Miki Yamanaka: Stairway To The Stars

Pianist Miki Yamanaka mixes and matches trio and duet settings (and a solo) with her guests Orlanso Le Fleming/b and Mark Turner/ts . Her allegiance is to the bop world, and it works well on the festive duets with Le Fleming on “Cheryl”, a swinging take of “My Melancholy Baby” and a dreamy “Winder” with bass in the lead. Turner is in a breathy Lester Young mode on “Elderdown”, misty for a contemplative “Ask Me Now” and hiply swinging for “Oatmeal”. Yamanaka’s spotlight of “Tea For Two” has a Monkish inquisitiveness and a confidently happy left hand. Well tuned sonatas.

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