Selim Slive Elementz “Resurrection” (T5Jazz Inc. 2017)

セリム・スライヴ・エレメンツ『Resurrection (復活)』

Yusuke Hirado平戸 祐介  - keyboards, musical director
Motoharu元晴  - saxophone
Takeshi Kurihara栗原 健 - saxophone
Yoshihito P Koizumi小泉P克人 - electric bass
Tsuyoshi Kosugaコスガ ツヨシ  - electric guitar
Shigekazu Otake大竹 重寿  - drums
Hidero Nishioka西岡 ヒデロ  - percussion
Takao Ogawa小川 隆夫 - electric guitar, producer 

Picking up from electric Miles and Weather Report, Selim Slive Elementz is a dynamic group that swings from loose to tight—at just the right moments—always barreling straight ahead. Their release “Resurrection” is a must-have for fans of Japanese jazz, and fans of jazz of any kind. Their release makes it feel it is long past time to get back to the always-improvise, never-improvise genius of those electric groups.

With a laid-back ‘Introduction’ and a powerful, intriguing “Strange Vibes,” the band really starts cooking on “Call It Whatever.” The band cranks into high gear with tasty solos over a driving Pastorius-like bass line. A layer of funky guitar and tight, bright percussion sets a never-stop groove while the saxes wail like triumphant banshees before settling down into serious statements.

The next tune, “Dark, Dark, Dark” lurches deeper into stop-start, off-beat rhythms with calm elegance. The electric piano and cymbals keep the song open and fluid, chilling each intensely explored solo and passing it to the next person like a shared smoke.“Double Image” is a punchy, upbeat number that rollicks like a street parade. As with the other tunes, the balance of electric sounds on keyboards, guitar and saxes really yanks you up and out of your comfort zone, then drops you back on the couch still bouncing to the bass line. When the drummer comes to an abrupt stop at each end of the section, your body just keeps moving, as if you’ve been launched into air, before dropping back into the groove again.“Reincarnation” slows things down to let the musicians express slower, calmer feelings.

A powerful, heartfelt version of “In a Silent Way” closes out the recording and shows the respect for the past masters, while insisting that the territory opened up in the past is still ready and waiting for exploration. The electric fusion sound of their playing feels retro, but a much-needed retro, as if electric was how jazz has always been played. This is a stellar first recording by this band, whose members are busy in many other groups, but let’s hope T5 Jazz will be putting them back into the studio to explore the same great sound again soon.

(January 19, 2019)

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