Hatsune Hirakura - The Silent Mask

2026

The CD "The Silent Mask" by Hatsune Hirakura presents the pianist’s fourth album and brings together nine pieces, including the five-part “The Silent Mask Suite,” which forms the core of the program. Released on F.Tone, the production moves between composed passages and improvisational freedom and thematically explores various facets of interpersonal relationships.

Musically, Hatsune Hirakura combines delicate piano work with a rhythmically sensitive trio lineup; Takashi Sugawa on bass and Umi Ogimi on drums provide the foundation, joined on the suite by guest musicians Tomonao Hara (trumpet) and Riko Sasaki (alto saxophone). The arrangements shift between quiet, introspective moments and dynamically charged episodes, allowing melodic clarity and textural density to complement each other.

Hatsune Hirakura brings her training and experience to the compositions; after periods of study in Boston and positions at renowned institutions, her work is shaped by a modern approach to jazz that links tradition with a highly personal sense of expression. Concert announcements and information on the album performance underline the focused, live-oriented character of this work.