The Most “Force” (ewe) 2002

Seiji Tada--alto and soprano saxophone
Masahiko Osaka--drums
Shin Kamimura--bass
Akira Ishii--piano
    

The Most has become one of the most solid, hard-working and enjoyable groups in town. They are steeped in bop and modern jazz, but have developed a distinctive blend of their own. They all contribute compositions of high quality and as a quartet they swing hard without getting stuck in any particular tempo or rhythm. The ballads and mid-tempo numbers work just as well as the fast ones. The CD opener “The Most Dangerous Zone” has a strong opening line that leans back into light nuances and a toe-tapping forward drive. “Dark Side of the Force” shows a calm lyrical approach that lets the quartet work well together. The quartet members leave space for each other to be filled by the others. This creates a genuine dialogue even when one member, such as bassist Kamimura, on his composition, “TONE”, talks more than the others. “Dec. 2” is an exceptionally pretty melody with a calm, laid-back treatment that gives Tada room to play with lyrical vibrato and Osaka room to add rhythmic textures with meditative calm.  “Everything I Know” works this same magic. While “Everything” and “Orpheus” have an upbeat modal feel that bounces along, they never go too fast. These two numbers also maintain the same pensive mood as the to the slower numbers. They work steadily at expressing ideas, forming melodic lines, and creating interaction within the quartet. Overall, the CD has a maturity and confidence that directs its energy a little differently than their other recordings. The CD affects the listener with weight more than speed. That doesn’t mean that their expression is overly well-worked and lacking spontaneity. The quartet still follows interesting directions and explores the compositions, only they do it with balance and savvy. The CD is also extremely well-recorded with sound quality crisp and clear (especially on HDCD equipment). The mix reflects their level of interaction, with no one member standing out to the exclusion of the others. It’s a real meeting of equals. Along with the playing and composing, that group dynamic makes for an excellent recording.