SALT LAKE CITY — Jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara and fellow musicians Simon Phillips (drums) and Anthony Jackson (electric bass) will appear at the Capitol Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 as part of the Jazz SLC concert series. Together they form the Trio Project.
Hiromi first visited the Jazz SLC series with legendary bassist Stanley Clarke in 2012 and quickly surprised the audience with her high-energy performance.
“The audience, myself included, really had no idea what to expect with regard to Hiromi’s talents as a jazz pianist," said Gordon Hanks, founder of the concert series. "Stanley Clarke was a given, but Hiromi just blew the lid off the place. It was such a powerful performance and it was clear that Stanley had his hands full just trying to keep up with her.”
The Japanese-born Hiromi is young and chic and dresses more like a hip-hop artist than a classically trained jazz pianist.
There is an innocence and shyness about Hiromi. Onstage she might appear in designer black Levis with high-top sequined Converse tennis shoes, a Hello Kitty baggy sweatshirt and her hair pulled up wildly in pigtails. But despite her demeanor, Hiromi has some of the most original and highly sophisticated jazz compositions in the business.
The Trio Project has released three albums, with each one getting progressively tighter and more cohesive. The tracks are remarkably conversational and emotional.
“When I play music I realize that it filters emotions," Hiromi said. "I believe that peoples’ voices are expressed in their emotions and I try to do the same with my music. People can just listen to my music and decide how it reflects their own lives. That’s the beautiful thing about music without lyrics.”
If you go ...
What: Hiromi and the Trio Project
When: Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South
Tickets: Available by calling ArtTix at 801-355-2787; $33.50 for adults and $10 for students with student identification.
Jeff Metcalf is a professor of English at the University of Utah and an avid jazz fan.