BLUE MOMENT

Drummer and composer Shigeki Okubo, originally from Kyushu,Japan has developed a distinctive musical voice shaped by refined rhythmic sensibility and lyrical compositional depth. His work moves fluidly between the open language of jazz improvisation and the delicate emotional nuance often found in Japanese popular music, creating a sound world that feels both contemporary and deeply personal.

Leading this project as both composer and bandleader, Okubo forms a dynamic trio with pianist Yoonseung Cho and bassist Changmin Jeon. Together they craft an intimate yet expansive ensemble dialogue, where rhythmic subtlety and harmonic color unfold through close musical interaction.

The program centers on Okubo's original compositions while weaving together film music, jazz standards, and repertoire from diverse cultural landscapes. The transparent lyricism of Edvard Grieg's Arietta, the sophisticated melodies of Japanese city-pop icon Minako Matsubara, and the modern sonic palette of producer Tomita Lab are reimagined through Okubo's rhythmic vision, emerging as a cohesive and contemporary trio language.

More than a timekeeper, Okubo's drumming acts as the narrative axis of the ensemble shaping musical direction with nuanced touch, fluid dynamics, and a keen sensitivity to space and silence. Through this interplay, the trio reveals a soundscape where cultures, genres, and eras converge in a refined and organic musical dialogue.