Saigenji "Music Eater" (EMI 2006)

Saigenji – Vocals, Guitar
Many, many others    

Not jazz, not Brazilian, not Latin not singer-songwriter, but also wonderfully all of those, Saigenji is very much his own marvelous creation. He is Brazilian, Latin, jazz and an excellent songwriter, but he makes you feel like you have never heard all the musical styles before. On his song "Music Junkie," another aspect of the CD title, he runs through a long list of song styles, in words, not in form, that seems to show how broad and extensive his musical eating habits really are and how universal his vision.

Without the self-involvement or affected manner of many singer-songwriters, Saigenji clearly loves a pretty melody. Saigenji writes, sings and plays these melodies on guitar with unadorned sincerity. Always highly rhythmic with lean acoustic arrangements, his melodies really soar over a deep Brazilian fluid motion. Backing support comes from choice musicians, jazz guys, session musicians and friends. Really, though, Saigenji hardly needs any backing. He's a powerhouse band unto himself, with more energy than it seems reasonable for any one person to have.

Everyone will have their favorite songs from these dozen beauties, but, though I'm usually a fast-tempo person, I like his slow ballads best. "Umi no setsuna" (translating something like "the fleeting feel of the ocean") is elegant and transcendent, like one of those peak moments when you understand life just walking along a deserted beach. "Nature Girl" grooves along jazzily at first, but then turns into a heart-felt "stop-right-there" confession of a love song. It's the kind of song you rewind right away, then close your eyes and sway along to again.

The faster songs, just as pretty, take off with rhythmic drive. "Sunrise," which opens the CD, races along with a passion and positive energy. "Tapestry Samba" is a nimble Brazilian number with great horns set across from Saigenji's taut guitar chords. It's the kind of song that brings everyone back onto the dance floor, mixing in carnival drumming and marching forward. On top of the background parade feel, Saigenji's neat vocalic sounds create further intricate rhythms.

The final number, "Echoes," recorded live captures the intensity Saigenji creates at a club or concert. He has that kind of charisma that instantly commands any space. His whoops and spot-on guitar plucking form a call-and-response with the in-the-distance trumpeting and polyrhythmic drumming. He's a high-energy guy from whom music pours out continuously and beautifully.