Ryo Fukui - Scenery [Japanese Import] Ryo Fukui

Fresh greenery, dazzling streams, crystal-clear skies, and snow falling in silence... These are the beautiful landscapes, or scenery, woven by the legendary Hokkaido-born pianist Ryo Fukui. Here, they live on forever.

Fukui's fresh and delicate touch at the piano has captivated listeners for decades, and his debut album, Scenery, has come to be celebrated worldwide as a masterpiece. Fukui began playing piano at the age of 22 and recorded this album just six years later, at 28. The earnestness and sincerity of his youthful performances still resonate deeply, gently stirring the emotions of those who listen.

The buoyant, freely swinging "It Could Happen to You", the exhilarating and joy-filled "Early Summer", and the title track "Scenery", imbued with the crisp atmosphere of a late autumn evening, each reveal a different facet of Fukui's artistry. Woven into his musical character is a distinctly Hokkaido sensibility, combining grand scale with subtle emotional nuance. The result is music that feels both expansive and intimate.

Here, the beautiful landscapes crafted by Ryo Fukui, his Scenery, continue to breathe and endure for eternity.

Text by Yusuke Ogawa (UNIVERSOUNDS / DEEP JAZZ REALITY)