Record Reviews

INTERPOSE ~ INDIFFERENT MUSEA 4706 (Barcode: 3426300047069) ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2006 - 2007 Released: 2007 2nd album by Japanese Fusion group InterposeFind albums by this artist. Led by guitarist Kenji TanakaFind albums by this artist and featuring beautiful female vocals (in Japanese) by Sayuri ArugaFind albums by this artist, the band fondly reminds me of the Bill BrufordFind albums by this artist’s late 1970s ensemble with Allan HoldsworthFind albums by this artist and Annette PeacockFind albums by this artist (Feels Good To MeFind albums with this title). The band’s bass player DaniFind albums by this artist (his last name is a mystery) is also a member of another great Japanese Fusion band KBBFind albums by this artist. The music, written by Tanaka and Dani, is a splendid display of modern Fusion, with plenty of space for improvisation and interesting rhythm patterns. Performed spotlessly by all members of the band and featuring spectacular guitar solos, this album is heaven to all Fusion fans. As usual the Japanese know to take the best of the European and US musical elements and take them even further as far as virtuosity is concerned. Warmly recommended to all Fusion-heads.

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KBB ~ FOUR CORNER`S SKY MUSEA 4501 (Barcode: 3426300045010) ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003 2nd album by the incredible instrumental Fusion / Prog Japanese group KBBFind albums by this artist. Their sensational debut album created a lot of interest and this new album stands up to the expectations admirably. Virtuoso performances and great tunes all the way through, which means that this group has something to offer in the long run. If you liked the first one - this is a must!

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KBB ~ LIVE 2004 POSEIDON 025 (Barcode: 3426300045980) ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005 3rd album by the phenomenal Japanese Fusion band KBBFind albums by this artist and their first live recording. Fronted by the virtuoso violinist Akihisa TsuboyFind albums by this artist (with Toshimitsu TakahashiFind albums by this artist – keyboards, DaniFind albums by this artist – bass and Shirou SuganoFind albums by this artist – drums) the Fusion quartet continues the path set by Fusion founding fathers such as Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist and Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist in the 1970s. Tsuboy’s virtuosity is beyond discussion and his sense of melody and incredible compositions captured already the hearts of numerous Fusion lovers around the world. The material includes mostly tracks already recorded for their first two studio albums (Lost And FoundFind albums with this title and Four Corner`s SkyFind albums with this title) as well as one new composition, but the expanded treatments offered here (mostly over 10 minutes long) are fresh and revealing, presenting the virtuosity and improvisational skills of all four members of the band. This is Fusion heaven, any way one looks at it, and lovers of the electric violin just can’t afford to pass this incredible music by. An absolute must for Fusion enthusiasts.

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	KBB ~ LOST AND FOUND MUSEA 4363 ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion KBB are a Japanese Prog outfit, playing some of the most interesting music to emerge in that country since years. A mixture of Prog and fusion / jazz inluences with the violin as their lead instrument are enough to turn anybody`s ear. Definitely worth having and waiting for their next release.
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KBB ~ PROOF OF CONCEPT POSEIDON 043 (Barcode: 3426300047229) ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2007 Released: 2007 4th album by the phenomenal Japanese Fusion band KBBFind albums by this artist and their long awaited follow up studio recording. Fronted by the virtuoso violinist Akihisa TsuboyFind albums by this artist (with Toshimitsu TakahashiFind albums by this artist – keyboards, DaniFind albums by this artist – bass and Shirou SuganoFind albums by this artist – drums) the Fusion quartet presents a brilliant set of new compositions (all except one by Tsuboy, with Dani’s first offering as a composer being the exception). The music is very melodic with traces of classical influences, but remains well inside the Fusion genre. The playing is brilliant as ever, virtuosity par excellence all the way. The entire concept is slightly more laid-back than the earlier efforts, with more accent on the melodic and lyrical, but there’s still plenty of Fusion fire to excite even the most skeptical listeners. The tracks are long enough to allow for dramatic melodic development and plenty of space for extended improvisations. All together a splendid album, well worth waiting for and sure not to disappoint the many fans of the band worldwide. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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VILLMOW, MICHAEL / KBB ~ N LIPSTICK 89004 ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion German guitarist and band leader Michael Villmow is well known in the European jazz circles. This is an excellent fusion album with his KBB (Koln Big Band - not to be confused with the Japanese fusion group KBB!), which is a rather unusual approach to fusion involving an entire Big Band. Excellent compositions and many interesting solos, all this with the powerful sound of the Big Band.

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ZAO ~ IN TOKYO MUSEA 4699 (Barcode: 3426300046994) ~ FRANCE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2004 Released: 2007 The legendary French band ZaoFind albums by this artist, formed in 1973 by two ex-MagmaFind albums by this artist members François CahenFind albums by this artist and Yochk`o SefferFind albums by this artist was probably the best and most interesting musical phenomenon on the scene at the time. The band reformed for a short period of time in 1994 to record one album (AkhenatonFind albums with this title) and then again a decade later for a Japanese tour, where this album was recorded live. To make things even more interesting, the Japanese violinist and member of KBBFind albums by this artist, Akihisa TsuboyFind albums by this artist, joined the group to complete the sextet (the original group included the legendary French violinist Didier LockwoodFind albums by this artist). The music is everything one would expect from Zao – breathtakingly beautiful Avant-Garde with strong jazz backbone. The new vocalist fills the difficult role with flying colors and all the musicians perform superbly. The material is a great mixture of older material (newly arranged) and new pieces, all composed by Cahen and Seffer. The lengthy pieces allow for extensive solos by all musicians and the album has a wonderful natural flow to it. In short, people who love improvised modern adventurous music will love this immensely. Essential!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend