Trumpeter Takuya Kuroda Admits to Being a Total 'Zigzagger,' Concord Records [REVIEW]
Yeah, he's a Zigzagger (Concord) alright. For his fifth CD, trumpeter/composer/producer/arranger Takuya Kuroda zigs and zags his way through jazz, funk, soul, hip-hip, Afro-Beat and electronica. The two-man trumpet/trombone frontline positively wails while bass, synth-bass, drums, percussion, keyboards and vocals percolate with refined essence. On other words, they get down with class!
Opening with the frothy bubbling burbling stew of "RSBD" (dig that EDM break!), the wordless vocals and all-around party jam aesthetic should be a radio winner. Brooklyn's Fela Kuti-inspired Antibalas is the guest band on closer "Think Twice." In between is everything from "No Sign" (influenced by J Dilla [1974-2006]), "Thirteen" (could've been a lost Prince track) and "Good Day Bad Habit" with guest percussionist Keita Ogawa. Kuroda tells the tale in the liner notes of when Ogawa entered the studio with over 50 little percussive contraptions.
Kuroda, 36, is a product of his times. He got his start writing horn arrangements and playing hot trumpet solos on two of vocalist Jose James' albums. James produced Kuroda's 2014 Rising Son (Blue Note) album. Besides becoming one of the hottest young talents on trumpet in the New York City jazz world, Kuroda also keeps a hand in hip-hop working with Gang Starr's DJ Premiere.
Props to trombonist Corey King who acts as the perfect foil for Kuroda's funkiness. Takeshi Ohbayashi handles his Fender Rhodes and his synthesizer much like Herbie Hancock used to do on that string of synthesized funk albums he did for Columbia Records in the 1980s that critics hated but fans (like myself) lapped up. Rahshaan Carter plucks and paws at his electric and synth bass like he's been listening to his Stanley Clarke albums night and day. Adam Jackson has a tough gig pounding the skins for this project but he is, indeed, Kuroda's secret weapon. I couldn't even picture this band without him.
Screw art, let's dance!
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