Chōwa – In Harmony by Rani Singam and Akira Ishii

The spirit of Chōwa is a Japanese concept that represents harmonious partnerships. It encapsulates the musical pairing of vocalist Rani Singam, known as Singapore’s first lady of jazz, and one of Japan’s foremost jazz pianists, Akira Ishii.

The two first performed together in Tokyo in 2018, and what Rani found amazing was how they could communicate and express themselves through the music in spite of the differences in their languages—a testimony to the universality of jazz and its ability to break down diverse differences in culture and language. She found an inexplicable synergy with Akira Ishii’s sensitive and lyrical accompaniment.

Fuelled by their mutual love for jazz and pop standards, Rani Singam and Akira Ishii perform two evenings of intimate piano and voice duets. This marks Ishii’s Singapore debut and the furthering of a dynamic musical partnership in the true spirit of Chōwa.