Whisper From the Mirror
Keiko Matsui'sWhisper from the Mirroris not identified as a theme-based project, yet it's hard not to be caught up in the cohesion and storytelling progression. A mix of classical, jazz, and New Age elements, Matsui's 10th studio project is an all-instrumental, piano-centered affair that has the feel of soundtrack, only it's left for the listener to fill in the blanks. Matsui's melodramatic flourishes are kept earthbound by a subtle, urban-tribal rhythmic base that attractively threads its way through the project. Jazz fans may feel that she sometimes sticks too close to the white keys (some comparisons toYannimight surface here), yet the recording's rewards reach listeners in more sublime ways, such as on the heart-touching, gently propulsive "Torches on the Earth" and "Beyond the Light." The disc takes its jazziest turn on the final cut, whenBob Jamesjoins Matusi at the piano for a four-handed "Ever After." For listeners attracted to the more mystical elements in Matsui's music,Whisper from the Mirroris a voice worth heeding.--Terry Wood