Hiromi: Tiny Desk Concert

Suraya Mohamed | September 8, 2023
Hiromi arrived at NPR wearing comfortable sweats, her chic hair already styled and perfectly coiffed for the performance. A keyboard gig bag was strapped on her back with her Nord Lead A1 analog modeling synthesizer, a versatile instrument loaded with her programmed patches. Its buzzy, modular sound started the show with a funky melodic line that sets up this highly energetic and joyful set.

Just before this performance, she and her band "Hiromi's Sonicwonder" had just finished recording their soon to be released new album, Sonicwonderland. They perform two songs from that project here, and each one is its own auditory adventure, filled with sophisticated arrangements and lush textures. Adam O'Farrill's trumpet playing is exquisite, as he sometimes routes his horn sound through pedals to create an ethereal tone. Hadrien Feraud thumps his bass lines with precision and grit as he locks in really tight with Gene Coye's crisp and momentous drum performance.

You can see how much fun Hiromi is having here, her beautiful smile beams as she rips her small but strong hands up and down multiple keyboards. She moves seamlessly between the three instruments, sometimes standing, sometimes sitting, sometimes dancing — always breathtaking. Her whole body generates an observable power that's also playful and virtuosic. She plays with great command but yet she is also at ease, as her notes ripple from her fingertips like streams of water.

SET LIST
"Sonicwonderland"
"Wanted"

MUSICIANS
"Hiromi's Sonicwonder"
Hiromi Uehara: piano, keys
Adam O'Farrill: trumpet
Gene Coye: drums
Hadrien Feraud: bass

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Creative Director: Bob Boilen
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Maia Stern, Alanté Serene, Joshua Bryant
Audio Assistant: Kwesi Lee
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Catie Dull
Tiny Desk Team: Kara Frame, Hazel Cills
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#hiromi #nprmusic #tinydesk

[nprmusic]

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[Cryomancer]

Her mad scientist vibe is unparalleled

[TheXSpoon]

I'll never forget the first time I heard of Hiromi. Never heard of her before. It was 2004, I was in Italy, Umbria jazz, she was opening for the 'Big four' (Hancock, Shorter, Holland and Blade). People were there for the 4, who's that youngster daring to do an opening act! She was touring her second album 'Brain'. She and the band started to play. I swear the most ostile audience went silent after 2 minutes, everyone was simply In disbelief. When they finished I witnessed (and participated) to the longest and most honest standing ovation I ever witnessed. The day after you could not find a single Hiromi album in all Perugia, completely sold out in every record store. It's been 20 years and I'm still in love. Thanks for this NPR Music . She is a genius in the true sense of the word.

[chrissyish]

So excited for all the folks who will discover Hiromi through this!

[spokaneman]

Note to self: Self, anytime an NPR Tiny Desk Concert pops up on your feed, and you are not familiar with that artist, WATCH IT! Thank you for this amazing introduction (to me) of these incredible talents!

[gasser]

If you haven't, check out Hiromi playing 'canon in D but it keeps getting jazzier', your face will hurt at the end from the amount of smiling you will have done. She is so

[mananabanana]

You guys will get one of the best musicians alive and drop the show absolutely unceremoniously. Gets me everytime. 😂

[customURLfor]

Hiromi is a gift for the humankind. I can't think of a musician that transitions so seamlessly between jazz, funk, classical and avant garde as her with such joy.

[takaotsu]

She always looks so genuinely happy playing the piano. Makes me realize we all need that one thing that we can smile about from the bottom of our heart and soul.

[creativespaceslandscaping]

Gene Coye is absolutely amazing! His drumming skills are what keeps these musicians together especially in the timing of interpretive or improvisational style of jazz.

[Eijiken]

Hiromi getting on tiny desk is WAY overdue, she been cooking since the early 2000s! One of my biggest influences to becoming a performer!

[nicholasmaustin]

I want a Hiromi Thundercat Collab. Genuinely think they would rip together.

[itsDelfi]

The things I appreciate the most about Hiromi's shows are: not even the other musicians can get enough of her: They always look at her in awe when she comes up with crazy technical ideas, and on top of that, they follow her until she starts following them and gives them back the same joyful expression by letting them lead. It's absolutely insane and beautiful.

[reganjo]

The way Hiromi comps behind the trumpet player is very inspired. I think she’s not just a soloist Showboat; she’s so versatile musically!

[TzadikTheManic]

I don’t know how this is possible but this is my first experience with Hiromi or her music. I’m only 30 seconds in and it’s so good I’m actually overwhelmed. Music at its purest and truest is bliss, is it not?

[LA-cmuo]

This lady is so skilled, that even her hair is in shock.

[markw.]

Hiromi has impeccable taste in bass players! That was a great little set.

[dariusduesentrieb]

Wow, Adam O'Farrill has insane trumpet skills. The solo in the second piece was a joy listening to.

[miah_plays_]

This is my first time hearing this artist and the amount of excitement and fun I had listening to them is immaculate. Already hunting Hiromi on Spotify love love love this!!!

[mriepi]

She has joy like playing for the first time with skill like playing since forever.