Every summer Shimokitazawa hosts a really lovely “Light Festival” and they bring in artists who work with light and decorate the city with cool projection mapping, whimsical illuminated rabbits, or a giant suspended illuminated moon. Mixed with the village-y vibe of Shimokita, add is some perfect weather and you have a perfect date night, which is what Tokyo Record Style pal, Yuto and his friend Yuhi were up to, a breezy stroll in the lovely illuminated neighborhood.
For the 2nd time in Vox Pop history, both by Yuto, he pinged me and something to the tune of “Yo! I just saw you went live! I’m nearby, should I stop by and say ‘Hello’?” YES, Yuto, you absolutely should, which he did, dressed pretty fly with a bold neckerchief, pulling it off smoothly and unapologetically. His lovely lovely was as equally styley and as fat would have it, they were just coming from a pitstop at Disk Union. I asked Yuto what he scored and he produced what I later found out to be an absolutely killer Chick Corea record, “Again and Again” … “The Joburg Sessions” on which Chick sublimely play Fender Rhodes (on the A-side, which is more groove-driven and “standard”(?), the B-Side however is super spacey and atmospheric, with pitch-bending, horn-emulating synths. I’ve put this one on a few times since I met up with Yuto, a testament of THE HUMAN ALGORITHM and it just gets groovier AND spacier with each listen. I’m particularly fond of the A-Side for once owning my own Fender Rhodes, a good 10 years before it found a new home with Brian Hass of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey. I’d almost consider the Rhodes “my instrument” if pressed …and there are a whole bunch of other killer players on this record, drums and bass as solid as can be, a bombastically-restrained percussionist, a delightfully meandering flutist, and no guitar.
Always a delight running into Yuto and this time was no exception. Thanks for turning me onto a cool record and looking forward to our next encounters!
On Vox Pop – Sep 22nd https://youtube.com/live/Txk8d0RRB5g
Chick Corea – Again And Again (The Joburg Sessions)
Label: Elektra Musician – P-11253, Elektra Musician – E1 60167
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Japan
Released: 1983
Genre: Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/2241887-Chick-Corea-Again-And-Again-The-Joburg-Sessions
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