Hanami at the Jazz Gallery in Milwaukee on March 17, 2024

Milwaukee was fortunate in having guitarist Andrew Trim move here from Chicago a few years ago. Whether subbing for Russ Johnson in the Dave Bayles Trio at the raucous Uptowner bar, or laying down fiery John McLaughlin-inspired jazz rock chaos in Retroreflector at the legendary rock club Cactus Club, he has been a real highlight for the Milwaukee jazz scene recently.

The band Hanami came to the Jazz Gallery in Milwaukee for an hour of warm jazz on a cool and dark night not much suited to a cherry blossom viewing party. Inside the venue, however, there was plenty of sunlight and color.

   

I think the promotional material for their latest album describes their background quite well:

"When guitarist Andrew Trim and multi-reedist Mai Sugimoto came together in 2011 to raise funds for the victims of Japan’s Tohoku tsunami, it was intended to be a one-off concert. But the concert turned into band “Hanami,” (named for the Japanese custom of experiencing the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms), and the band recorded a debut album (modern jazz takes on traditional Japanese songs), and the wheels were set in motion for something much larger than the initial concept. While Trim and Sugimoto, both of whom lived in Japan as children, were reluctant to record many more Japanese songs for fear of being branded a cover band, dreams of that country still swim through this latest album, which is all originals except for a cover of the 1901 song “Kojo no Tsuki,” or “The Moon over the Ruined Castle."

   

  

Buy their latest album here.

Recording information:

HANAMI

2024-03-17

Milwaukee, WI at the Jazz Gallery

Andrew Trim: guitar

Mai Sugimoto: alto sax

Jason Stein: bass clarinet

Charles Rumback: drums

Setlist:

01 Hanaikada (7:38)

02 Haru no Umi (15:13)

03 Shira Ito No Taki (9:27)

04 Miyagete Goran Yoru No Hoshi Wo (8:03)

05 The Only Way to Float Free (7:27)

06 Cloud’s Theme (Final Fantasy VII) (9:29)

07 Donmai! (12:13)

Total time = 69:30

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in NOS in front row

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with explicit artist permission by Richard Hayes

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (367 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (117 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible