Keiko Matsui Brightens the World With 30th Album Euphoria

BY SHERYL ARONSON
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SHERYL ARONSON (SASAPHOTOS) AND RAJ NAIK

Keiko Matsui released her 30th album, Euphoria, with Shanachie Entertainment on March 31st, 2023. Once again, the inspiration for her music originated from a deeply spiritual place where she surrenders to the divine as she guides the musical phrases that pour through her fingers and onto the keyboard. As an artist, her goal is not only to create compositions that enchant the listeners’ ears but also to deliver a healing message for global harmony.

“This album is about the hope we all carry inside of us,” said Matsui. “I have this dream where we can each cherish our happiness and learn to accept and care for one another. When I tour the world and witness how my music cuts through our differences and connects everyone, it makes me feel euphoric.”

Keiko always strives for artistic and personal development, stretching the boundaries of her artistry. Devoted to her fans worldwide, she begins each show by dedicating the concert to everyone attending. On April 8th, I attended the sold-out performance at Santa Fe Station in Las Vegas.

Matsui crafted transcendent melodies that cast an enchanting spell as she performed compositions from the newest release and other classic tunes. When she sat at the piano, the music flowed out of her powerful hands with intensity and precision. The band that evening consisted of Dave Karasony on drums, Rico Belled on bass, Joao Pedro Mourao on guitar, and Brandon Fields on saxophone/flute, plus a surprise friend appearance by Paul Taylor on sax.

I had the pleasure to talk with Keiko Matsui about her newest album Euphoria over the phone.

Chic Compass: Keiko, your 30th album Euphoria is coming out on March 31st. Congratulations! How did you conjure up the name?

Keiko Matsui: The word Euphoria appeared during the recording progress. I researched this word, and I knew that it would represent the energy of the album.

Chic Compass: I have your quote: “I have this dream where we can each cherish our happiness and learn to accept and care for one another.” As a psychotherapist, that’s my goal for every client I work with – be happy and love yourself. Talk about what you meant.

Keiko Matsui: I feel we’ve been going through difficult times, especially the last two to three years. So much death and sadness have been pervasive throughout the world. People have lost friends and family members to Covid, and there’s been a civil war in Ukraine. Although there has been so much sorrow, I love that humanity moves forward, finding hope. I’m truly inspired by hope amid tragedy. I wish that we will have a new chapter on the planet. I want to focus on each person finding their happiness and, at the same time, thinking about others as well. This will unite the world.

Chic Compass: You’ve been quite prolific in your career, composing music for 30 albums. What inspires you?

Keiko Matsui: Music connects us beyond our differences. My friends and fans are from different countries, and even if they are against each other politically, we will connect through music. I’m so grateful to have fans from many different parts of the world, and because of their continued support, I have progressed this far in my career. When my fans support my music, it’s the treasure of my life.

Chic Compass: You are working with top-notch musicians on your album, like Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, John Beasley, Lalah Hathaway, and Kirk Whalum, to name a few. You performed with Randy Brecker at Cerritos Performing Arts Center last year. He plays flugelhorn on the song “Neo” from the new album.

Keiko Matsui: I have admired his work over the years and invited him to be a special guest performer at Cerritos last year. We also did a special concert at the Sony Hall in New York when my previous album Echo was released. This time, when the bassline and melody came to me, I thought it would be cool to have Randy play the song. The bassline came first, and then the melody. He chose the flugelhorn instead of the trumpet, and his proficiency made “Neo” powerful.

Chic Compass: Yes, the flugelhorn brings a luscious tone, but it doesn’t take away from the intensity of his riffing with you back and forth, building to a climax.

Keiko Matsui: The band was amazing too. I was planning to fade out, but I couldn’t stop playing, and the band kept right on playing even though the chart was written: “Repeat and fade out.” When we finished – by creating the ending instinctually- my co-produce/manager Bud Harner decided to use everything!

Chic Compass: You chose Mike Stern on guitar, who played with the original Blood Sweat and Tears. Why did you choose Mike to perform on the song “The Choice.”

Keiko Matsui: For each song on Euphoria, I thought about who the best musician would be to express the soul of the melody. As I heard the contours of the song “The Choice,” I remembered the electric guitar playing by Mike Stern. I had heard him play with Richard Bona. Although he was very quiet and gentle when I met him personally, I knew that his sound on the guitar was electrifying and unique and that it would be a very interesting combination with this fun song.

Chic Compass: I love the compelling sound of Gregoire Maret on the harmonica complimenting Lalah Hathaway’s vocals on “Love and Nothing Less.”

Keiko Matsui: The first time I collaborated with Gregoire was on my album Journey to the Heart. He played the song “Casablanca,” and he was amazing. When I completed composing the melody for the vocal song “Love and Nothing Less” and Lalah Hathaway completed the lyrics and vocals, I imagined Gregoire playing a beautiful solo on the harmonica that would be the perfect addition to the song.

Chic Compass: Lalah Hathaway’s voice is haunting in that song and, at the same time, sensual and inviting. What was the story behind working with this Grammy-winning artist?

Keiko Matsui: When I received the verse melody (that came into my head), I immediately thought of Lalah Hathaway. So, before asking Lalah, I completed the melody and asked Bud to reach out to her to sing and write the lyrics. Lalah immediately agreed to collaborate. Strangely enough, when I asked Lalah to check the key to the song before we recorded it, she said the key was perfect. She then asked me what kind of story or feeling was behind the music. I wrote her an e-mail explaining this was an expression of my emotion about human beings moving forward despite all the sorrow in the world. She wrote me back … “I gotcha, Keiko. I understand. All your thoughts and words are beautiful.” Then she came up with lyrics that truly expressed my soul’s intention on a very deep level.

Chic Compass: For your title track, “Euphoria,” you asked the brilliant composer/pianist John Beasley to collaborate on this piece. Did you think his extensive background in orchestration would enhance the complexity of the music?

Keiko Matsui: I met John Beasley as the music director in Istanbul when UNESCO and Herbie Hancock put on International Jazz Day. I admired his work, from playing and arranging everything so deeply and beautifully. When I received the melody of “Euphoria,” I knew this would be the title track because I loved it – and the infusion of melody, chorus, and complex rhythms poured into my composing. This composition needed expert handling.

Somehow a miraculous coincidence occurred. When I wrote John asking if he could arrange two songs for the new album, we found out that we would both be in Amsterdam on the same day. On the day of my arrival in Amsterdam for the Dave Koz cruise, John Beasley was performing that night with the Metropole Orchestra. He agreed to chat with me after the concert. While listening to his arrangements that evening and hearing some with a Latin flavor song, I realized John was the exact fit for Euphoria and Legend of Yaguarón. I asked him if he had the time to be in the studio for the recording dates. John said the tracking date probably wouldn’t work, but he could return to LA and overdub the strings. He made a beautiful canvas for these two songs.

Chic Compass: Where did you record Euphoria?

Keiko Matsui: We were at the United Hollywood Recording Studio for tracking.

Chic Compass: How many musicians do you have playing live?

Keiko Matsui: Most people are recording at home and sending each other tracks, but especially after this pandemic/crazy time, I just wanted to see everyone! It was very hard to organize the schedule because everybody started touring again last year, but we set the time at the beginning of July.

Bud Harner, my co-producer and manager, made a three-group schedule tracking date in three days. There were six of us, and we did five songs with Alex Al-bass, Gregg Bissonette-drums, Tony Pulizzi-guitar, Luis Conte-percussion, and Ron Pedley-keys; and another four songs with Jimmy Branly-drums, Michael Thompson-guitar, Jimmy Johnson-bass, Ron Pedley-keys, and Luis Conte-percussion. The final set was with my band members, Jimmy Branly-drums, Rico Belled-bass, JP, Mourao- guitar, and Luis Conte-percussion.

Chic Compass: Of course, you’ll feature some of your new music at concerts beginning in April 2023. What can the audience expect at your concert in Las Vegas at the Santa Fe Station?

Keiko Matsui: I’ll be there on April 8th, and I love that venue. When I come to Vegas, I feel that happy, spirited energy from the audience. Las Vegas is such a special place because I can meet many fans from different parts of the world who sometimes plan their vacations around seeing me in concert.

On April 29th, I will be at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center, where I’m putting on a special show to celebrate this newborn album. My touring schedule is on my website at Keikomatsui.com.

Chic Compass: What else would you like to say about your new album Euphoria?

Keiko Matsui: On the front page of my website, people can preview 30 seconds of all the songs on the album. The actual CD is available on Amazon and will be on sale on March 31st.

I love to dedicate my shows to all the people in the audience and share the unique energy that each song encompasses. It is an honor to share this experience with people worldwide.