Style: Japanese jazz, jazz fusion
Primary Emotions/Themes: Instrumental reinterpretations of jazz classics with a distinct Japanese flavor
Thoughts: From the opening moments of Take Five I knew something was different about this album. The bamboo percussion was a dead give away that there was a fundamental change in instrumentation here. Then the melody comes in... it's not a saxophone... but a pan flute. What is going on here?
That's no mistake, that's what this entire album is based around. It takes Jazz classics and reinvents them within a Japanese architecture. It took me a minute to realize what's going on here but once I figured it out the album clicked. Now I'm addicted to this.
I think I've spun this thing at least ten times in the last week. I had no idea that this existed as a whole album until now. I'm sure I've heard these songs in the past in passing or in a movie, but never in their proper form like this. This is crazy good.
The main instrument on display here is Mr. Muraoka's flute. It takes the lead role in nearly every song and he has an excellent use of it throughout the album. I love how the flute is used in place of so many established instruments - piano, sax, guitar. They are all seamlessly woven into the magic of the flute.
Ever wonder what a soul filled version of The House of The Rising Sun sounds like with a flute pulling lead duties? How about the pain and fragility of Scarborough Fair with it's slow and lonely melody? It's not just Jazz on this album but songs that are now considered classics in a variety of genres. Muraoka plays them all effortlessly and draws me in on every track.
Bamboo it turns out is a classic in it's own right. This thing has been sampled by multiple DJ's over the years and has been used as a template on how to do jazz and jazz fusion with a shakuhachi - the Japanese long flute - as the lead instrument.
I've told multiple people over the years that if I ever stopped listening to metal, jazz would be the genre to take its place in my life. It's versatility and depth of emotions rival that of my favorite genre - Bamboo is a fine example of why that is. For me this is essential listening.
Written February 2nd 2024
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