Toshihiro Akamatsu “Majestic Colors”
(VEGA Music Entertainment Inc. 2014)
Toshihiro Akamatsu—vibraphone
Hakuei Kim—piano
Hikari Ichihara—trumpet & flugelhorn
Masahiro Sawada—bass
Kunio Oinuma--bass
Taro Koyama—drums
赤松敏弘 “マジェスティック・カラーズ”(ベガ・ミュージックエンタテインメント2014)
赤松敏弘(vib)
ハクエイ・キム(p)
市原ひかり(tp,flh)
澤田将弘(b)
生沼邦夫(b)
小山太郎(ds)
The vibraphone is such a gorgeous sounding instrument, and even more so in the right hands. Toshihiro Akamatsu has the right hands. His style of playing draws on the greats of jazz vibraphone, but has his own, unique sound. In addition, as a leader, he has put together an outstanding band, written great compositions and laid down a thoroughly contemporary approach to jazz.
The opening cut sets the tone, with vibrant (excuse the pun) straight-on cool. Ichihara’s trumpet nestles into the warmth of Akamatsu’s vibraphone. Then, they gradually turn up the heat. At his live shows, Akamatsu really knows how to put together a show, alternating between sizzling hard bop and lush balladry, but he carries that intensity into the studio, too. The cover of “E.S.P.” gets right to work on the hard bop, which fits the vibraphone so perfectly. Akamatsu really rolls on this tune, with great solos and a good reworking of the tune by ripping out the struts in the middle to jam in full modal form. The give and take of Kim’s piano with the vibraphone on “Stella by Starlight” the only other standard, is sumptuous, but never slow.
The six original by Akamatsu are the most fun, though, since they are not only great tunes, but are played with sense and intensity. The last two cuts, added as an “epilogue” are excellent addition, with all the musicians focused and playing together with ensemble perfect. With Kim on piano, they conjure the famed duets of Chick Corea and Gary Burton.
As leader, Akamatsu showcases all the musicians, which is good, since Hakuei Kim and Hikari Ichihara lead their own excellent groups, and have a lot to add to the dialogue with vibes. Akamatsu has over a dozen recordings to his credit, but “Majestic Colors” is one of his most vibrant and compelling.