Through jazz, folk, rock, and imagination, the music on Zephyr unfurls like smoke rising from fragrant incense, floating and curling in beautiful patterns in the air. A trio consisting of saxophone, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar, the front-forward unit is unbound by genre, producing otherworldly sounds evocative of folk songs from a distant world.

Peaceful, comforting, and deep, the ten tracks feature mostly original music supplied by the members, summoning tranquil and emotional moods. The music is lyrical and poetic, with suggestions of Jan Garbarek, Al Di Meola, Bill Evans and Stan Getz, and even Sting and the Beatles felt among the album’s tracks.

Aside from original compositions, the album also features the jazz standard “Sophisticated Lady”, the anthemic “Witchi Tai To” (a regular feature of saxophonist Inoue), and a beautiful classically-tinged rendition of Sting’s “The Secret Marriage” which, like other parts of the album, evokes a hopelessly romantic scene, music floating on a soft, gentle wind.

Zephyr by Zephyr

• Toshihiko Inoue - soprano, tenor sax
• Teiji Taguchi - acoustic guitar
• Takashi Amano - electric guitar

Released in 2013 on What’s New Records as WNCJ-2249.

Japanese names: 井上淑彦 Inoue Toshihiko 田口悌治 Taguchi Teiji 天野丘 Amano Takashi

Audio and Video

• Promotional video for this album:

• Excerpt from track #1: “Fairly Woods”

Jazz of Japan #72 • Mar 21, 2019 • Brian McCrory