Arbors has become the home of a quality cadre of traditional-minded jazz musicians. While this has made the label ideal for older players like
Ruby Braff and
Bucky Pizzarelli, Arbors isn't just about nostalgia for traditional jazz.
The Michiko Ogawa Trio, for instance, centers on a talented Japanese pianist who's fairly new to the scene. On her first album for the label, It's All About Love, she's joined by bassist Phil Flanigan and drummer
Ed Metz Jr. The material is grounded in classic jazz with versions of familiar pieces like "I Cover the Waterfront," "All of Me," and "Body and Soul." The trio is occasionally augmented by tenor
Harry Allen and the overall program is bolstered here and there with
Ogawa's vocals. Indeed, it's the presence of
Ogawa's vocals on a rhythm-friendly "All of Me" and the bass-heavy "What Is This Thing Called Love?" that work best here. Only a couple of cuts exceed the six-minute mark on It's All About Love, meaning that the arrangements are lean and tight. The variation of straight trio pieces with vocals and
Allen's tenor also keeps the disc from falling into an overly familiar groove. Fans of modern jazz and the classic songbook will enjoy the Michiko Ogawa Trio. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.