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Hear the First Track From Miho Hazama's Ambitious New Album, 'Imaginary Visions'

Dave Stapleton

Two years ago, Miho Hazama was in the midst of a rocketlike ascent as a composer and arranger when she received an invitation that almost felt too good to be true.

The Danish Radio Big Band, one of the premier jazz institutions in Europe, had asked Hazama to become its chief conductor — following in the footsteps of one of her mentors, Jim McNeely, and Bob Brookmeyer before him. Based on her sterling work with m_unit, her large ensemble, and accolades including the Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize, the DRBB thought she’d be an inspiring pick for the job.

For her part, Hazama tripped over the news: “I misunderstood what the artistic director said and thought he was going to invite someone else from NYC, so I said ‘Cool’ ― then a bit after, I had to interrupt his words and say ‘...What? Do you mean to invite... ME?!?!?’” That comic double take inspired the title of a dynamic new composition for the DRBB, which premieres at WBGO.

“I Said Cool, You Said…What?” strikes a distinctly modern tone, shifting from a coy, halting fanfare into a driving groove in 13/8 meter. Nicolai Schultz plays the first solo on flute, followed by Henrik Gunde's cascading piano interlude; the ecstatic guitar solo is the work of Per Gade.

“I would describe how this piece starts as ‘Weird and funny beginning,’” Hazama says, referring not only to its back story but also the musical effect she sought to create.

“The first half of the composition is filled up with non-tonic-harmonies,” she adds, “to represent my (not only me, but the DRBB’s) feeling of ‘What is going to be like working together..?’ with excitement and a bit of nervous/questioning feeling.”

Judging by the surefooted result on the track — the first single and opening cut from Imaginary Visions, which Edition Records will release later this year — Hazama and her Danish colleagues had no problem finding common ground. That’s a testament to their mutual commitment to musical excellence, and also, at least on some level, a simple matter of human connection. The DRBB went out of its way to make its new conductor feel welcome, even greeting her at the airport with a New Orleans-style arrangement of “Willkommen,” from Cabaret. Video of that moment is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face, just as the surprise brought one to Hazama’s.

The Welcome // Danish Radio Big Band & Miho Hazama

Imaginary Visions will be released later this year on Edition; sign up herefor preorder.

A veteran jazz critic and award-winning author, and a regular contributor to NPR Music.