Shingo Yuji: Introducing Shingo Yuji (2012)

Hrayr Attarian

CD/DVD Reviewer since 2006

Hrayr is the armchair jazz listener par exellence.

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Published: December 13, 2012

Japanese-born guitarist/composer/shakuhachi player Shingo Yuji has made his home in Los Angeles. On Introducing Shingo Yuji, he draws deeply on his native, rich musical heritage as well as jazz and pop worlds to create an engaging mélange.

Yuji 's "Laputa" features an undulating melody with western rhythms and eastern harmonies. Tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III Walter Smith III
b.1980
sax, tenor has an ardent and languid sound that matches Yuji's thick, laidback and darkly simmering groove well.

Yuji's father, an amateur guitarist, introduced him to music at the tender age of nine. From then on Yuji grew to become a semi autodidact. Although he names bassist Jaco Pastorius Jaco Pastorius
1951 - 1987
bass, electric and guitarist Pat Metheny Pat Metheny
b.1954
guitar as influences, his style on bassist Charles Mingus Charles Mingus
1922 - 1979
bass, acoustic ' late-period hard-bop cooker, co-written with singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell Joni Mitchell
b.1943
vocal , "The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines," is close in feel to guitarist Kenny Burrell Kenny Burrell
b.1931
guitar . His intricately constructed, strummed solo over bassist Dave Robaire Dave Robaire
and drummer Dan Schnelle Dan Schnelle
's rhythmic support maintains the intelligent whimsy of the original.

Yuji's balladeer side comes through on his own "A Song for the One," his sparkling effervescence and harp-like strings remaining mordant in their statements. Schnell's gentle cymbals and Robaire's deep, serenading bass add romance to the nostalgic ambience.

On the unaccompanied, freely improvised "Improvisation And Variations Of Itsuki Lullaby," Yuji's spontaneous creativity is on full display, as he weaves meandering, melodic lines around Zen harmonies.

This charming and smart record closes with the utmost homage to his native culture. "Rashomon," titled after the most iconic examples of Japanese cinema, filters the essence of unconventional storytelling through angular, jazz sensibilities. The collective extemporization creates a theatrical atmosphere inspired by the subject matter.

With a rare combination of wisdom and vision that bellies his youth, Yuji has recorded an innovative disc that whets the appetite for what is yet to come from this cross-cultural fusionist.

Track Listing: Laputa; Shadows On The Sun; The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines; A Song For The One; Improvisation And Variations On Itsuki Lullaby (Traditional); Ame (Rain) - Interlude; Help; Rashomon.

Personnel: Shingo Yuji: guitar; Walter Smith III: tenor saxophone; Dave Robaire: bass; Dan Schnelle: drums.

Record Label: Self Produced
Style: Modern Jazz