Ryo Fukui A Letter From Slowboat

Ryo Fukui, whose early works "Scenery" and "Mellow Dream" have been highly acclaimed and are now well-known among jazz listeners worldwide, released "A Letter From Slowboat" in 2015—his first leader album in 16 years. The recording took place at his home venue, the live jazz house Slowboat, alongside two promising young musicians whose talent Fukui himself recognized.

From the lyrical depth of "Sonora" to the poetic nuance in "Stella By Starlight," and the vibrant energy of "Speak Low," Fukui's touch becomes more powerful, his expression more profound, and his artistry richer than ever. Driven by his lifelong mantra, "Better today than yesterday, and better tomorrow than today," Fukui devoted 40 years to the piano, and this album vividly captures the culmination of those four decades of dedication.

Even setting aside the weight of this being his final work, this album stands as a pure masterpiece.