Katsunori Fukay Banda Caliente Grande
35th Big Band Festival April 30, 2016
Someday, Shinjuku
Katsunori Fukay 深井克則—piano
Masanori Suzuki 鈴木正則—trumpet
Atsushi Ozawa 小澤篤士—trumpet
Kosuke Nakayama中山浩佑—trumpet
Mitsukuni Kohata木幡光邦—trumpet
Haruki Sato佐藤春樹—trombone
Hiroaki Kono河野広明—trombone
Yusuke Enomoto榎本裕介—trombone
Masaki Domoto堂本雅樹—bass trombone
Ryoichi Yamaki八巻綾一—alto saxophone
Toshimichi Imao今尾敏道—alto saxophone
Tatsuya Sato佐藤達哉—tenor saxophone
Kei Suzuki 鈴木圭—tenor saxophone
Kensuke Miyaki宮木謙介—baritone saxophone
Getao Takahashi高橋ゲタ夫—bass
Takashi Saito斎藤たかし—drums
Michiaki Tanaka田中倫明—percussion
Banda Caliente Grande is a real pleasure of a big band, whether one dances or not. Even though there were more big band lovers than dancers, that didn’t mean things were not dance-rhythm ready. They were rhythmic and then some! Leader and pianist Fukay had the audience moving the whole time. The musicians played powerfully, the arrangements were intriguing and band dug into sleek, cool Latin rhythms with a sense of salsa-like fun. This band is one of the oldest Latin ensembles in Tokyo, and one of the very best.
A great arrangement of “Tin Tin Deo” cracked open the first set, with Suzuki’s trumpet soaring on solos and a range of differing rhythms that the band switched through with confidence and passion. “Song for K” was sweet and mellow with great solos, especially from Sato on tenor sax. He took all the solos on that tune, each one more fluid and heartfelt than the last. An excellent version of Michel Camilo’s “From Within” closed out the first set with a medley of complex clave rhythms that made the nimble-fingered solos really fly.
The band’s attention to detail made Fukay arrangements come alive. This is a band where the complexity is never hidden, and doesn’t need to be. The shifts of texture, quick leaps of rhythm, and tight back-and-forth between soloist and band were layered, nuanced and densely interconnected. On “Wave,” the complexity felt sleek, cool and more Latin than Brazilian, but it was far from standard versions of the well-known tune. It really sank in deep.
Fukay is also a strong leader. All the musicians got solo time, and they all had interesting things to say. To cool things down, Takahashi on bass and vocals delivered an amusing, engaging story over the band’s backing, which had the crowd mesmerized. The final set was especially great on an arrangement of “Caravan.” The soloists, and the entire band, merged their jazz strengths with their Latin music chops. Though most Latin music grabs you with the rhythm, this band, also grabs you with interesting musical textures and seemingly endless energy. Too bad there are not more Latin big bands like this, but fortunately Fukay shows no sign of slowing down.