Kazuhiko Takeda - St. Louis Blues (2023)

At the age of 87, guitar legend Kazuhiko Takeda continues to be at the forefront of the scene with the release of his duo album "St. Louis Blues" with bassist Kazuhiko Takeda. For his first release as a leader in eight years, he chose to work as a duo with bassist Yoshiro Kanda, with whom he has performed together for many years. The two maestros, who know each other well, weave together the finest blues and ballads with a strong sense of song. The recording was done at a distance as if they were playing a gig in a small club, without going into the booth. We recorded the whole thing at once, as if it were a live performance. As usual, Mr. Takeda sang naturally, humming the sounds that welled up inside him, without thinking or consulting. Each note is deep, and you will never get tired of Kazuhiko Takeda's sound no matter how many times you listen to it, and please enjoy his guitar playing that has survived the 65 years since his debut. Akio Hirano