Sadao Watanabe - Orange Express (1981) [2000 SACD]

Sadao Watanabe is a Japanese jazz musician who plays alto saxophone, sopranino saxophone, and flute. He is known for his bossa nova recordings, although his work encompasses many styles with collaborations from musicians all over the world.

Sadao Watanabe hits a sweet fusiony groove – riding the Orange Express to LA, and picking up some great Dave Grusin arrangements on the way! The album's got the sweetly soulful finish of others from the classic years of Japanese fusion – a style that's as much influenced by mainstream soul as it is by jazz – but which comes across with some top-shelf playing throughout, thanks to a lineup that includes George Benson, Bobby Broom, Eric Gale, Richard Tee, and Marcus Miller – not to mention Watanabe and Grusin themselves! Titles include "Orange Express", "Ride On", "Straight To The Top", "Mbali Africa", and "Bagamoyo/Zanzibar".

Tracks:

01. Orange Express 4:38
02. Ride On 4:39
03. Call Me 5:06
04. Good For All Night 6:39
05. Bagamoyo/Zanzibar 6:58
06. Straight To The Top 8:22
07. Mbali Africa 6:00


Personnel:

Sadao Watanabe - alto saxophone, flute, sopranino
Dave Grusin - keyboards
Richard Tee - keyboards
Eric Gale - guitar
Bobby Broom - guitar
Jeff Mironov - guitar
Marcus Miller - electric bass
Buddy Williams - drums
Crusher Bennett - percussion
George Benson - guitar