“The Bay area drum legend works it out here with a rotating cast of bass and piano players giving this set three different flavors as it puts differing trios in the spotlight. A teacher of the year multiple award winner, he doesn’t play like a cat whose day job subsidizes his art. This drummer knows how to give everyone some and anyone whose ever been down with jazz piano trios has a cake with whipped crème and a cherry on top here. Well done.
–Chris Spector, Midwest Record Review (Reunion Trios)
“Paul Yonemura returns to recording with three trios, seven new compositions, and inventive re-imaginings of three standards, all of which spring from a deep reverence for the Bill Evans tradition. Like all the most compelling jazz recordings, Reunion Trios is intimate, expressive, uplifting, and soul-restoring.”
–Ken Borgers, JazzKnob.org (Reunion Trios)
“An active drummer in San Francisco Bay Area circles, Paul Yonemura actually works here with three different groups — all trios, with different players in every trio. Of the ten selections, three are standards: “Stella By Starlight,” “There Is No Greater Love” and Johnny Carisi’s “Israel.” Six tunes represent formidable works by various trio members, and there’s one hit from the pop world called “Fire And Rain.” Space and sanity doesn’t allow us to cover every name from all three trios. But for the record, the three pianists are Rick Helzer, Frank Martin and Michael Wolff. All three account very well for themselves in a straight ahead fashion. Although the CD is in Yonemura’s name, the drummer keeps it all solid with no over-the-top bravado. Perhaps my favorite is the Carisi classic “Israel,” which features Wolff at the piano. This is the kind of real deal piano jazz that you’d love in a club setting. Kudos to Yonemura. He knew just what he wanted. And he got it!”
–George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon Web Page
“Excellent Album I have been listening to Reunion Trios for a couple of weeks, now on my commute to work and back. What a wonderful way to spend an hour on the road with first class playing from all. I not only enjoy the musicianship but also the variety in musical offerings. Tasteful writing and playing are evident here for the listener. A lot of thought and work went into this project. I highly recommend this recording!”
–Greg Angeloni, CDBaby
“Folks, this is some absolutely tasty West Coast jazz… Paul’s drums lead a whole host of “guest performers” in ten tunes you won’t soon knock off your playlists! He’s best known in the Bay Area for his assistance to (many) budding musicians… the recording is excellent, and tunes like “Stella By Starlight” take on new life under his drumsmanship. The lively “Seventh Heaven” will keep you listening for every next beat until the end of this fine 7:01 performance. The laid-back & bluesy “Blue Couch” will hold you spellbound… piano is superb on this one, too, with silky-smooth brush work from Paul to keep the mood where it belongs for this kind of tune. It was the pep & punch on “Israel” that made it my personal favorite of all the tunes on this release. Paul & his (various) crews (three different trios, actually) get a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.97 for this fine set of music. Get more information about Paul, as well as sample tracks, at Paul’s website.”
–Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation
“Drummer Paul Yonemura leads a quartet with Rick Condit (sax) Frank Martin (p) and David Dunaway (b). They play eight upbeat contemporary selections starting with "Junior", a crisp swinger written by Condit. They move on through several fresh arrangements of standards notable "Toys", "Elegy", "Cmoll" and the warm "Breadth of Innocence". Dunaway contributes "HMG #1" and they wrap on "First Flight Home" written by the leader to cap a fine session.”
–D. Oscar Groomes, O's Place Jazz Newsletter
“I was one of many who encouraged Paul Yonemura (drummer, composer, bandleader, educator) to re-release his 1985 debut release “First Flight Home”, and I am so glad that he recently did! The album consists of originals by Paul, and also by a couple of other musicians on the album. The album was beautifully re-mastered in 1997 for a limited re-release on CD by the late George Horn. In listening to the new CD, it sounds as though it was recorded yesterday! This is an album that I firmly believe will seamlessly fit the programming of any jazz radio station/program/stream!”
–Dr. Brad Stone, SoulandJazz.com
From the classroom to the bandstand, Paul Yonemura returns
By Andrew Gilbert, Jan. 26, 2017,
Berkeleyside
Drummer Paul Yonemura celebrates the release of his new album “Kindred Spirits” Saturday at the California Jazz Conservatory with pianist Frank Martin, bassist David Dunaway, and saxophonist Rick Condit. Photo by Frank Leonard. Paul Yonemura wants everyone to know that he’s back and raring to play. The Berkeley-raised jazz drummer spent nearly three decades teaching music in East Bay schools, from elementary kids to college students, but since retiring last year he’s diving back into the freelance pool as a drummer for hire.
Despite his hectic teaching schedule Yonemura never completely left the scene, and in recently years he’s released a series of impressive albums featuring some of the finest musicians in the region. He celebrates the release of his new quartet session Kindred Spirits (Girod Records) Saturday at the California Jazz Conservatory.
“I’m just getting back into playing after teaching for 27 years,” says Yonemura, who graduated from Berkeley High in 1969 and spent several productive years on the Los Angeles scene in the early ‘80s. “I’ll go down to 7 Mile House in Brisbane to sit in sometimes, but my career has kind of stalled. Some people think I’m still down in LA. I’m looking to stir a few things up.”
Featuring bassist David Dunaway, pianist Frank Martin, and well-traveled alto saxophonist Rick Condit, Yonemura’s new album Kindred Spirits should start fanning the embers. The quartet plays a fascinating book of material ranging from jazz standards like Herbie Hancock’s “Toys” to melodically charged pieces by veteran players like trumpeter Dennis Dotson and Romanian saxophonist Ion Baciu.