Hiroshima - Little Tokyo (2007)

If someone would ask me, what kind of music do Hiroshima perform, I would certainly have difficulty to categorize their music. Japanese jazz, Japanese fusion, world music, smooth jazz? Let's create the term world fusion, because Hiroshima has not only borrowed from numerous cultures but merged the styles to a multi-ethnical identity.

Their new album Little Tokyo is a consistent continuation and progress of their unique style. “We’re always looking at things from a multicultural perspective,” says Kuramoto. “We live in southern California, where the ethnic population is in the majority. We see this as the coolest thing about America. Its strength and its vision comes from its multi-ethnicity. Those differences are going to give us the strength to be more unified. The more we homogenize, the more we give up that notion of cultural diversity, and the less we’ll understand each other.”

Midnight Sun opens the album with a classical Japanese motif celebrated on the Koto, a kind of zither with 13 strings, being arched tautly across 13 movable bridges along the length of the instrument. The dynamic is transferred into the track by the two taiko drum masters Shoji Kameda and Kenny Endo. The taiko beat lets vibrate your loudspeakers, your body, your mind.

On The Fence is featuring Dan Kuramoto on tenor sax leading the main theme and Kimo Cornwell on Rhodes adding the bridge solo. This arrangement is garnished by June Kuramoto's koto with complex patterns.

On Lanai labelmate James Lloyd (POAD) joins the band delivering rich textures on keyboards and synthesizers. Kimo Cornwell gently tickles the ivory and ebony.

Red Beans and Rice streams with a funky attitude pushed by a syncopated beat.

The song Sir Charles is dedicated to Vince Charles. Vince is best known for his work in Neil Diamond's Band. As a member of the band for over 18 years, Vince brings his unique steel drum flavor to Neil's music. This multicultural tune with instrumental elements of Asia and Latin rhythms is heated by guest percussionist Richie Gajate Garcia.

Lovers of percussion will also appreciate Hidden Times. Percussion, drums, taiko and some Japanese ingredients create a special Asian magic.

Shades of Honor is an instrumental track of mesmerizing beauty. It is superbly suitable as an epic movie score.

Quan Yin (Goddess of Compassion) features Karen Hwa-Chee Han on erhu. Erhu is a kind of Chinese violin with two strings. Acoustic bassist Dean Taba lays down a dark bass ground. Ornamental injections are performed by June Kuramato on koto and Dan Kuramoto and Kimo Cornwell on keys.

Based on a sound-loop Drama develops its own multilayered melody epitomizing Hiroshima's multicultural influences.

What is Hiro Chill? Is Hiroshima jumping on the chillout train? Not at all. It's a solid boomer with awesome horn assets by tenor saxophonist Dan Kuramoto.

Little Tokyo Underground is a surrealistic excursion in the genre of free jazz and world music. "Everything is just so marginalized these days and played so safe," says Kuramato. "So many musicians are so afraid to stretch themselves. There's so little that they're allowed to play if they want to survive commercially. But we as a band have always believed that there's more to it than that, and we will continue on our journey to explore those possibilities, regardless of the next fad on the horizon." Understanding this statement the final track is quasi Hiroshima's musical rebellion.

Hiroshima's album Little Tokyo is a multicultural, adventurous and enigmatic project which will certainly captivate listeners with all its musical facets.