For those not in the know, in various configurations, from solo to duo to orchestra, pianist Satoko Fujii has amassed a prodigious and voluminous output, hitting the 100-album mark in 2022, and that’s only counting her work as a leader.

Amongst all that achieving is the output of the Satoko Fujii Quartet (where she features alongside trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, bassist Takeharu Hayakawa, and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida) and her brand new Tokyo Trio - which comprises both Takaski Sugawa on bass and Ittetsu Takemura on drums).

Jazz-rock is the group’s specialty, avant-garde friendly in its explorations as it avoids leaning too heavily into familiar aspects of fusion.

After two previous live recordings, pianist-composer Satoko Fujii’s Tokyo Trio make their third release, Dream a Dream in the studio. The beautifully detailed recording cements their place as one of the leading piano trios of our time.

Fujii, bassist Takaski Sugawa and drummer Ittetsu Takemura have an innate chemistry that allows them to navigate Fujii’s compositions as well as improvise with a telepathic unity, here on this debut studio album due out March 28th, 2025 via Libra Records.

1. Second Step
2. Dream a Dream
3. Summer Day
4. Rain Drop
5. Aruku

This magnificently expressive, wholly engaging and stunningly sculpted new recording opens on the frenetically flourishing, at times ethereal, others serene and contemplating Second Step and that is followed by the industrial-hued crafting, at first, latterly free flowing and timeless title track Dream a Dream, the skittish, then playful, then emboldened Summer Day, the set rounding out on the rhythmically jittery sounds that guide an aching yearn found within Rain Drop, closing on the more profoundly strident fare of the resolutely melodious Aruku.