The Most “much, more, the MOST” (ewe) 2001

Seiji Tada on saxophones, Masahiko Osaka on drums and Norihide Shiota unite their years of experience into a dynamic trio. All three players are regulars in Tokyo’s jazz club scene, with Tada and Osaka both leading their own groups. They have also all recorded and played with many of the best groups in Tokyo. The trio format is enhanced on several of the numbers by Akira Ishii on piano. The approach is unapologetically bop-oriented, with briefly stated melody lines leading right into extended soloing, for which Tada’s ingenuity appears endless. The high energy and spontaneity of their live performances is well captured on this CD.