With this project, the Japanese pianist Junko Onishi, who has worked with alto sax great Jackie McLean, breaks from her straight-ahead style with an impassioned excursion into retro-jazz fusion. Buoyed by electric-acoustic bassist Reginald Veal and drummers Karriem "Ol Skool Jamz" Riggins and Tamaya Honda, Onishi's electric evocations and improvisations are reminiscent of Chick Corea's Return to Forever days on the frenetic and funky "BWV" and the fuzz-toned, guitar-synthed psychedelic take on the Cream hit "Sunshine of Your Love." The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' moves with a moody, medium-tempo bass ostinato. Les McCann's classic soul-jazz anthem, "Compared to What," is capped by Onishi's Jimmy Smith-like organ and the sanctified vocals of a singer known only as "Peace." Jimi Hendrix's "Hey Joe" is given an equally down-home reading in an acoustic trio setting, while "Eulogia Variations" evokes the circular, improvisational seances held by Bill Evans. The D-minor, two-drum percussion discussion of "Complexions" rounds out this satisfying recording from this evolving and open-minded musician. --Eugene Holley Jr.
Fragile,Junko Onishi,Blue Note Records,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Post-Bop
Jazz Music:
- Freedom [Enhanced]
- Gerry Mulligan Plays Mulligan
- Give It All You've Got [Import]
- Got Swing!
- Gravy Waltz: Best Of Herb Ellis
- Greenlight
- Hawk in Paris [Original recording remastered] [Import]
- Hellbent
- Henry B. Meets Alvin G. Once in a Wild
- Hot Recordings by a West Coast Band, 1922-32
Jazz Music
Live at the Torch [Live] [Import]
Joined Together: The Complete Studio Duets
King of Rock 'N Roll [Explicit Lyrics] [Import]
Larger Than Life [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]
Liszt: Works For Piano [Box set] [Import]
Grandes Exitos Remezclados y Remasterizados [Original recording remastered]