Gota: Let's Get Started

Gota Yashiki is a percussionist, as well as a bass guitarist, producer and writer. His monster group Gota is electric guitarists Mark Jaimes and Kenji Jammer, bass guitarists Wayne Stobbart and Ernie McKone, saxophonist (and EWI operator) Ian Kirkham, percussionist Miles Bould, and keyboard men Tim Vine and Neil Cowley (who doubles on piano).

Also on hand for this groove session are assistant programmer Stephen Hilton and the NFC Horns: Richard Wargent, Richard Sadler, Mick Ball, David Tyler, and Nigel Hitchcock.

Every one of this massive and furry assemblage, from the brooding and gaunt Gota on down, should stand up and take a bow. Once on their feet they should set their booty a-shakin, a leave it joyfully awobble for the duration of this disc, which is as reliable a collection of danceable grooves as there is to be found anywhere in smoothjazzdom.

Gota is a master of vertigo, and in and out of his danceable mixes come tasty tidbits: guitars, stringent Harmon muted trumpets, chunky saxophones. All arise out of the ether long enough to catch the waiting ear and then submerge back again - never boorishly overstaying their welcome, but leaving one always wanting more.

Through the whole hopping scene the implacable star is Gota himself, working his kit like some mad King of Oz, programming grooves so monstrous that Godzilla himself would look up at them in fear - but only momentarily, before his own booty began inexorably to jostle.

Get Gota. If you liked the late George Howard's music and haven't known where to turn since he died, get Gota. If you need some contempo grooves as solid and smooth as the sidewalk in front of your house, get Gota. If your booty yearns to break free, get Gota.

Tracks: Let's Get Started / Time, There Will Always Be Time / In the City Life / If I Could / Riding 'Til Dawn / We'd Better Move On / Will You Ever Know / Don't You Tell (It's Too Late / Island Farewell / No More Tears