Legendary Japanese reedman
Akira Sakata joins younger improvisers
Johan Berthling on bass and
Paal Nilssen-
Love on drums and percussion – and really seems to shape their performance, given the results of the record!
Sakata blows both alto sax and bass clarinet – always with that rich, raw tone that's made him so great for so many decades – and he also vocalizes occasionally, with an earthy quality that's very powerful, and very different than his saxophone work.
Paal is maybe a bit more restrained than usual, really letting
Sakata set the scene for most numbers – then finding the right way to embrace and embolden the sound – and
Berthling proves again that he's one of the more sensitive improvisers in recent years, while still very much holding his own in the trio. Titles include "Jikan", "Saitaro Bushi
Arashi", "Yamanoue No Okura", and "Tsuioku".