Takehiro Honda - Salaam Salaam (1974) [vinyl]

Takehiro Honda's most complex and challenging LP, Salaam Salaam pairs the pianist with bassist Junie Booth and drummer Eric Gravatt to explore the kind of creative reaches typically reserved for larger ensembles. If anything, the record is that much more remarkable for achieving its epic scope from so few core elements. Honda's adherence to austerity contrasts sharply with the bold, multi-dimensional sensibilities that signify the vast majority of post-Coltrane excursions into spiritual expression, yet the sheer soulfulness and abandon of his performance nevertheless vaults Salaam Salaam into the same physical and metaphysical planes. No less vital is the record's unusual warmth and tonal purity, which further underscore the humanity at the root of even its most abstract expressions. ~ by Jason Ankeny, AMG. 

East Wind, EW-7005, 1974
Recorded 16th June, 1974 at Victor Studio, Tokyo, Japan 

Musicians:
Takehiro Honda - Piano
Juni Booth - Bass
Eric Gravatt - Drums 

Tracks:
A1. Minors Only (13:27)
A2. Natural Tranquility (10:31)
B. Salaam Salaam (18:28) 

All Compositions by Takehiro Honda 

Total Time: 42:26 

Credits:
Producer, Management, Liner Photos - Toshinari Koinuma
Supervisor [Album Direction] - Yasohachi Itoh, Yukio Morisaki
Recording & Remixing Engineer - Toshio Kobayashi
Art Direction - Johsuke Kubo
Design [Album] - Mitsuo Hosokawa
Photography [Cover] - Hiroshi Satoh
Photography [Liner] - Yukio Ichikawa
Liner Notes - Shoichi Yui 

"This album I heard again and again when I was a student over 35 years ago. Even if I heard it now, it was a great album! All three songs are good, but the second song Natural Tranquility is great when you listen to it! It's a peace of mind." ~ aquilegia, Amazon.com. [Translated from Japanese] 

Natural Tranquility