Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Gato Libre: Nomad

168

Gato Libre: Nomad

By

Sign in to view read count
Gato Libre: Nomad
Natsuki Tamura and Satoko Fujii are two of the most daring improvisers in jazz. Their music blasts through unfettered, a brimful of heated animation. But daring can take other courses, and so it is with Gato Libre, Tamura's quartet, which does strange things considering the pedigree that he and Fujii have. They get into folk music, a move that saw its first resolution on the group's Strange Village (Muzak, 2005).

Tamura wrote this music based on the folk idioms of European countries. He gets into the pith of each, never losing sight of the core, to come up with entrancing and captivating compositions. The impact becomes all the more striking through the arrangements, which draw the listener into the translucent fold of the music.

In a setting like this, it is necessary for the musicians to adopt a lyrical approach. They come up trumps, and even when the time comes for improvisation, they seek a controlled revamping of their path. Tamura shows clear articulation as he opens "In Krakow, In November, a trait that is continued by Fujii, who unfurls the accordion like a velvet drape, enriching the melodic tone. The circle is complete when guitarist Kazuhiko Tsumura adds the final resonance with some subtle lines.

It is time to kick up the heels and twirl on "In Budapest, In April. This delightful music finds Fujii and Tsumura engaging in a conversation that is required eavesdropping as they delve into the melody and then flesh it with a few asymmetrical lines. It's flamenco time "In Barcelona, In June, the perfect setting for Tsumura, who primes the tune with chunky chords and lithe melody lines. Tamura adds a rich tonality, changing the ambit, his fiery approach a contrast to the cool wafting of the guitar and the arco of Norikatsu Koreyasu's bass. It comes down to a temperate approach as Tamura pulls in and energizes the melody with his rich harmonics.

A well-crafted and endearing recording.

Track Listing

In Krakow, In Novermber; In Glasgow, In May; In Paris, In February; In Barcelona, In June; In Madrid, In August; In Berlin, In September; In Budapest, In April; In Lausanne, In January; In Gent, In December; In Venice, In October.

Personnel

Natsuki Tamura: trumpet; Kazuhiko Tsumura: guitar; Satoko Fujii: accordion; Norikatsu Koreyasu: bass.

Album information

Title: Nomad | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: No Man's Land Records


< Previous
Presence

Next >
Zafiro

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Ain't No Sunshine
Brother Jack McDuff
Taylor Made
Curtis Taylor
Fathom
John Butcher / Pat Thomas / Dominic Lash / Steve...

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.