rostasi

Well, only think of Chase in the "70's big band" manner,
because this is more complex than them. The writing
(two side-long suites) is well done, but maybe think of
a more sinister version of Nucleus - or maybe Zao or
Yochk'o Seffer Neffesh Music. The fact that it draws
on ancient Japanese stories and various mythologies
isn't that important here, if you're just going for the
sound, but it tends to add some to its "atmosphere."
Not even near "smooth jazz." Less melodic than If,
but as adventurous. Think Centipede's Septober Energy too.

Marie Monday

I would be surprised if anyone classified it as smooth jazz, I don't like that stuff either. Do you know where I can find info on those Japanese stories? I don't know much about the background of the album and that sounds really interesting

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rostasi

I'm not that big on myths and folklore and so the Japanese lit that I know is
more philosophical (with their own stories) instead, but the two suites were
written by, first, the guitarist and, the second, by a soundtrack composer and
they are approaching these legendary stories musically in a darker than usual
manner. Kinda like taking the German Brothers Grimm stories and emphasizing
their dark aspects more than is usually done. Clearly, the last suite is inspired
by the Kurozuka legend (its title) and the first suite dips into other aspects of
Japanese myths (the Kappa in the first part, "the swamp of the ghosts",
trips into the silent night, sad songs, etc.), but other than those, you may have
to ask a Japanese friend for more detail. Again, it is nowhere near smooth jazz.

Marie Monday

thanks man, that's cool

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rubber soul

I don't know Japanese so I'm not going to mention the titles either. Anyway, I think Rostasi has the 60's big band influence dead on. With the first bars of the opening track I thought I was watching the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. I do get a vibe on some of the 60's jazz soundtracks, like early Quincy Jones for example.

Basically, the first six tracks sounds like something I would have heard on 60's or 70's television. Not bad, but nothing I'd donate Troll's left arm to hear. Does Miyama do soundtracks, Marie? I see Troll's point on the final track being overlong, but if you're just listening to something out of the blue, it really isn't that bad.

Anyway, not bad. I do like some of the horn work and it is certainly listenable, but I guess in the end analysis, when it come to jazz, I'm more of a Coltrane or Mingus person.

Rubber Soul rating: 6/10 (The word has spoken )

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Marie Monday

No idea if Miyama makes/made(?) soundtracks but I see what you mean

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rostasi

Miyama pretty much did other people's soundtracks,
because that's what you kinda did back in those days
if you had a regularly working large ensemble. Easy Rider being one.
Doc Severinsen would never have written charts like this tho.

rostasi

Also, Miyama's band was sampled by Cut Chemist on this short track by Jurassic 5.

rostasi

Again...

The titles, Romanized, below:

Album: Tsuchi No Ne (Sound of The Earth)

1. Kappa Torai No Chi
2. Mokuhi No Yotabi
3. Bourei No Numa
4. Ougi Denjushiki
5. Neneko no Nakibushi
6. Senshou Iwai Utae Shinkokka
7. Kurozuka

The players:

Alto Saxophone – Hidefumi Toki
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Kazumi Oguro
Baritone Saxophone – Shigeru Hirano
Drums – Isao Yomoda
Electric Bass – Masaaki Ito
Electric Guitar – Kozaburo Yamaki
Leader, Conductor – Toshiyuki Miyama
Piano, Electric Piano – Kiyoshi Takano
Tenor Saxophone – Mamoru Mori, Seiji Inoue
Trombone – Masamichi Uetaka, Seiichi Tokura, Takahide Uchida, Teruhiko Kataoka
Trumpet – Kazumi Takeda, Shuji Atsuta, Shin Kazuhara, Yoshikazu Kishi

SGR

Even basic stuff like Kind of Blue or Time Out doesn't do anything for ya?