Scene Of Jazz - Rain Portraits

2026

"Rain Portraits" by Scene of Jazz has been released on CD on the D‑Musica label (DNCD‑41) and marks a new chapter in the group’s work as a trio. The recording brings together ten pieces on the theme of rain and presents Scene of Jazz as an organic piano trio with Akira Ishii on piano, Masahiko Osaka on drums, and Daiki Yasukagawa on bass; the album fits into the band’s ongoing discography and showcases their focused aesthetic.

The repertoire ranges from jazz standards such as "Come Rain or Come Shine" and "September in the Rain" through contemporary compositions like Ryuichi Sakamoto’s "Rain" to an arrangement of Chopin’s Prelude Op. 28 No. 15, thus deliberately softening conventional genre boundaries. In the arrangements, melodic transformation takes center stage: sensitively shaped piano lines meet nuanced rhythmic work and spacious bass playing that leaves room for subtle dynamics and conversational interplay.

Recorded at Studio Happiness and mixed and mastered by Eiji Hirano, the production stands out for its clarity and its intimate, natural instrumental sound; Ryota Murahama served as recording engineer, while Daiki Yasukagawa handled executive production. The result is a carefully arranged yet restrained album that clearly brings out Scene of Jazz’s characteristic blend of melodic warmth and textural restraint.