Yoshihide, Otomo /New Jazz… – “Dreams ” – [Tzadik]

Max Level   12/23/2005   A Library, CD

Despite the name of the band, jazz isn’t really the major component here. Trumpets and saxes drift in and out, and there are some noisy free-for-alls that might pass for outside jazz, but this CD mostly defies genre classification. It’s an intriguing journey of many moods, among which you’ll find childlike (#1), atmospheric rock ballad (#2), and all-out Ground Zero attack (#7!). Guest vocalists, including the wonderful Jun Togawa, sing/croon/torch/yell in Japanese. Yoshihide foregoes his turntable/noise experiments, instead turning in some fine guitar work, while the horns and rhythm section add just what they should. This is one of the best records I’ve heard in a while, with new discoveries awaiting the listener each time out.