N'sawa-Saraca

The second album from a really great group – the brainchild of keyboardist Yasushi Karasawa, who has a way of putting together his sounds that's very unique!

There's a freshness here that reminds us of the excitement we first felt when falling in love with Japanese groups back in the 90s – not that Yasushi Karasawa is in the same territory as Nobukazu Takemura or Jazztronik, but his music has this way of refining itself down from its influences – really separating itself with its execution – still jazz, but maybe more sharply defined from the pack!

One of the unusual elements in the album is the presence of Raphael Sebbag from UFO – who doesn't really sing, but provides a bit of voice from time to time – and the rhythms also separate the group from the usual jazz combo, as they're spacious and blocky – not trying for a groove at all, but somehow finding a gentle one in the space between the notes. Karsawa's keys are great – nice and warm, and balanced with raspy tenor from Osdamu Inoue – plus bass from Yoshimasa Otsuka and drums from Yosuke Hase

PERSONNEL:

• Yasushi Karasawa (piano, rhodes, synth)
• Osamu Inoue (tenor sax)
• Yosuke Hase (drums)
• Yoshimasa Otsuka (bass)

Recorded at orpheus, Tokyo, Japan, February, 16 & 17, 2019

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. Another Town
• A2. Msemo
• A3. Cross point
• A4. Dualbutterfly

• SIDE B
• B1. Cave
• B2. spring Water
• B3. VT-VT
• B4. Shining Echo