bass)
Tracks:
1. Entrance (Miho Jonishi) 1:16
2. Alice in Wonderland (Bob Hilliard/Sammy Fain) 4:34
3. So Many Stars (Alan & Marylin Bergman/Sergio Mendez) 4:20
4. It Could Happen to You (Johnny Burke/Jimmy Van Heusen) 3:26
5. I Wish You Love (Albert Beach/Charles Trenet) 4:17
6. You Are My Sunshine (Jimmie Davis/Charles Mitchell) 5:09
7. Something in Between (Miho Jonishi) 1:50
8. Blue Moon (Lorenz Hart/Richard Rodgers) 4:07
Recorded & Mixed & Mastered by 向啓介 (Keisuke Mukai)
Recorded at Setagaya REC Studio (2024.11.26)
Cover Photo by Thibault Marin
薄暗い街景のなかに佇むブルードレスを纏った上西美帆のアルバム・ジャケットが象徴的だ。
目の前の静謐がほどけるようにピアノのコードが打ち込まれる “Entrance” は、単音の連打に導かれる “Alice in Wonderland” へと引き継がれ、やがてコントラバスが伴走する “So Many Star” へと漕ぎ出す。誰もがどこかで耳にしたことがあるジャズ・スタンダードの名曲が数珠つなぎに立ち現れ、地殻がゆっくりと変動してゆく。抑揚に秀で浸透力抜群、かつシラブルの末端まで抜かりない上西の英語はそれ自体「歌」として心地良いが、言葉と全くイーヴンに放たれるスキャットもまた、弾力性に富み魅力たっぷり（ “I Wish You Love” や自作のタイトル曲 “Something in Between” など）。このあたりは彼女のニューヨーク時代の師であるシーラ・ジョーダンを彷彿とさせるところだが、シーラによる数々の名演で知られる “You Are My Sunshine” は、湿っぽい情念を封印した素朴な歌い上げが逆に現代の日常感覚にフィットする。そして秀逸なのが終曲の “Blue Moon” 。上西の言葉を音に乗せる際の絶妙なスウィング感とセンスには前作でも唸ったものだが、この循環コードによる歴史的名曲においても同様。聴き手が自然と口ずさみたくなり、歌詞世界が豊かな視覚イメージで現前してくる。旅は冒頭でのべたアルバム・ジャケットと還るのだ ― あたかもBlue Moonとは、上西とジャズとの蜜月関係そのものであるかのように。
肉声的であり器楽的でもある上西のヴォーカルを支え、ときにエンボスのように音楽の濃淡を反転させては濃厚な歌心を覗かせる座小田諒一 (コントラバス）と柳原由佳 (ピアノ）は、きわめて自然でありながら確固とした手応えを刻む。ともに独創性と楽曲へのリスペクトを共存させる、趣味のよいリリシズムの持ち主。
“Something in Between” とは「日常に潜む言葉にならない何か」。上西美帆のジャズへの愛情がたっぷりと詰まった「慣れ親しんだはずの」スタンダードの豊饒さを、そしてに何ゆえスタンダードたりえているのかを改めて実感している。(*文中敬称略)
≪追記≫ 昨年大病を患った上西美帆だが、その不屈の意志でみごと病を寛解させた。すでに音楽活動を再開しているという。心から敬意を表すとともに、一日も早くステージでその華やかな姿を見せてくれることを楽しみにしている。
The jacket sleeve, which captures Miho Jonishi, clothed in a blue dress standing quietly in a dimly lit cityscape, is symbolic.
Entrance, in which piano chords softly break the stillness in front of us, transitions into Alice in Wonderland, led by the repeated single notes, and then sets sail into So Many Stars, accompanied by the double bass. Famous jazz standards that everyone has heard somewhere appear in a linked sequence, as if the ground beneath gradually shifts. Jonishi’s English, excellent in expression, extremely carrying well, and flawless down to each syllable’s end, is euphonous as a “song” in itself, but also her scat, released evenly with the words, is full of elasticity and charm (like I Wish You Love and her original title track Something in Between), evoking Sheila Jordan, her mentor in her New York-era. However, regarding You Are My Sunshine, well-known song for Sheila’s many renditions, Jonishi’s version somehow fits modern everyday sensibilities with her natural singing that locks away wet sentiments. What stands out is the final track, Blue Moon. Her exquisite Swing feel and taste when infusing words into music was impressive in her previous album as well, and it’s the same with this all-time standard of cyclical chords. Listeners naturally want to sing along, and the lyrical world vividly appears in rich visual imagery. Here, the journey comes back to the jacket sleeve mentioned at the beginning — as if the Blue Moon represents the honeymoon-like relationship between Jonishi and jazz itself.
Supporting Jonishi’s singing, which is both corporeal and instrumental, Ryoichi Zakota (double bass) and Yuka Yanagihara (piano) sometimes invert the musical intensity like embossing, letting the rich lyrical side peek through. Their playing feels extremely natural while leaving a strong, definitive impact. They are both refined lyricists who combine their creativity with respect for each piece.
“Something in Between” refers to “something in everyday life that cannot be put into words.” This album filled with Miho Jonishi’s deep affection for jazz allows me to feel once again the richness of standards which we should have been familiar with, and the reason why they can be considered as standards. (*Honorifics omitted in the text)
Addendum: Miho Jonishi suffered a serious illness last year but recently brought into remission with her indomitable spirit. I heard she has already resumed her musical activities. I deeply admire for her strong fortitude and look forward to seeing her brilliant presence on stage soon again.
関連リンク：
https://www.mihojonishi.com/
https://yukayanagihara.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ryozakota/
関連レヴュー：
https://jazztokyo.org/reviews/cd-dvd-review/post-28562/
*視聴／Click here to view:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBUrOnlx4FY
