embrace / NOBUKO ARIAKE & AYAKO SHIRASAKI

アルバムタイトル／embrace
アーティスト／NOBUKO ARIAKE & AYAKO SHIRASAKI
レーベル／MO'JAZZ PLEASE RECORDS
品番／MJP-054
リリース日／2021.8.31

【収録曲】

trio
1. WHO CARES (George Gershwin) 7'17"
2. GOLDEN EARRINGS (Victor Young) 7'45"
3. HONEYSUCKLE ROSE (Thomas Fats Waller) 5'22"
4. ELEANOR BLUE (Nobuko Ariake) 5'06"
5. COLORS (Ayako Shirasaki) 5'01"
6. OLEO (Sonny Rollins) 4'38"
7. 小さい秋みつけた (中田喜直) 5'27"
8. THOU SWELL (Richard Rodgers) 5'16"
9. SIMPLICATED (Ayako Shirasaki) 6'38"
10. EMBRACEABLE YOU (George Gershwin) 5'03"
11. ARMANDO'S RHUMBA (Chick Corea) 4'58"
12. GHOST OF A CHANCE (Victor Young) 4'04"

【メンバー】
有明のぶ子(Vibraphone)
白崎彩子 (Piano)

2019年8月　中野「Sweet Rain」にて収録

（以下ライナーノーツより）
まさに絶妙なタイミングで実現したこのライブ録音！それは私達の長年にわたる親交があってこそ生まれたご縁に依るものだとつくづく思います。
私にとって妹のような、時にはふと娘のような気もする不思議な存在の彩ちゃん。ニューヨークと東京、住処は離れていても機会を見つけては演奏をしたりプライベートで遊んだりもしてきました。
一緒に過ごす時はいつもしっかり者の妹はおっとり姉をリード、演奏する時も然り。私は彩ちゃんのピアノの美しい音色や時には聴き入ってしまいたくなるほどの超絶テクニックを楽しみ、極上の時間を過ごすのです。そして演奏が終わりに近づくにつれ、次の機会が待ち遠しく切ない気持ちになり、何となくエンディングを引き延ばしてみたりして。
そんな私達のこの日の会話、熱気溢れるスイートレインの雰囲気を味わって頂ければ幸いです。

3/25/2021 有明のぶ子

　1990年代、女性ジャズクインテット結成の際、初めてお会いした有明のぶこさん。私は20代半ば、有明さんは少しお姉さんで既に2人のお子さんの子育て中。いつも笑顔を絶やさず、心優しい穏やかな存在の有明さん。何故か今は亡き母とオーバーラップしてしまい、ママ的存在として慕ってきました。
1997年、私の渡米後、バンドは自然に解散してしまい、そこからは有明さんと私は個人的に音楽家同士として、そして大切な友人としての関係を続けさせてもらいました。
私の渡米後も一時帰国の際は、デュオのライブを細々と続ける事ができまして、いよいよ2019年の夏、ご縁あって念願のデュオライブ録音が実現しました！小さな空間には、真夏の暑い中、ジャズ好きの友人やファンが駆けつけ、緊張とリラックスの程よいバランスの中、楽しい音の会話ができました。
年下の私が言うのも生意気ですが、年数を追う毎に有明さんのビブラフォンの腕は上がり深みも出て、音楽は人生に寄り添ってどんどん味が出て良くなっていくものなのだと感じました！
昔からよく演奏してきた懐かしの曲やお互いの持ち寄り曲等で飽きない曲構成にしてみました。私はミニマムで最大限の音楽を引き出せるピアノとビブラフォンのデュオが好きです。
時に安らかに、時にワクワクドキドキの2人の会話をお楽しみいただければ光栄です。有明さん、今回のレコーディングに携 わってくださった皆さま、いつも応援して下さる皆さま、私をジャズの世界に導いてくれた父、そして愛する家族、それぞれの皆さんに感謝と愛をこめて。

2/27/2021 白崎彩子

The timing of the creation of this live recording is simply put, perfect! I truly believe that the opportunity to create this album was a result of our long-lasting friendship over the years.

Aya-chan is like a little sister to me –at times, even feeling like a daughter of mine. Even though we live far apart in New York and Tokyo, we have been playing music together and socializing whenever we find the opportunity. When we do spend time together, our dynamic is one of a strong-willed younger sister leading an easygoing older sister, and the same can be said when we play music together.

Whenever we perform as a duo, I get to experience the luxury of listening to Aya-chan’s superb musical techniques and am pulled in by the breathtaking music she plays on the piano. As her performances come to an end, I always feel a wave of sadness and a longing for the next opportunity to hear her play, as well as the urge to prolong her music to keep it from ending.
I sincerely hope you enjoy our conversations on this day, as well as the atmosphere, full of enthusiasm, of Sweet Rain.

March 25th, 2021
Nobuko Ariake

I met Nobuko Ariake for the first time in the 1990s when I joined a women's jazz quintet. I was in my mid-twenties, while she was a little older and already raising two children. For the many years I have known her for, Ariake-san has never let a smile leave her face and is truly a kind and gentle soul. I have always looked up to her as a motherly figure, and today –for some reason –she has even come to remind me of my late mother.

The quintet naturally drifted apart after I moved to the U.S. in 1997. From then on, I personally kept in touch with Ariake-san, and we continued our relationship as both musicians and as dear friends.

We occasionally held live performances together whenever I visited Japan, and finally, in the summer of 2019, we came across the opportunity to conduct the long-awaited live recording of our music. In a small room, amidst the scorching heat of midsummer, our jazz-loving friends and fans rushed over for support. While experiencing moments of tension at times, and relaxation at others, we all enjoyed the musical conversations held in the harmonic environment bounded by these opposing emotions.

It may be a bit cheeky for me to say this as Ariake-san’s junior, but as the years have gone by, her vibraphone skills have improved and become more profound. Watching her has made me realize that music is something that matures along with you as you grow older, becoming better and better throughout one’s journey through life.

This album is sure to not leave the listener bored, with its composition of both nostalgic songs we have often played in the past, as well as songs we individually picked out for the production of this album. I am in love with the musical combination of the piano and vibraphone, and how despite its simplicity, the pair is able to bring out the most of music.

It would be an honor for listeners to enjoy our musical conversations –peaceful at times, and exciting and thrilling at others. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude and love to Ariake-san, everyone who was involved in this recording, everyone who always supports me, my father who led me to the world of jazz, and my beloved family. Thank you.

Feb. 27th, 2021
Ayako Shirasaki