JUNKO ONISHI TRIO — Live At The Village Vanguard (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is a memorable set. When pianist Junko Onishi performs songs from the likes of Charles Mingus ("So Long Eric"), John Lewis ("Concorde"), and Ornette Coleman ("Congeniality"), she interprets each of the tunes as much as possible within the intent and style of its composer. "So Long Eric," although performed by her trio, gives one the impression at times that several horns are soloing together; in addition, polyrhythms are utilized part of the time, Ornette's "Congeniality" has a strong pulse but fairly free improvising, while "Concorde" sounds both distinguished and full of blues feeling, like John Lewis himself. Onishi's exploration of "Blue Skies" uplifts the warhorse through the use of colorful vamps and an altered melody, she takes the slow ballad "Darn That Dream" as a medium-tempo stomp, and her original, "How Long Has This Been Goin' On," is brooding but not downbeat and swings hard without losing its serious nature. There is not a weak selection in the bunch and the interplay between Onishi, bassist Reginald Veal, and drummer Herlin Riley is quite impressive. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    So Long Eric 8:27
Written-By – Charles Mingus
2.    Blue Skies 9:16
Written-By – Irving Berlin
3.    Concorde 6:32
Written-By – John Lewis 
4.    How Long Has This Been Goin' On 10:45
Written-By – Junko Onishi
5.    Darn That Dream 6:31
Written-By – Eddie De Lange, Jimmy Van Heusen
6.    Congeniality 14:02
Written-By – Ornette Coleman
Credits :
Bass – Reginald Veal
Drums – Herlin Riley
Piano – Junko Onishi

JUNKO ONISHI TRIO — Live At The Village Vanguard II (1994) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist :
1.    The House Of Blue Lights 9:19
Written-By – Gigi Gryce
2.    Never Let Me Go 10:27
Written-By – Jay Livingston-Ray Evans
3.    Brilliant Corners 10:24
Written-By – Thelonious Monk
4.    Ringo Oiwake 20:29
Written-By – Fujio Ozawa, Masao Yoneyama
5.    Tea For Two 5:45
Written-By – Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans
Credits :
Bass – Reginald Veal
Drums – Herlin Riley
Piano – Junko Onishi

JUNKO ONISHI TRIO — Cruisin' (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On her debut, pianist Junko Onishi (who is accompanied by bassist Rodney Whitaker and drummer Billy Higgins) shows a great deal of creativity. She builds up her "Eulogia" gradually and colorfully with impressive use of the piano's lower register. When she tackles Ornette Coleman's "Congeniality," Onishi manages to be both free and melodic and the pianist also comes up with something fresh to say on "Caravan." In general her tricky frameworks, self-restraint, use of space and careful attention to dynamics and pacing are impressive and show quite a bit of maturity. Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Eulogia 8:58
Written By – Junko Onishi
2 The Shepherd 6:03
Written By – Duke Ellington
3 Summertime 7:50
Written By – DuBose Heyward, George Gershwin
4 Congeniality 11:15
Written By – Ornette Coleman
5 Melancholia 2:32
Written By – Duke Ellington
6 Caravan 6:21
Written By – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Juan Tizol
7 Roz 7:58
Written By – Rodney Whitaker
8 Switchin' It 3:31
Written By – Junko Onishi
9 Blue Seven 7:09
Written By – Sonny Rollins
Credits:
Bass – Rodney Whitaker
Drums – Billy Higgins
Piano – Junko Onishi