Ami Fukui: Amizm

Apr 19, 2024

Ami Fukui’s second album Amizm advertises “Mellow and Groovy” on the label, and delivers a nice package of funky, Electrik Band-styled jazz. Amizm, this version of Fukui’s jazz piano trio format, brings together piano, electric keyboards, slick electric bass, and exciting drumming to imbue a classic and bright fusion jazz sound to Fukui’s modern compositions.

The longer tracks #2 “Lion’s Empire”, #4 “Absinthe”, and #8 “Jungle City” showcase these characteristics best and build on Fukui’s trademark creativity. Her song craft is as sweet as ever and includes catchy melodies and transitions, joyful rhythms, and groovy riffs used to great dramatic effect.

The album’s opening and closing tracks are quieter tunes where the mood is set by Fukui’s melodic and graceful piano playing. She opens with the gentle prelude #1 “Komorebi”, and closes with the relaxing, softly rocking lullaby #10 “Undertone”. This softer touch also appears on the soulful mid-album track #6 “ODE”.

In between these two bookends, the music is a stimulating blend of vividly electric songs, funky bass and drum grooves, and expressive piano riffs. Throughout, there is also a fun and mischievous nature that can be subtly felt in the performance and the production.

For example, at one point, a 30-second riff and drum feature is curiously inserted among the tracks (#3 “Guiliana7”). In a similarly unconventional way, three other short tracks (#5 “Eccentric Blues No. 1”, #7 “Eccentric Blues No. 2”, and #9 “Eccentric Blues No. 3”) are dropped in nonconsecutively and essentially form a multi-movement piece, a loose-yet-composed groovy jam interwoven among the other songs on the album.

On Amizm, Yasushi Fukumori’s hyper drumming and Yoshihito “P” Koizumi’s smooth and popping bass lines, together with Ami’s variety of keyboard sounds, go a long way in influencing the overall sound compared to Fukui’s other albums and trio formations: A spicy and intense dish served between her other richly sweet and delicious offerings.

Obi Notes

(A translation of the album description on the obi.)

It’s been about three years since the previous release Urban Clutter. The newly-formed group “Amizm” has released their long-awaited new album. Listeners will be captivated by their colorful pop worldview which combines wild strength with heartwarming sounds.