Bozo “1st”

"1st"

(Body Electric Records) 2003

Kenta Tsugami: Alto Sax, Soparano Sax

Hiroshi Minami: Piano

Hiroaki Mizutani: Bass

Akira Sotoyama: Drums, Percussion     

This fresh work by four of the most astute and hip players in Tokyo straddles the divide between hard bop and free jazz, balancing over both with ingenuity and drive. This quartet is really a showcase for Kenta Tsugami’s sax playing and compositions, but it’s also an ensemble unit. Their interaction has a practiced ease. The two openers "Easy Crunch" and "Asa Kasumi" take a fast, then a slow entry that loosens the group up in both directions. The middle four songs form a "Mouse Soup Suite" that is creative, meditative and restful. The four songs draw their themes from nature, and have a haiku like feeling to them. The phrases fall into short, perceptive musical statements that push at the edges of the song structure. "Two Large Stones" has a melody like a waterfall, while "The Crickets"  feels curiously in sync with the crickets outside my late summer window. But with more complicated swing. "The Thorn Bush" has an incredibly appealing bass line that rolls up and down prickling the other players to deliver their solos. The last two of three songs then open up into free jazz territory. The players give each other room to really move beyond all the structures. The result, though is a final pulling back into coherence and the "the basics" for the last number "The Quintessence." This tune has Tsugami’s sax right up front loud and clear, and gives him a chance to really shine. He doesn’t waste the opportunity and shows his sense of keeping on the forward track. Tsugami has a strong sense of putting together solos and a feeling for pulling it all together. As a leader, he listens. His playing has an unadorned, unaffected directness. He can rip out muscular, impressive solos when he wants to, but has the good sense to let the other players really converge in support of his melodic lines for a more complete sound. This is fine work from all involved and a balanced, appealing work that hopefully will be the "1st" of many.