"It was an encounter with the unknown."

That was the first phrase that came from her lips.

What was the reason for embarking on this unprecedented endeavor, a collaboration with a harpist from Colombia?

"I first heard him play at the Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada. He was incredibly passionate, and I was constantly amazed at how expressive the harp could be. I was convinced that playing together would be incredibly interesting, and that strong impression led me to exchange contact information with him right away."

Something resonated. It's a sound that only Edmar Castañeda, who inherited Colombia's traditional music while immersing himself in jazz in New York, could create. The Latin blood from Colombia, a country in Central America, is certainly part of that background.

Edmar Castañeda was born in Colombia and studied the traditional local music, música llanera. He then moved to New York at the age of 16, where he discovered jazz.

His astonishing technique captivated the jazz giants of New York, and he quickly became a world-renowned player. Using the harp, a traditional Colombian instrument called the 'arpa,' he plays bass lines, melodies, and tension chords simultaneously.

What happens when that technique meets Hiromi Uehara's technique? It's easy to imagine that a completely new form of jazz would be born from that alone.

"It's like a chemical reaction of sorts. I feel that playing with him, where our improvisations resonate with each other, brings me a new experience."

Piano and harp. The two instruments intertwine, yet respect each other as the music flows.

"The suite 'The Elements' was written specifically for this duo. I felt an immediate connection with Edmar, who is my contemporary, and I composed this piece with the intention that it could only be realized with him."

And it was recorded live in Montreal, the place of their encounter.

"From the beginning, I intended for our performance together to be a live recording, and specifically in Montreal, where we first met."

The music flows seamlessly into the breathtaking final piece, 'Libertango'.

The meeting of piano and harp. The happy relationship between two musicians. Japan and Colombia. A miracle of unprecedented music born from various encounters.
When you feel the energy radiating from this album, you will surely discover a new world of jazz, filled with exhilaration.

Live in Montreal

Hiromi Uehara x Edmar Castañeda
UCCO-1188
Universal Music

'Live in Montreal' received the 'Excellence Album Award' at the 59th Japan Record Awards.

Tour Information
Hiromi Uehara x Edmar Castañeda
LIVE IN JAPAN TOUR 2017
November 22 (Wed) Kobe International House Kokusai Hall
November 24 (Fri) - 26 (Sun) Billboard Live Osaka
November 28 (Tue) - 30 (Thu) Cotton Club
December 1 (Fri) - 3 (Sun) Blue Note Tokyo
December 5 (Tue) Nagoya - Sumitomo Mitsui Marine Shirakawa Hall
December 6 (Wed) Fukuoka International Conference Center Main Hall
December 7 (Thu) Shizuoka City Public Hall Medium Hall
December 8 (Fri) Tokyo - Sumida Triphony Hall

Ticket Information
http://www.hiromiuehara.com/tour2017/live.html