Son Reinas

Benten 55, Nakano
September 17, 2005

Izumi Muramatsu—vocal
Akiko Yamada—piano
Saori Sakamoto--bass
Akiko Oki—conga
Tomoko Hoshino—bongo
Misato Kojima—timbales
Miki Shichijo—trumpet
Kaoru Sumida--trumpet
Hiroko Uehara—sax
Yukari Kawamura—trombone

I wanted to write about Son Reinas without mentioning their appearance, but it's simply impossible. So I'll write that first, then get on to the music. This 10-piece all-female salsa orchestra is stunningly gorgeous and jaw-droppingly sexy, enhanced further by their constant motion and skimpy costumes. Without mincing words, for everyone in the standing (or rather dancing) room only club, they were a feast for the eyes.

But if was just that, they would not be such an overpowering presence for the entire evening. Close your eyes, and what you hear is serious, intense salsa. Son Reinas is fluent in Latin rhythms, tight in the hard-soloing horn section, and lovely in vocals. They have not only practiced together with unfailing group interaction, but they really loosen up and blast away on a broad range of merengue, bolero and cha-cha-cha , both standards and their own originals and arrangements.

Lead vocalist Izumi Muramatsu holds center stage. Her vocals are lush, velvety and sultry. The horn section adds their own backing, but Muramatsu really delivers, conveying energy and passion on every song. Except maybe for the band's great version of the TV animation show Sazae-san theme song, which is so rich in humor it offers a hilarious break in the intensity. The rhythm section works together with ease, knowing intuitively right where the open places are and filling them with superb rhythmic sense. Yamada on piano glues it all together with neat, nimble Latin keyboard.

The horn section, too, has their interaction down to perfection. They aren't afraid to come off the stage to jam front and center without miking, with interesting, heartfelt solos on every tune. Like a true collective, everyone gets a chance to show their soloing power, and each time they do, it only brings the audience closer. They know how to sink deep into the music with sincerity and purpose.

Having just returned from an overseas tour, with a video projected behind the stage to prove it, they may be another Japanese band to receive more recognition overseas first. Son Reinas definitely knows how to put on a show, but they also know that dancing, funny inter-song chat, and sexiness only go so far.
Their music is powerful and sophisticated enough to carry all the showiness right along with it. Viva Son Reinas!