Akira Tana - Moon Over The World (1993, RE 2004)

Akira Tana's second CD as a leader for the Japanese label Paddlewheel doesn't restrict itself to the same jazz standards and frequently recorded jazz works. Instead, Tana and his bandmates (frequent collaborator Rufus Reid on bass and pianist Ted Lo) rely on a mix of originals, lesser-known gems by talented other jazz musicians, and a trio of Chinese folk songs. Lo's snappy post-bop "Jewel's Eyes" would fit the repertoire of talented composer/pianists like Kenny Barron, Donald Brown, Mulgrew Miller, or James Williams. Tana contributed the tense, somewhat mysterious "Skyline," while Reid's "No Place Like the End of the World" is a lovely ballad, accented by Tana's tasteful brushwork. Horace Silver's "Sweet Stuff" is hardly one of his better-known pieces, so the trio's rendition of his delicate ballad is an obvious highlight. Guitarist Gene Bertoncini wrote "Sofflee," a very intricate reworking of the chord changes to the standard "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise," which showcases the leader's brushwork in some terrific exchanges with Reid. Jaco Pastorious penned "Three Views of a Secret," a subtle but upbeat ballad. Tana's idea to incorporate Chinese folk songs works very well. "Moon Over the World" has a pop sensibility, but the lovely melody and superb musicianship keep it viable. "Condor Man" was once a theme song to a popular kung fu TV show, yet Lo's imaginative samba setting likewise keeps it from falling into predictability. "Reflections of Love" begins as a ballad before suddenly segueing into a wild post-bop arrangement, with Tana's exciting drum solo as its centerpiece. Since the Paddle Wheel edition of this highly recommended CD is somewhat difficult to obtain, most jazz fans will be pleased to learn that Sons of Sound reissued this release in the U.S. in early 2004. ~ Ken Dryden, AMG. 

Sons Of Sound Recorded Music, SSPCD018, 2004
Recorded 15th-16th & 20th March, 1993 direct to two-track
at Red Rock Studios, Saylorsburg, PA and Skyline Studio, New York 

Musicians:
Akira Tana - Drums
Ted Lo - Piano
Rufus Reid - Bass

Tracks:
01. Jewel's Eyes {Ted Lo} (3:49)
02. Moon Over The World {Chinese Folk Song; Arr. Ted Lo} (6:13)
03. Koi-No Vacanse [Vacation Of Love] {Hiroshi Miyagawa} (5:23)
04. Sweet Stuff {Horace Silver} (6:13)
05. Skyline {Akira Tana} (6:18)
06. No Place Is The End Of The World {Orlando Murden, Rufus Reid} (7:05)
07. Sofflee {Gene Bertoncini} (6:29)
08. The Condor Man {Chinese Folk Song; Arr. Ted Lo} (5:13)
09. Three Views Of A Secret {Jaco Pastorius} (6:48)
10. Chinese Fingers {Hiroshi Miyagawa} (5:14)
11. Reflections Of Love {Chinese Folk Song; Arr. Ted Lo} (5:45) 

Total Time: 64:37 

Credits:
Producer [Original Sessions], Liner Notes - Akira Tana
Reissue Producer - Jeff Penney
Assistant Engineer - Drew Coleman, Hiro Ishihara
Engineer, Mastering - A.T. Michael MacDonald [Foothill Digital]
Photography [Cover] - Alice Chen
Originally issued as Asian American Jazz Trio in Japan on Paddle Wheel [KICJ 163]

LINK

Jewel's Eyes

Akira Tana - Secret Agent Men (2002)

Akira Tana and his musicians were definitely out to have some fun making this release, which draws heavily from works written for spy-themed movies and television series. "Secret Agent Man" is given a funky treatment with a slight Latin tinge, showcasing guitarist Rodney Jones, organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, and tenor saxophonist Bob Kenmotsu. The rendition of the "Alfred Hitchcock Theme (March of the Marionettes)" at first seems like it will be low-key, but the brisk arrangement quickly discards Kenmotsu's flute for his blistering tenor in a smoking performance. They even have a bit of fun with the unlikely inclusion of a Sting composition (the normally monotonous "It's Probably Me"), but this version has more spirit and eliminates the mundane lyrics. The band relaxes a bit with a loungy but effective take of "From Russia with Love." The CD concludes with five songs written by the band's members to make up a fictitious soundtrack for a film. A nice added touch is the campy cover photo, with each of the players photographed in standard spy gear (hat, trench coat, and sunglasses), though Smith's huge Afro covered by a turban would likely make it hard for him to tail a subject! ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG. 

Sons Of Sound Recorded Music, SSPCD012, 2002 

Musicians:
Akira Tana - Drums
Robert Kenmotsu - Flute, Soprano & Tenor Saxes
Dr. Lonnie Smith - Organ [Hammond B-3]
Rodney Jones - Guitar
Rufus Reid - Bass
Chuggy Carter - Percussion 

Tracks:
01. Secret Agent Man {Steve Barri, P.F. Sloan, Phil Sloan} (4:07)
02. Mission Impossible {Lalo Schifrin} (4:32)
03. The Guardman {Tadashi Yamauchi} (3:37)
04. In The Heat Of The Night {Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Quincy Jones} (4:54)
05. It's Probably Me {Eric Clapton, Michael Kamen, Sting} (5:52)
06. Alfred Hitchcock Theme {Lynn Murray} (3:49)
07. Charade {Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer} (4:26)
08. From Russia With Love {Lionel Bart} (4:38)
09. When We Are Alone {Robert Kenmotsu} (6:21)
10. Struttin' About {Rufus Reid} (5:52)
11. Song For A Rainbow {Rodney Jones} (6:20)
12. Navarac {Akira Tana} (3:14)
13. Chase Game {Dr. Lonnie Smith} (6:10) 

Total Time: 64:02 

Credits:
Audio Production, Producer - Jeff Penney
Photography - Pierre Dufour
Art Direction - La Torre Productions
Licensed by King Records Co., Ltd Japan

LINK

When We Are Alone {Robert Kenmotsu}

Sumi Tonooka, Rufus Reid, Akira Tana - With An Open Heart (1984) [vinyl]

'With An Open Heart' represents Sumi Tonooka's first exposure on record, and there's going to be excited talk about her upon its release. The tracks that show her off to best advantage are those that catch fire from her fulgurous phrasing - horn-like in its linearity and melodic signification, percussive in its density and spring. "Piano is a percussion instrument," she says, and not surprisingly she lists among her influences a number of pianists of like mind, including Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, Ahmad Jamal, and Nina Simone. But she's also been influenced by horn players. She says "I went through a period of listening to nothing but Dexter Gordon, admiring the way he swings so hard, and without overstatement. The composer Tonooka most admires is Duke Ellington, and writing music often becomes a synesthetic experience for her, as it was for him. Even with jazz suffering from a virtual mass-media blackout, it is easy for new recordings from unfamiliar artists to get lost in the shuffle. But 'With An Open Heart' is one album worth taking a gamble on. A gamble with a sure payoff, for Sumi Tonooka is an artist likely to be with us for years to come. ~ Extract from Liner Notes by Francis Davis. 

Radiant Records, RR5601, 1986
Recorded 8th & 9th August, 1984 at Classic Sound, New York 

Musicians:
Sumi Tonooka - Piano, Solo (#A5)
Rufus Reid - Bass
Akira Tana - Drums 

Tracks:
A1. Subterranean Dream (6:28)
A2. It's About Time (5:34)
A3. Now That I Know (4:13)
A4. Spur Of The Moment (4:01)
A5. Phantom Carousel (2:57)
B1. Sweet And Bitter Suite: Bittersweet (5:28)
B2. Sweet And Bitter Suite: Without You (4:49)
B3. Sweet And Bitter Suite: With An Open Heart (4:01)
B4. How Can This Be (6:29) 

All Compositions by Sumi Tonooka 

Total Time: 44:00

Credits:
Co-producer - Sumi Tonooka
Executive-Producer - Gei Zantzinger
Engineer - David Baker
Art Direction, Layout, Design - Harry Bates
Photography [Front] - Rich Dunoff
Photography [Back] - Corky Lee
Liner Notes - Francis Davis 

Rufus: "What impresses me the most about Sumi is that she knows what she wants to hear, and has taken the time to learn the roots of jazz and has synthesized it with her heritage, which gives her playing and music a different flair.” 

Akira: "The material on this album, composed by sumi reveals her inner strength, soul and beauty. Her playing is a personal statement of the highest order. Sumi Tonooka plays and composes 'with an open heart'.”