Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Akira Tana: Secret Agent Men

Akira Tana: Secret Agent Men

By Joel Roberts
June 25, 2003
Sign in to view read count

Sure, it's kitschy and gimmicky and a bit predictable, but Secret Agent Men, veteran drummer Akira Tana's treatment of real and imagined movie themes, works for one simple reason - it grooves like hell! And with ringers like Dr. Lonnie Smith at the B-3, Rodney Jones on guitar, and Tana's frequent collaborator Rufus Reid on bass, what else would you expect?

The ensemble - which also includes Bob Kenmotsu on saxophones and Chuggy Carter on percussion - offers down and dirty reinterpretations of mostly familiar TV and film themes from the '50s through the '80s like the title tune, "Mission Impossible," "In the Heat of the Night," and "From Russia With Love." They also include a handful of original compositions written in the same cinematic spy vs. spy vein.

The concept, cute as it is, might wear thin in the hands of lesser musicians. But Tana, Reid and Co. have the chops and the imagination to elevate the material above the norm, and the good sense to have fun with a fun idea.

June 2003.

Track Listing

1. Secret Agent Man - 4:07 2. Mission Impossible (Schifrin) - 4:32 3. The Guardman (Yamauchi) - 3:37 4. In the Heat of the Night (Bergman/Bergman/Jones) - 4:54 5. It's Probably Me (Clapton/Kamen/Sting [1]) - 5:52 6. Alfred Hitchcock Theme (Murray) - 3:49 7. Charade (Mancini/Mercer) - 4:26 8. From Russia With Love (Bart) - 4:38 9. When We Are Alone (Kenmotsu) - 6:21 10. Struttin' About (Reid) - 5:52 11. Song for a Rainbow (Jones) - 6:20 12. Navarac (Tana) - 3:13 13. Chase Game (Smith) - 6:10

Personnel

Akira Tana

drums

Rodney Jones - Guitar Rufus Reid - Bass Dr. Lonnie Smith - Hammond B-3 Organ Chuggy Carter - Percussion Robert Kenmotsu - Flute, Soprano and Tenor Sax Akira Tana - Drums

Album information

Title: Secret Agent Men | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Sons of Sound

< Previous
Syncopated Taint Septet

Next >
Rule Of Three

Comments

About Akira Tana

Instrument: Drums

Concerts

May 4 Sat

Akira Tana And East Wind Blues

California Jazz Conservatory
Berkeley, CA

For the Love of Jazz

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.