egroj world: Sadao Watanabe • Bossa Nova '67

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Sadao Watanabe • Bossa Nova '67

Review
by Thom Jurek
While Bossa Nova 67 is a high point in the early career of Japan's best known saxophonist Sadao Watanabe it should be noted that it wasn't released Stateside on CD until 2007. Watanabe hadn't created a name for himself in the States yet. In fact, it was only his fifth record as a leader (the first was in 1961) and was his second bossa nova recording in a row. Watanabe had a real feel for Brazilian music from the beginning, and this was shown early on. Since the '60s, Watanabe has done numerous bossa and samba recordings. What is most interesting about this set, however, is that the saxophonist's mature voice not only on alto, but on the flute as well, was already in full evidence here. His approach to both rhythm and harmony was very different from the Americans and Europeans who had indulged the form earlier on. With a backing ensemble that included star pianist Masabumi Kikuchi, future vanguard drumming legend Masahiko Togashi, bassist Isao Suzuki, Sadanori Nakamure on guitar, and percussionist Hideo Miyata on the cabasa, Watanabe played in front of a full string section as well. The repertoire here almost all standards -- "Girl from Ipanema," "Meditation," "Black Orpheus," "Dindi," "Mas Que Nada," "Bonita," "So Danco Samba" -- with a few pop tunes tossed into the mix like "Fly Me to the Moon," "A Man and a Woman," and "The Shadow of Your Smile." While the strings can be a bit distracting, the fluid, almost limp structures of the sextet are wonderful. Watanabe's big warm tone on the alto nonetheless retains a touch of graininess in it, and when the group is allowed to shine without strings as they do on "Shadow of Your Smile" done bossa style, the effect is almost stunning. There is considerable soul in the proceedings, and the interaction between Kikuchi and Watanabe is almost symbiotic. Also, the work of guitarist Nakamure is utterly bracing. For fans of Watanabe's later work, this will come as a welcome surprise, for those who waited to find an affordable copy, the Koch edition will suffice. The sound is wonderful and full, but rather than offer credits in English, they simply did a shrink job (Wounded Bird label-style) on the Japanese cover, and other than here, you will have to go to the artist's website to find them. Koch has been guilty of lazy work before, but this takes it to a whole different level. Nonetheless, the music is more than worth the extra trouble.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/bossa-nova-67-mw0000493922

///////

Reseña
por Thom Jurek
Aunque Bossa Nova 67 es un punto álgido en la carrera del saxofonista japonés más conocido, Sadao Watanabe, hay que tener en cuenta que no se publicó en Estados Unidos en CD hasta 2007. Watanabe aún no se había creado un nombre en Estados Unidos. De hecho, sólo era su quinto disco como líder (el primero fue en 1961) y era su segunda grabación de bossa nova consecutiva. Watanabe tuvo desde el principio un verdadero sentido de la música brasileña, y esto se demostró desde el principio. Desde los años 60, Watanabe ha realizado numerosas grabaciones de bossa y samba. Sin embargo, lo más interesante de este conjunto es que la voz madura del saxofonista, no sólo en el alto, sino también en la flauta, ya estaba en plena evidencia aquí. Su enfoque del ritmo y de la armonía era muy diferente al de los americanos y europeos que habían hecho uso de la forma anteriormente. Con un conjunto de acompañamiento que incluía al pianista estrella Masabumi Kikuchi, la futura leyenda de la batería de vanguardia Masahiko Togashi, el bajista Isao Suzuki, Sadanori Nakamure a la guitarra y el percusionista Hideo Miyata a la cabasa, Watanabe tocó también frente a una sección de cuerda completa. El repertorio aquí es casi todo estándares -- "Girl from Ipanema", "Meditation", "Black Orpheus", "Dindi", "Mas Que Nada", "Bonita", "So Danco Samba" -- con algunos temas pop mezclados como "Fly Me to the Moon", "A Man and a Woman" y "The Shadow of Your Smile". Aunque las cuerdas pueden distraer un poco, las estructuras fluidas, casi sin tensión, del sexteto son maravillosas. El gran y cálido tono de Watanabe en el contralto conserva, no obstante, un toque de grano, y cuando se permite al grupo brillar sin cuerdas, como hacen en "Shadow of Your Smile", al estilo bossa, el efecto es casi impresionante. La interacción entre Kikuchi y Watanabe es casi simbiótica. Además, el trabajo del guitarrista Nakamure es absolutamente estimulante. Para los fans de la obra posterior de Watanabe, esto será una grata sorpresa; para los que esperaron a encontrar una copia asequible, la edición de Koch será suficiente. El sonido es maravilloso y completo, pero en lugar de ofrecer los créditos en inglés, se limitaron a hacer un trabajo de retractilado (al estilo del sello Wounded Bird) en la portada japonesa, y aparte de aquí, habrá que ir a la web del artista para encontrarlos. Koch ha sido culpable de un trabajo perezoso antes, pero esto lo lleva a un nivel completamente diferente. No obstante, la música merece más que la pena.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/bossa-nova-67-mw0000493922

www.sadao.com ...

Tracks:
1 - The Girl From Ipanema - 2:36
2 - Meditation - 2:44
3 - Black Orpheus - 3:20
4 - O Grande Amour - 2:55
5 - Bonita - 2:12
6 - Dindi - 3:57
7 - Mas Que Nada - 2:20
8 - The Shadow Of Your Smile - 3:05
9 - Fly Me To The Moon - 2:16
10 - A Man And A Woman - 2:43
11 - So Danco Samba - 3:32
12 - She's A Carioca - 3:00

Credits_
    Alto Saxophone, Flute – Sadao Watanabe
    Bass – Isao Suzuki
    Drums – Masahiko Togashi
    Guitar – Sadanori Nakamure
    Percussion – Hideo Miyata
    Piano – Masabumi Kikuchi

Originally released under the title "Bossa Nova '67". Recorded in March 1967.

Label: Victor – SJV-274
Released: 1967
Genre: Jazz
Style: ossa Nova
https://www.discogs.com/release/6656268-Sadao-Watanabe-Sextet-Bossa-Nova-67