Aquapit “Dance with the Ancients”

(T5 Jazz 2017)

Yuta Kaneko – Hammond B3 organ
Satoshi Yoshida – guitar
Kazuaki Yokoyama - drums

If there’s a more soulful, satisfying band in Tokyo than Aquapit I haven’t heard them yet. Kaneko knows how to keep the groove going in all the tight, swinging groups he puts together and this incarnation of the long-running trio is one of the best. Aquapit’s fourth album dances with the souls of all the ‘ancient’ B3 groove-masters that have come before. As for dancing with “current” musicians, Kaneko can play with everyone (and almost has), but Yoshida and Yokoyama meet him right on the same wavelength.

Kaneko’s originals are well-written and while almost any song can be converted, he’s aimed his own tunes specially at the organ trio format. Each one takes hold and takes off. This release is more mature and sophisticated from the wilder, early releases. It’s not in a hurry, and gets funkier and greasier for laying back into the groove on every cut. Each one makes you want to dance AND to listen.

You also want to meet the inspiration for the deeply grooving “Linda.” Yokoyama’s drumming really pumps it up subtly but funkily, and Kaneko slathers on the accents. Kaneko never overplays, but listen closely and his feet and two hands feel like a trio in themselves. Yokoyama’s drumming is tight and directed and Yoshida adds guitar licks that accent the organ before taking off on his own solos.The choice of “Never Can Say Goodbye” and “I Wish” work perfectly here. The first is back to good, solid soul of early Jackson Five Motown and the second is a take on the Stevie Wonder tune. Both are fun, but “I Wish” especially vibrates as one of the best covers of the well-known tune since the original. On both those tunes, the trio slowly builds the tension, drawing it tighter and tighter, until it explodes and makes you stand up out of your chair and move. Then rewind and listen again.

Interesting start-stop rhythms on Kaneko’s originals like “Coney Island” spice up the CD so there is not the sameness in all the tunes as on even some of the best B3 recordings. Other tunes, like “The Baby Boomers” burn with a low flame and a Latin/bossa rhythm. It’s the one tune, along with a cover of “Monk’s Dream,” that slows down and takes its time, with just as funky results as on the faster tunes. Aquapit has made a must-have recording for fans of B3 trios and anyone who likes soulful, from-the-heart music.

September 7, 2018