Courtesy of David Bazemore
Laughter isn’t what one expects from the concert of an esteemed jazz pianist. Yet, that’s just what happened when Japanese pianist and composer Hiromi Uehara, better known as Hiromi, and her band Sonicwonder played to a sold-out crowd on April 25 at UC Santa Barbara’s Campbell Hall.
The event was part of UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) 2024-25 programming. Hiromi and Sonicwonder demonstrated a masterful ability to lead their audience on a unique and energetic voyage through jazz music. From slow, evocative tunes to fast-paced electronic melodies, Campbell Hall cheered enthusiastically for Grammy-winning Hiromi’s technical skill and the emotion she produced from it.
“I hope you’re ready for the journey,” Hiromi said as she introduced both her show and several works from her and Sonicwonder’s latest album “OUT THERE,” released on April 4.
Hiromi performed the title track off the album, beginning with a serene, introspective piano piece that shifted to a funky, playful tune when Sonicwonder joined in. Hiromi, playing a riff on the grand piano with her left hand, added to the funkiness by soloing with her right hand on a synthesizer atop the piano.
Sonicwonder consists of Hiromi, accompanied by Adam O’Farrill on the trumpet, Hadrien Feraud on the electric bass and Gene Coye on the drums. The musicians’ technical skills, combined with their passion for jazz, produced an unforgettable night of excitement and fun.
As the music progressed, the swing of Hiromi’s jazz grew and the musicians intentionally played more offbeat against the steady rhythm behind the song. The band would play, and then pause, while the swing of the song kept growing. They swung the rhythm so much that the audience was caught by surprise — and Hiromi knew this would happen.
Laughing with her audience at their anticipation of what might be heard next, she playfully started and stopped the music on unexpected beats. Cheers erupted from the crowd when the song was resolved back to its regular rhythm.
The multi-award winning pianist met with students in UCSB’s jazz program before the show, according to A&L’s Associate Director Meghan Bush. Hiromi’s unique take on jazz music is an influence to many.
“I play trombone,” first-year biopsychology major Jack Hons said when commenting on what he hoped to learn from the performance. “Maybe not explicitly new ideas for improv, but just hearing new, hip music.”
Hiromi, dressed in a bright, multicolor dress with her hair pulled into a wild, spunky ponytail, traversed every key on her three keyboards — a grand piano, a synthesizer and an electric keyboard — with perfect intention. The virtuoso created sounds ranging from surrealistic to funky, moving from the swing of jazz to the strict cadences of classical music with ease and then back to jazz again.
Courtesy of David Bazemore
“She has her own personal style and flair,” third-year biology major Jason Ruffy said. “You can really see that, how it comes across in her music.”
The happy, energetic and welcoming music seemed to reflect the personalities of Hiromi and Sonicwonder themselves. When she wasn’t smiling to herself or with her bandmates, Hiromi smiled with her audience, as if to thank them for their collaboration in creating a fun, lively environment.
While the Grammy-winner danced and shook her head to the beat of the drums and the rhythm of her hands on the keys, the audience joined in. The crowd swelled with energy as more and more audience members swayed their heads in sync with the music, clapped their hands to a funky bassline or tapped their feet to the drumbeat.
Campbell Hall erupted in loud cheers for each song. By the end of her performance, Hiromi had received three standing ovations — one at the end of her act and two for each encore.
Whether in love with jazz or hardly familiar with the genre, Hiromi’s authenticity, in both her music and her persona, leaves her listeners with a new appreciation for creativity and bold, unique and original artwork.
“That was the best $15 I ever spent in my life,” Ruffy said.
