Hiromi performs at today's opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics

Anyone who has seen Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara usually known only as Hiromi live or heard any of her records will know how explosive her style of jazz-rock and beyond can be. Championed earlier in her career by Chick Corea and for some …

Published: 23 Jul 2021. Updated: 2 years.

Anyone who has seen Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara usually known only as Hiromi live or heard any of her records will know how explosive her style of jazz-rock and beyond can be. Championed earlier in her career by Chick Corea and for some years now one of Japan's biggest internationally known jazz artists it was excellent that she was chosen to perform in the opening ceremony of the Olympics today with a kabuki twist. It was a brief appearance amid some spectacular effects particularly the aerial drone display. Judging by the reaction on social media Hiromi's playing didn't go unnoticed. Check our playlist of Hiromi tracks, above

Watch from 4:13.40 in the BBC coverage

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Leon Bridges' Glasperised jazz direction on the Born again track included on Gold-Diggers Sound is a palpable thrill

With Robert Glasper on keys, and sounding in fine fettle indeed, soul singer Leon Bridges' jazz direction on 'Born again' one significant element on Gold-Diggers Sound (Columbia) is a thrill. Listen closely and there's some fine horn work just …

Published: 23 Jul 2021. Updated: 2 years.

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With Robert Glasper on keys, and sounding in fine fettle indeed, soul singer Leon Bridges' jazz direction on 'Born again' one significant element on Gold-Diggers Sound (Columbia) is a thrill. Listen closely and there's some fine horn work just itching to go further beyond the ache and the tearing soulfulness inherent in Brdges' sound cutting the air. Check the very fine horn arrangement passage near the ''But it feels good comin' home'' line around the 2:40 mark especially. Down here in marlbank we adored Bridges' 2019 song 'That Was Yesterday' and now hearing him change his style towards jazz on this track the Bridges story becomes a page-turner once again giving the track's deeply transcendent quality and deep emotion delivered so spectacularly.