Learning To Listen
This Softerfields session centres on Ryo Fukui, a pianist whose work quietly reshaped how many people understand jazz, listening, and success. Fukui did not begin as a prodigy, nor did he follow a conventional musical path. He started playing piano in his early twenties, largely self-taught, learning by listening closely to records and practicing alone for long hours.

In post-war Japan, American jazz records played a crucial role. Jazz arrived through radio, imported vinyl, and U.S. military bases, becoming both a cultural influence and an informal education. For musicians like Fukui, American records were teachers.

The session begins with a record Fukui deeply admired. Recorded live at the Village Vanguard, it captures musicians listening as much as they play. This record represents the kind of listening-led approach that shaped Fukui’s understanding of jazz.

From there, the session moves into on of Fukui’s debut records. By this time, he was based in Sapporo, far from Tokyo’s main jazz scene, running a small jazz club called Slowboat with his wife. While the language of American jazz is present, the record does not feel like imitation. It feels personal. Fukui’s voice emerged through patience and sustained attention.

For many years, his work remained largely unknown outside Japan. He stayed rooted in one city, played regularly, nurtured a local scene, and lived close to his music. Recognition came much later, through rediscovery, reissues, and people listening closely again.

Today, Ryo Fukui matters because his work reminds us that depth does not require speed. His music continues to resonate because it rewards attention. This session is an invitation to experience that. To sit, listen closely, and understand why his work still feels alive.