A relentlessly raging storm of folk music, Latin music, and jazz. A radically original and stimulating piece of classical art created by two masters, Misago Naoteru and Maeda Norio.
The Tokyo Cuban Boys, led by "Maestro Misago" Naoteru, were formed in 1949, a time when the Latin music genre had not yet been established in Japan. They are one of Japan's leading big bands, having produced well over 300 albums to date.
Throughout their long history, the band has established roots in the Latin music field while also actively incorporating music from other genres and eras. Their work, particularly those focusing on traditional Japanese music such as folk songs and ancient folk songs, has been particularly well-received worldwide. This album, "Japanese Classical Art," arranged by master musician Ken Maeda, is a masterpiece that sublimates folk music, Latin music, and jazz into a stimulating sound. The album includes a powerful track, "Sakura Sakura," which captivates the world and alternates between Afro-Cuban jazz and jazz-rock, as well as a lineup of other elaborately designed pieces, including "Kariboshikiri Uta," "Yagi Bushi," "Genroku Hanami Odori," and "Awa Odori." The use of Miyata Kohachiro's shakuhachi and Sawai Tadao's koto is also impressive. This is the kind of exhilarating "Japanese jazz" that will have you saying, "This is it!" [Text by Yusuke Ogawa (UNIVERSOUNDS / DEEP JAZZ REALITY)]
