PANDORA

On this album, Kazumi Watanabe has put together yet another group of highly talented Japanese fusion musicians, this time in a band called Vox Resonance, and once again showed why he is one of not only Japan's, but the world's top fusion artists.

His band is spectacular. Bassist Vagabonde and drummer Rikiya Higashara along with percussionist Tomohiro Yahiro are easily up to the task of following Watanabe through his world of fusion, from straight electric jazz rock, to the Weather Report styled Peking Doll to Thelonius Monk influence be-bop. No matter what, the intensity stays high. There is even a piece with a violinist, and Zakir Hussain on tabla (Passy Home) that would give John Mclaughlin's Shakti a run for their money.

Another highlight is Fire Cracker. With a Blues Brothers style rhythm, Jao Jing Yin on pipa and Zhang Lin on yang-qin give the tune a fantastic east Asian flair.

I love this album as much as Watanabe's work with Bill Bruford & Jeff Berlin.