A great set from Japanese vocalist Kimiko Kasai – recorded live with spare backing by the
Cedar Walton trio, in a mode that's quite different than her better-known 70s electric set with Herbie Hancock! If anything, Kimiko's sound here is more dynamic than the Herbie session – as the
Walton trio's backing is often light and airy, so that Kasai is hanging out there on her own a lot, really filling the tunes with a warmth and dynamic range that's incredible. Tunes shift from groovers to mellow numbers effortlessly – and
Cedar Walton, Sam Jones, and Billy Higgins exercise their talents with amazing understatement, but also just enough soul to kep keep the spirits of the session nice and strong. There's plenty of great numbers here – including the jazz dancers "Sad Song" and "No Tears", plus "Dat Dere", "Jazz Ain't Nothin But Soul", "I Am The Girl", and "Moondance".