HIROMI'S SONICBLOOM: TIME CONTROL

Hiromi Uehara's "Sonicbloom" albums feature her expanding the sound of her usual trio by adding David Fiuczynski on fiery electric guitar. This in turn allows Hiromi to really draw on the rock and prog influences which colour her fusion work, as demonstrated in the first Sonicbloom album, Time Control. Taking in influences from Zappa to Gentle Giant to the jazzier Canterbury outfits, Uehara keeps things rooted in fusion territory by focusing mainly on the piano and introducing more modern keyboard instruments only sparingly. The end result, then, refreshes the fusion sound of yesteryear with a healthy influsion of recent developments in more purist jazz piano circles, resulting in a unique and engaging sound. On balance, I think Hiromi might be the best-kept secret in fusion today.