UoU “take the 7 Train” (Tippin’ Records 2013)

Takuji Yamada -- saxophones, bass clarinet
Daisuke Abe – guitar
Yoko Komori -- piano
Kuriko Tsugawa -- bass
Yoshifumi Nihonmatsu -- drums

UoU is a quintet of Japanese musicians who studied jazz in the States. They learned a lot more than technique and tradition, though! Their second release, “Take the 7 Train,” is a focused set of almost all originals that brings together Japanese sensibilities and American drive in the best possible way.

UoU’s members seem like a new generation of Japanese jazz musicians, un-awed by jazz America, but respectful of the history. They slip into that history without losing a sense of where they came from. The tone of the CD balances pride and humility, but mostly it just gets down and gets to work.

The sound of UoU has more than a little of Pat Metheny’s early, unruffled tone but also has plenty of Gary Burton’s bright, fluid positivity. Abe’s guitar and Yamada’s sax and clarinet do most of the rising above, but they are grounded well by the rhythm section. This is a band, in other words, with balance and interaction. The comfort level they have with each other converts easily to the listener. They just feel good. Their textures are gorgeous, densely woven and constantly moving.

At points, their sound may veer too smoothly for some listeners, but that’s hardly a fault. This is a quintet that works with beauty, without getting hung op on proving their ‘out’ chops by roughing up a very pretty melody, of which there are exactly eleven out of eleven songs. Unlike many young groups, their collective voice is so confident, so confirmed, they do not need to throw out a grab bag of free jazz, hard bop, vocals or whatever else just to drag in diverse listeners.

UoU has created a unique sound all their own that is as pleasing and potent on the Japanese inspired songs like “Hanabi” (Japanese for “fireworks”) as the title song, “Take the 7 Train,” a nice nod to the Billy Strayhorn/Duke Ellington classic, “Take the ‘A’ Train,’ (the 7 runs from Queens to Manhattan). Each of the other tunes, even the cover of “Moon River,” has its own character.

The take on each tune feels loose and meandering at the right times, focused and driving at others. The songs, at least one from all the members, are sophisticated, modal, and set up for endless jamming. They are not a band producing set songs for a CD, but songs to be played live, to be responded to in the moment, like the best jazz. Some bands, after you listen to their recording, you just know you’re going to buy all their releases from now on. UoU is one of those bands.

August 17, 2013