Yuko Shigeno - Bridging Old and New

2026

"Bridging Old And New" (温故知新) is a highly acclaimed studio album by the Japanese jazz vocalist and pianist Yuko Shigeno, released on April 17, 2026. Issued via the Pastel Drop Label, the album marks Shigeno's return after a six-year recording hiatus. The Japanese subtitle, Onkochishin, is a traditional idiom that translates to "learning from the past to discover the new," perfectly encapsulating the theme of the release.

The project functions as a musical bridge across different generations of global pop and jazz hits. Arranged entirely by Shigeno herself, the record deliberately flips traditional styling conventions upside down:

Modernising Classic Hits: Vintage Western standards and mid-century pop songs are re-imagined with ultra-modern production flourishes. For instance, Rosemary Clooney's 1951 classic "Come On to My House" is reinvented using a fast-paced drum-and-bass rhythm, while Tony Renis's "Quando Quando Quando" is re-stylized into a vibrant samba.

Classicising Modern Hits: Conversely, contemporary chart-toppers from global superstars like Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars are stripped back and given elegant, traditional jazz arrangements.