Cosmic!
bordersj2 | Boston | 02/28/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The world of musicians is so much smaller than I thought it was, and Hajime Yoshizawa is proof of it. If you've heard music by the likes of Cosmic Village, Chari-Chari, Kyoto Jazz Massive or Sleepwalker to name a few, there's a big chance that you've been exposed to Hajime's extraordinary musical influence. I first really got into Hajime's music without really knowing it when I was a KJM fan and dug the Bossa Tres... Jazz series. But after hearing one of his biggest hits a few years ago... a track titled "I am with You", which featured Nina Miranda on vocals, I knew I had to check out what Hajime was up to when this came out last year. Just thinking about that song... with Patrick Forge, it becomes even more evident of just how small the musical world is.
This is a terrific, experimental album. Hajime really didn't bind himself by musical traditions or customs. When you check out his music or projects he's been a part of you can tell he has his own vision and his piano playing is always, without question, first rate. When this cd starts out with "Crescent Moon", a quick but dreamy intro with gliding keys, gentle horn and a beat, you know you're going on a musical journey. That's followed up with "Keep it Movin'", a quick tempo track featuring the soulful voice of Face, who's done loads of work with Restless Soul (Phil Asher). That's followed up with another up-beat track, "Rise me Up", before "Beyond the Sunshine" comes on. I picked "Beyond the Sunshine" up on 12" in the late summer and it sort of reserves a charm in that format - Nina Miranda is on vocals again but I don't know - her singing just doesn't seem quite as strong as other releases. "Verao No Ar" follows, sung in Portuguese by Catia. Great beat, great instrumentation and vibe. Then you've got a quick cut by soul lady Vanessa Freeman in "Sweet Way". Other stand-out tracks were "Waltz for Jason", the tracks with Amadori (in Kanji), and the final cut with Bird. The first Amadori song is actually really cool... great energy!
I really liked this album but must admit, if you're trying to get this in the USA, it's tough not to be put-off by the enormous import price... it won't be much cheaper in other domestic sites. After hearing "Verao no ar" on vinyle with a few others it was a no-brainer pick-up. THat isn't to say that all the cuts were without fault - I didn't really fall for a few tracks towards the end and there were a few errors in the cd, like the spelling of Nina's name (or maybe it actually is a different woman named Nina Milanda which is why she sounds just a little bit different!) But the errors have no bearing on the actual music being played, which is quite good. If you do like this, be sure to check out work by Sleep Walker, Kyoto Jazz Massive, the Bossa Mundo series and the West London scene with Bugz in the Attic, Phil Asher, Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge to name a few.
Oh yeah... the linear notes are also in Kanji."
