Noriki Soichi’s 50-year journey as a performer – “My Songs” digitally released.

This is the long-awaited third solo piano album by Soichi Noriki, who is celebrating his 50th year of performing this year, and producer Kiyoshi Ito, who has been a leader in the jazz world for half a century.
This album features original songs by leading jazz pianists such as Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock, as well as Sadao Watanabe’s signature song “My Dear Life,” following on from the first and second albums.
Based on an arrangement written for Joe Cocker by Richard Tee, one of Noriyoshi’s most respected pianists, the album includes “You Are So Beautiful,” dedicated to Tee, and Adele’s Grammy-winning song “Easy on Me,” making it a great album not only for jazz fans, but for all music fans.
It also includes four original Noriki songs.
The two new songs express wishes for peace and thoughts for those affected by natural disasters.
This is the 50-year journey of Noriiki Soichi.
Enjoy the high-quality Hi-Res sound produced by Sony Music Studios engineers and the surround sound of Dolby Atmos.

Around 1973, I was so impressed by Keith Jarrett’s “Facing You” that I went to my favorite jazz cafe in Kyoto and immediately went to the record store to buy the LP and listened to it every day. After that, I was moved by his divine performance on “Solo Concerts / Bremen, Lausanne” and became obsessed with him. He was someone I looked up to and wanted to make music like him someday.
Since then, I have listened to many of Keith’s albums and attended his concerts, but for me, the albums “Facing You,” “My Song,” and “Standards, Vol.1 and 2” are like my bible.
In particular, I really like the two songs “Questar” and “My Song” from the album “My Song,” and they are songs I really wanted to record.

Noriiki Soichi

Noriiki Soichi
“My Songs”

2024.08.06 Release
https://ssm.lnk.to/MySongs_n

(recorded music)
01. My Song
02. Song For Noto
03. My Dear Life
04. Crystal Silence
05. Questar
06. Butterfly
07. HARU (From the movie “HARU”)
08. Kazamachi (From the movie “Kitchen”)
09. You Are So Beautiful
10. Easy On Me
11. Prayers For Peace

Recorded March 4-5, 2024 at Miyazaki Piano Studio, Tokyo

Two previous albums will be released simultaneously

Soichi Noriki “Piano Solo”

This is the first completely solo piano album in his career, in which he directly confronts the instrument known as the piano.
https://ssm.lnk.to/PianoSolo

Soichi Noriki “Saudade”

The album focuses on Brazilian music and contains 11 songs that were selected by Soichi Noriki because he was “attracted by the beauty of their melodies.”
To add a touch of glamour to this album, Sadao Watanabe makes a guest appearance on two tracks.
https://ssm.lnk.to/Saudade

For the first release of these two works, Koji Suzuki of Sony Music Studios has remastered them in high-quality Hi-Res. The rich overtones of a vintage New York Steinway piano and the realistic sound of the piano solos are reproduced.

【profile】

Soichi Noriki

Piano / Synthesizer Player / Composer / Arranger
Born in Kyoto.
He studied classical piano from an early age, and became fascinated with jazz from junior high school due to the influence of his father, a saxophonist who led a big band. He made his debut as a jazz pianist at the age of 17.
In the 1980s, he participated in Honda Toshiyuki’s Burning Wave, Yamashita Tatsuro’s concert tours, and Hino Terumasa’s band.
He also formed his own band, NORIKI, and released four albums as a leader.
For about 10 years from 1986, he was in charge of piano and arrangement in Sadao Watanabe’s band, and participated in the Montreux Jazz Festival, the US tour, the London tour, and the African tour.
He is also highly trusted by top Japanese jazz singers such as Kimiko Ito and Keiko Lee, and has participated in arranging and performing on numerous albums.
In the 1990s, he was in charge of the music for four films directed by the late Morita Yoshimitsu, including “Kitchen” and “(Haru).”
In 2018, he released his first solo album in 30 years, “Piano Solo,” and the following year, he produced “Saudade” with guest appearance by Sadao Watanabe.
In 2024, he will celebrate 50 years of performing and release “My Songs.”

(Noriki Soichi 50th Anniversary Solo Live Tour)

■Saturday, September 21, 2024 @ Kumagaya SPACE1497
■Tuesday, September 24, 2024 @Kichijoji SOMETIME
■Sunday, September 29, 2024 @ Sakuragicho DOLPHY
■Friday, October 11, 2024 @ Kyoto RAG
■Sunday, October 13, 2024 @ Nagoya LOVELY
■Wednesday, October 16, 2024 @ Shinjuku PIT INN (Special Session)
■Thursday, October 17, 2024 @ Shinjuku PIT INN (Acousticac Trio)
■Sunday, November 10, 2024 @Izu Kogen Butter Note

◆Soichi Noriki Official Website ⇒ https://www.soichinoriki.com/