YOSUKE YAMASHITA 山下洋輔 — New York Trio featuring Joe Lovano : Kurdish Dance (review)

YOSUKE YAMASHITA 山下洋輔 — New York Trio featuring Joe Lovano : Kurdish Dance album cover Album · 1992 · Avant-Garde Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
snobb
Two decades away from his short-lived stardom of "Mina's Second Day" or "Clay",Japanese pianist Yosuke Yamashita is one of rare country's musician who didn't disappear from big jazz scenes after free jazz revolution in Japan just fade away in late 70s.

With newly formed (in 1988) so-called New York trio (with Americans bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Pheeroan akLaff),Yosuke returned back on European festivals scenes (incl. Montreux in 1993)and appeared regularly at Sweet Basil in New York becoming most popular Japanese jazz pianist in States at that time.

"Kurdish Dance", released in Japan in 1992 and re-released by Antilles in US the year after,is New York trio's best known and in whole best ever work. Differently from his earlier works, Yosuke's material for this trio is mostly pre-written,not fully improvised, and evidences him as great composer(all songs are Yosuke's originals here). Album's opener "Kurdish Dance" is excellent song, true jazz standard.Trio's line-up for this album is improved with addition of tenor Joe Lovano, who steals the show on many compositions.

Big part of album's songs have strong tunes, sometimes based on Oriental or Mediterranean folklore. More important, all compositions are deeply based on post-bop roots,what in combination with catchy melodies and strong control on improvisation builds quite accessible music. Still one doesn't need to be afraid that Yosuke went commercial - known for decades as "Japanese Cecil Taylor" for his techniques,Yamashita demonstrates free and impressive piano soloing almost on every composition.

The main difference from Yamashita's earlier music is here he isn't uncontrolled leader/dictator any more: quartet's main target is collective musicianship producing complex and well-executed compositions with strong improvisational element but totally framed and generally sounding as attractive and easy accessible listening. All four musicians really succeeded in it - the album has been received positively not only by freer jazz fans (and won Jazz Prize of The Year in Japan),same line-up recorded "Dazzling Days" next year(more relaxed and somehow better polished work).

Being quite easy accessible for purchase,"Kurdish Dance" is one great example of best Japanese jazz coming from 90s - time period far not all that well known in Western world.
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