Ujig: Ujigama

Thankfully, something kept calling me back to Ujigama, an album that slowly unveils its charms upon repeated listens. The use of acoustic piano throughout is a breath of fresh air and adds to the jazzy vibe. The music has an atmospheric, dreamy quality at times, and suddenly a killer guitar or piano solo appears, and you are blown away. Using a standup bass is unique at least for the music I listen to, but I think that also helped Ujig stand out to me, as there was just something a bit different happening here.

This would appeal to fans of jazz, fusion, and progressive rock, as it contains elements of each. Guitarist Marco Leo unleashes terrific legato runs on the opening “Ehiku� and he shines throughout. I often hear a Steve Hackett quality to his playing during the more cinematic moments, and then he’ll fire off a ripping lead. I love the songwriting, the focus on melody and soloing is perfectly blended. Pianist/keyboardist Edoardo Maggioni is impressive, whether he’s playing bluesy runs like “Mea E Pau�, or the hauntingly beautiful keyboard lines in “Odota�. This is also where Leo really hits me with that Hackett comparison. That opening piano for “Tano� really sets the mood, as the Trumpet of guest Fabrizio Bosso adds a nice tonal variation, and I love what the guitar and piano are playing underneath his solo.

All four members are credited with the writing, and the album is very well produced. If you’re thinking about streaming, I would urge you to buy the CD instead, it contains the bonus track “Attimi� which might be my favorite on the album; they really stretch themselves on this one. This honestly has gotten better with each listen, and what I thought was maybe a bit too laid back now sounds like the perfect segue for the heavier sections. Don’t sleep on this one!

Track List:
1. Ehiku
2. Mea E Pau
3. Odota
4. Pokemon Shock
5. Pohjoinen (feat. Bow Tie Orchestra)
6. Tanjo (feat. Fabrizio Bosso)
7. Yugen
8. Gnawa
9. Bonus Track: Attimi

Added: March 9th 2025
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Related Link: Listen on YouTube
Hits: 211
Language: english

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