KAZUMI WATANABE

The album begins with Melancho, an imitation of "Discipline" era King Crimson, where Watanabe overlays guitar parts and string bending solos, impersonating both Fripp and Belew at once. Berlin alternates between his usual flying fingers basslines and Levin-like growls.

The rest of the album is more original, with Bruford being Bruford, with his adept technique making difficult patterns sound smooth and easy. Watanabe and Berlin sound like they were born to play together, pushing each other to more and more challenging lines.

While I wouldn't quite call this a masterpiece, it is a standout work of fusion, which was unusual in the depressing eighties.

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.