10 Songs, 10 Artists: An Exciting Journey Through Hiromi’s Sound

Hiromi Uehara

Mitsuru Nishimura

Hiromi Uehara is a truly inspiring pianist and composer, celebrated for her vibrant creativity. Since her debut in 2003, she has gracefully transitioned between solo classical compositions and dynamic fusion. Her career has flourished through genre-defying collaborations, with esteemed jazz musicians like Stanley Clarke and the late Chick Corea, who welcomed her on stage for an impromptu duet when she was just 17. Their ensuing full album together speaks volumes of the profound connections she nurtures through music.

In this soothing episode of Jazz Night in America, Hiromi invites us on a reflective journey through her career, carefully selecting 10 tracks from various bands she has led or participated in—a serene exploration of nearly 25 years of musical expression.

As she shares her thoughts on early milestones, unexpected partnerships, and moments of creative bravery, we gain insight into the evolution of her sound. The episode also features music from her latest endeavor, a quartet she fondly refers to as Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, where she ventures into new musical realms.

Set List:

• “XYZ” from the album Another Mind (2003) – The band: Hiromi’s debut trio, with Mitch Cohn and Dave DiCenso
• “Time Out” from the album Time Control (2007) – The band: Hiromi’s Sonicbloom, featuring Tony Grey, Martin Valihora, and David Fiuczynski
• “Humpty Dumpty” (Chick Corea) from the album Duet (2008) – The band: Chick Corea and Hiromi
• “No Mystery” (Corea) from the album The Stanley Clarke Band (2010) – The band: The Stanley Clarke Band featuring Hiromi
• “Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.8 – Pathetique” (Ludwig van Beethoven) from the album Voice (2011) – The band: The Trio Project featuring Hiromi, Anthony Jackson, and Simon Phillips
• “Move” from the album Move (2012) – The band: The Trio Project
• “Cantina Band” (John Williams) from the album Hiromi & Edmar Castañeda, Live in Montreal (2017) – The band: Edmar Castañeda and Hiromi
• “Spectrum” from the album Spectrum (2019) – The band: solo piano
• “Ribera del Duero” from the album Silver Lining Suite (2021) – The band: The Piano Quintet featuring Hiromi, Wataru Mukai, Meguna Naka, Tatsuo Nishie, and Sohei Birmann
• “Out There: Takin’ Off” from the album Out There (2025) – The band: Hiromi’s Sonicwonder featuring Hadrien Feraud, Gene Coye, and Adam O’Farrill

Credits: Trevor Smith: writer and producer; Sarah Geledi: producer; Christian McBride, host; Ron Scalzo: mastering; Nikki Birch and Mitra Arthur: video producers; Steven A. Williams, executive producer; Suraya Mohamed, executive producer, Hotnchill Music; Keith Jenkins, vice president of visuals and music strategy, Hotnchill.