Jazz / Christmas, World Fusion, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Holiday
54th Street Choir Choir, Chorus
Bettie Grace Miner Photography
Bobby Hata Mastering
Bryan Kessler Guitar
Dan Kuramoto Sax (Soprano), Flute, Producer, Arranger, Saxophone, Synthesizer, Sax (Tenor), Shakuhachi, Flute (Alto)
Danny Yamamoto Taiko Drums, Drums, Percussion
Dean Cortez Arranger, Bass
Freeman Wong Graphic Design, Art Direction
Hiroshima Main Performer
Ira Nepus Trombone
Johnny Mori Taiko Drums
June Kuramoto Koto, Arranger
Kimo Cornwell Synthesizer, Arranger, Piano
Leslie Chew Mixing, Engineer
Michael Sasaki Guitar
Mr. Moto Engineer
Richie Gajate Garcia Percussion, Conga, Arranger, Taiko Drums
Terry Steele Choir Arrangement, Vocals
Just when you thought it wasn't possible to add another twist to traditional christmas music, here come the soft jazz stalwarts of Hiroshima to prove you wrong. Spirit of the Season may offer only mild and gentle surprises, but they're surprises nonetheless: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" as a big-band samba with koto; "Little Drummer Boy" in a plodding orchestral arrangement with heavy metal guitar obbligato and taiko drums (and koto); "I'll Be Home for Christmas" as a sort of gently funky quiet storm ballad, with koto -- you get the idea. Granted that challenging people's ears has never really been Hiroshima's gig, but it's still kind of disappointing that they didn't do a bit more with some of these arrangements. That version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" really could have swung a bit harder, and "Little Drummer Boy" could have swung at all. On the other hand, their version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," which puts a closely miked alto flute at the center of the arrangement, is simply gorgeous, and their take on "White Christmas" offers a perfect balance between celebration and sadness. Nice, but not essential. ~ Rick Anderson, 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 |
