ALIVE II

These Japanese guys sure know their jazz and their jazzrock, and on these 8 live recordings they play amazing music, at times pure jazz in structure and with ample room for improvisational details, soloing, instrumental build-ups and all else you'd expect. In addition, ever present smooth synths and occasionally some cool blues-tinged atmospheres emphasise the fusion part of this band's stylistic repertoire. And the compositions are groovy as hell too.

While this 2007 production may not be the traditional jazzrock your parents or grandparents might want to give a spin, those who have an interest in the fusion of rock and jazz should at some point check out what this fine Japanese band are up to. By preference one of their live productions, as the musicianship in itself is a fascinating part of the overall whole.