Voices In The Night

The seminal 2001 debut album by pianist Akira Ishii, originally released on EWE Records. This recording marks the beginning of his legendary trio with Masayuki Tawarayama (bass) and Yoshihito Etoh (drums)-a partnership that flourished for over a decade.

Listeners will be captivated by the understated brilliance of the late master Tawarayama's bass work and the vibrant, youthful energy of Etoh's drumming. While still possessing a raw, burgeoning edge, Ishii's profound lyricism and soulful touch-characteristics that would define his career-are strikingly evident in every note.

Key highlights include "Setembro," which earned high praise from Ivan Lins himself, the deeply atmospheric opener "Angel Eyes," Steve Swallow's "Ladies In Mercedes" (a precursor to their later collaboration), and the evocative original composition "Sometime In The Snow." A quarter-century later, the timeless essence of this quintessential Japanese jazz trio is finally reborn for a global audience.