Kawasaki, Ryo - Ring Toss CD
SKU
21-CRD 181
First time ever on CD outside of Japan.
“Ryo Kawasaki's groundbreaking Jazz Fusion album "Ring Toss" is set for an eagerly anticipated reissue on both CD and digital formats, bringing his seminal work to a new generation of listeners and longtime fans alike.
Originally recorded and produced in 1977 by Kawasaki and Hank O'Neal, this influential album features eight tracks and is being re-released by the renowned Chiaroscuro Records, showcasing Kawasaki's visionary talent and profound impact on the jazz fusion genre.
"Ring Toss" is a meticulously crafted exploration of jazz fusion, featuring Kawasaki's signature blend of intricate guitar work, sophisticated compositions, and innovative arrangements of Eastern and Western music, most present in his use of the tabla and bamboo flute. The album includes many standout tracks, such as the musical globe-trotting experienced in "Tane's Dream, Parts I-III", each known for their dynamic rhythms and Kawasaki's virtuosic guitar solos that seamlessly merge jazz improvisation with funk-inspired grooves.
Tracks like "Suite in D" and "Bones" further highlight Kawasaki's ability to fuse diverse musical elements into a cohesive and compelling sonic experience. "Ring Toss" includes not only original compositions but interpretations of classics by Duke Ellington ("In A Sentimental Mood") and Johan Sebastian Bach ("Sarabande"). The album also features important players, such as keyboard man Larry Willis of Blood Sweat & Tears, saxophonist Sam Morrison, a veteran of Miles Davis' bands, drummer Buddy Williams, and renowned Indian tabla player Badal Roy, who also worked with Miles Davis.
As a pioneering guitarist and composer, Kawasaki played a pivotal role in pushing the boundaries of the genre during its formative years in the 1970s and 1980s. His ability to seamlessly integrate Eastern and Western musical influences, coupled with his innovation with electronic instruments such as guitar synthesizers, set him apart as a visionary artist.”
“Quite unlike his previous work "Juice", but not in a bad way. Almost progressive rockish, very avant-garde. Lots and lots of choral and vocal sounds which remind me to some degree of Magma's classic 1973 MDK album.”
- LabelChiaroscuro
- UPC630456187873