I would initially think the album Alive would be a clash of cultures. In reality classically trained, Japanese pianist Hiromi Uehara is quite at home as a jazz band leader and composer having worked in the past with Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea and Lenny White. On Alive she teams up with bassist Anthony Jackson and drummer Simon Phillips for their third full collaboration together. The sparks are undeniable as both Jackson and Phillips play off each other and Hiromi with wild abandon. Composer Hiromi weaves her Yamaha CFIII-S grand piano with amazing dexterity, sometimes rubbing against the rhythm but never stepping on it. Tracks such as “Wanderer” and “Seeker” demonstrate the bands versatility, as they effortlessly negotiate time signature changes and shift dynamics.