JAZZTRONIK- SAMURAI (PANTONE MUSIC)
March 24th, 2005 by soyo
“Harmony and disharmony in rhythm occur in every walk of life. It is imperative to distinguish carefully between the rhythms of flourishing and the rhythms of decline in every single thing.”
(from “The Book of Five Rings” by Miyamoto Musashi, a distinguished (and by then retired) Samurai warrior written in 1643)
Encompassing a variety of styles, the latest album “Samurai”, from Tokyo based Ryota Nozaki aka Jazztronik is another album in an ever growing number that mixes jazz with club music. From appearing on a compilation in 1998, Jazztronik has gone on to be a respected producer, culminating in the dancefloor beauty “Samurai” that in 2004 graced the decks of Danny Krivit, Gilles Peterson (it appeared in the top 20 of his listeners poll in his Radio 1Worldwide show), DJ Spinna, Louie Vega and Derrick May.
Being a veteran of some 7 albums, Nozaki can handle the twists and turns of genres, one moment funk, the next electronica, then soul and house via brazilian flavours, all happily sitting side by side. Thankfully Nazoki never lets his jazz get the better of him, and just about avoids any excursions into deep jazztastic territory, and, coupled with his classical training, mastery of the piano and dancefloor savvy, mostly manages to stay the right side of four to the floor tedium.
After a short intro track, the album kicks of with “Muddy Muddy”, a tune that opens with what sounds like that uniquely Japanese obsession, a bagatelle machine. The sound of a ball bearing being fired and then cascading through it is looped as intro over a smoky jazz piano and a sweet female vocal quartet providing sketches of downtempo spiritual jazz. The awesome breaksy house/jazz/latino fusion of “worth the price of the album alone” title track “Samurai” is next, with its oh so catchy piano hook melting in a third of the way through. By the end of the tune, a quick look at the clock is needed to check just how quickly the 8 minutes and 35 seconds went!
“Phoenix” is a bit disappointing after the masterly previous track and is the closest thing to cookie cutter 4/4 house on the album. “Things we like” happily picks things up again as Yurai and Aya list the things they like over a squelchy bass and stuttering hip-hop rhythm that cries out for some full on head nodding. “Nana” and the over long “Arabesque” keep things groovin’ with some billowing Mendes/Gilberto-esque Brazilian jazz mixed with just a twist of “noughties” electro to save them from noodlesville. Keeping the tempo up is next single “Froro” skipping as it does across the Atlantic to give us some saxed-up Afro beat. Cleo Laine style doobidoo’s and a Johnny Dankworth type saxophone wrap around the jolly “Colour of Days” but mercifully it is all done in the best possible taste and avoids any teeth on edge moments.
The beautiful “Piano” starts with a very pleasing Eric Satie sounding ripple before some snappy snare and thudding kick drum take things up a notch, just a notch mind. A fairly standard, going nowhere, shuffling funky number closes the album, in the form of a new version of “Dance with me” from earlier Jazztronik album “Set Free”. It is a shame to end “Samurai” on such a disappointing note really, made more so as all the instruments on the track seem to be have been played live but end up sounding like its all been made on a computer and leaves you feeling – what’s the point?
If the reasoning behind the title of the album is for Nozaki to project an image of a dedicated and precise exponent of his art, then on the whole he succeeds with sometimes-deadly accuracy. Other times he narrowly misses and succeeds only in slicing through thin air .
“The thing is to win by sensing…rhythms and knowing where they break down.”
(from “The Book of Five Rings” by Miyamoto Musashi, 1643)
Samurai is out on 4th April
Jazztronik are touring in April and May 2005
www.pantonemusic.com
Soyo
