At 80, Yoshio Suzuki keeps chasing the possibilities of jazz
At Billboard Live Yokohama, the room fell into a hush of anticipation as Yoshio Suzuki took the stage, his bass setting a pulse that moved fluidly between fiery spontaneity and effortless charm over the course of the night.
The March 21 performance marked Suzuki’s 80th birthday, which he celebrated with an audience of jazz fans and The Blend, the five-person ensemble he founded in 2019. Introducing tenor saxophonist Kosuke Mine, 82, as a “living national treasure,” Suzuki recalled their years living together in New York and performing with pianist Masabumi Kikuchi.
The rest of The Blend, mostly in their 50s and 60s, injected a different energy. Trumpeter Keisuke Nakamura delivered a daring sound — light yet grounded, alongside veteran Mine. Against the full-bodied brass, Hakuei Kim’s piano added fine brushstrokes through glassy arpeggios and subtle tonal shifts. Drummer Tamaya Honda was riveting to watch, driving his solos to a fever pitch while remaining controlled and precise elsewhere. Throughout, the rhythmic heartbeat of Suzuki’s bass underpinned the ensemble’s improvisational performance.
Advertising by Adpathway
