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| The Bridge |
| Hiroshima |
| első megjelenés éve: 2003 |
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| (2003)
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CD |
| 4.521 Ft
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| 1. | Eternal Phoenix
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| 2. | Caravan of Love
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| 3. | Shaka Phonk
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| 4. | Believe
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| 5. | Revelation
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| 6. | Another Wish
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| 7. | I Just Wanna Hang Around You
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| 8. | Manzanar
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| 9. | Viven
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| 10. | Sanju
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| 11. | Seven Rivers
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Jazz / Urban, Adult Contemporary, Jazz-Pop, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Bobby Hata Mastering
Dan Kuramoto - Sax (Soprano), Synthesizer, Photography, Tambourine, Arranger, Chant, Keyboards, Horn Arrangements, Sax (Tenor), Shakuhachi, Producer, Flute (Alto)
Daniel S. Markus Management
Danny Yamamoto Shaker, Percussion, Chant, Taiko Drums, Drums
Dave Love Executive Producer
Dean Cortez Bass, Vocals
Dean Taba Bass (Acoustic)
Fred Schreuders Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals
Freeman Wong Art Direction
Hiroshima Arranger
June Kuramoto Chant, Spoken Word, Koto, Associate Producer, Percussion
Kimo Cornwell Organ (Hammond), Chant, Synthesizer, Wurlitzer, Arranger, Producer, Horn Arrangements, Piano
Leslie Chew Engineer
Martin Walters Mixing
Michael Sasaki Guitar, Soloist, Guitar (Electric)
Mr. Moto Engineer
Paul Blakemore Mastering
Richie Gajate Garcia Tabla, Percussion
Terry Steele Vocals, Vocal Arrangement, Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Toro Nagashi Chant
Valerie Doby Vocals (Background)
Hiroshima, one of instrumental world music's most innovative acts, blends Asian and North American sensibilities that reflects both cultural and spiritual connections, the albums worldwide release on Heads Up International is also availabe on an SACD version in 5.1 Surround Sound (HUSA 9076) will also be available.
"We looked at who we are when we came up with the title," says multi-instrumentalist Dan Kuramoto, the band's leader and producer. "For us, The Bridge has many different meanings, including cultural and artistic bridges. As a third generation Japanese, it's about growing up here and trying to integrate socially. Also, the music business has continued to change its complexion, and as a group we need to constantly reinvent ourselves while staying true to our artistic vision. We're bridging a lot of things right now."
"The Bridge is the most uptempo record we've ever done," continues Kuramoto, who also engineered the project. "It was essentially recorded 'live' in the studio, but with overdubs, odd loops and even scratch tracks. We're featuring different elements of the band, the koto, the keyboard - rebalancing the yin and the yang - to create a larger sound."
There's an innovative convergence of styles and moods in The Bridge's eleven tracks. The group's strong roots in Asia come to the fore on "Eternal Phoenix," a rhythmic, jazz montage that spotlights the sounds of Japan and India. The Afro/Brazilian-tinged "Viven" (Spanish for "They Live") is a rousing song of life and spirit. Dedicated the Nisei (the second generation of Japanese to call America home), "Manzanar" recalls the barren desert, barbed wire and haunting winds endured by Kuramoto's mother in an internment camp during World War II.
A new arrangement of the George Benson hit "I Just Want to Hang Around You" features Terry Steele on lead vocals. As does the Isley Brother's classic "Caravan of Love," its messages of brotherhood and humanity recast for today - and tomorrow. The uplifting "Another Wish" is reminiscent of Hiroshima's magical 1985 hit "One Wish."
The boogie tune "Revelation" conjures a soulful Les McCann or Alan Toussaint vibe, while the hypnotic "7 Rivers" is an ode to the spirit of the people of Hiroshima and their rise from the ashes. Other highlights include the hip hop-flavored "Shaka Phonk," the haunting "Sanju" and the seductive "Whenever."
Well-known for its distinctive East-meets-West approach to performance, composition and recording, Hiroshima has performed for countless fans around the world and their extensive catalog of albums has sold over three million copies internationally.
Formed in Los Angeles, CA, in 1974 by Dan Kuramoto and musical partner June Kuramoto - one of the world's leading koto players - Hiroshima became a thriving and pioneering instrumental ensemble with the addition of master taiko drummer Johnny Mori, drummer/percussionist Danny Yamamoto and Hawaiian jazz keyboard sensation Kimo Cornwell. For nearly 30 years, this ultimate fusion band has been creating a musical blend of rhythm and blues, jazz and international sounds while fostering social and spiritual awareness.
At the heart of Hiroshima's sound is the koto playing of June Kuramoto. A virtuoso on the koto (a long Japanese multi-stringed instrument), Kuramoto was born near Tokyo and raised in inner city Los Angeles. As a first-generation Japanese-American coming of age in the 1960s, she found herself straddling cultures and traditions. In her adult life, she has worked toward bridging cultural gaps in her playing and composing.
As to whether The Bridge is radically different from the distinct sound they've already established, June Kuramoto says, "I'm sure there's always that thread of similarity but hopefully we're always treading new ground and always on the edge."
"We're still teaching people how to hear us," Dan Kuramoto adds. "I think The Bridge reflects the different adventures that we've all pursued. Every time out we're trying something different and that's what's makes it exciting."
Few bands have so artfully and appealingly blended pop, r&b, jazz and world music over the past few decades as this East L.A.-bred ensemble, Hiroshima, which enters the new millennium with a set that draws on everything from old-school soul to Les McCann to the Japanese traditions so dear to its heart. Heads Up will no doubt market this as a smooth jazz project, but only a few tracks are middle of the road enough to truly qualify. The best of these, the lilting and inspirational "Believe," balances Terry Steele's seductive soul vocals with the exotic touches of bandleader Dan Kuramoto's breathy alto flute and June Kuramoto's trademark koto. "Another Wish" also captures the dreamy side of their artistry. That's part of the secret of Hiroshima's success; even at their mellowest, there's still a feast for globally attuned ears. Then when they go funky, as on the horn driven "Shaka Phonk," there are always June's glistening strings floating beyond the groove. The disc begins with a tune ("Eternal Phoenix") that offers a colorful hodgepodge of all their best elements, from ancient chimes and flutes to hypnotic percussion, modern grooving and distant, crunchy fusion guitars. The band has gone through various female lead vocalists but does even better with Terry Steele, who creates appealing updates of classic Isley Brothers and George Benson tunes. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
Hiroshima
Active Decades: '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: 1974 in Los Angeles, CA
Genre: Jazz
Styles: World Fusion, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz
Hiroshima, a group whose music falls between R&B, pop, world music, and jazz, has long had its own niche. The band integrates traditional Japanese instruments into their musical blend and has generally been both commercial and creative within its genre. Hiroshima's founding members are keyboardist Dan Kuramoto (who also played shakuhachi), June Okida Kuramoto on koto (a key part of the group's sound), Johnny Mori on taiko drums, and Danny Yamamoto on drums, percussion, and taiko. Other additions include keyboardist Kimo Cornwell, bassist Dean Cortez, and singer Teri Koide (who was later succeeded by Kimaya Seward). Some of the musicians were descendants of Japanese Americans held in U.S. detention camps during World War II. Beginning with the band's self-titled 1979 debut, Hiroshima has recorded a series of best-selling albums for Arista, Epic, and Qwest, and although they have evolved over time (moving further away from jazz), they have managed to not only retain but increase their popularity. Since 2000, the band has released a handful of albums including The Bridge in 2003, Spirit of the Season in 2004, Obon in 2005, and Little Tokyo in 2007.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
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