Natsuki Tamura Quartet - "Hada Hada" (Libra Records) 2003

The latest release from Natsuki Tamura’s Quartet is an intense, fascinating cacophony of pleasures. Don’t expect swing, harmony, or pretty melodies, though; instead, be ready for raw energy that escapes predictable musical structures. This eclectic approach is challenging, but rewards the attention it demands. Along with Satoko Fujii on synthesizer, Takayuki Kato on guitar and Takaaki Masuko on drums, the quartet gives Tamura’s trumpeting on his original compositions wild, eclectic support. Tamura’s trumpeting never gets stuck in one place, but roams far and wide in search of novel sounds. The band, too, constantly varies the soundscape, never returning to anything more than a hint of the lead melody, but always finding something more important—cerebral humor and genuine spontaneity.