Sadao Watanabe

A great little session from this excellent Japanese alto player - and although the title and track list might make you think that the record's a straight run of classic bop tunes, it's actually got a lot of Watanabe's modal groove and a very nice edgey feel that pushes it way past the regular Charlie Parker tribute. The groove's pretty modern, and although the tunes are all bop classics - the group (which includes trumpeter Terumasa Hino and pianist Kazuo Yashiro) make the record sound a lot different than the source material.

A really beautiful chapter in the career of reedman Sadao Watanabe - a batch of mostly original compositions, as you might guess from the title - and a double-length record that really showed an evolution of his talents! The sound is often highly lyrical - with Watanabe blowing alto, soprano sax, and flute in modes that are clearly informed by his bossa nova recordings of the late 60s, but which also spring forth in even more complicated styles - with echoes of French soundtracks, European jazz, and other sweet styles of the time. The group's a small one - with Yoshiaki Masuo on guitar, Kazuo Yashiro on acoustic piano and Fender Rhodes, Masabumi Kikuchi on piano, Yoshio Suzuki on bass, and Fumio Watanabe on drums.

A record as evocative as its title - part of a great flowering of talent from Japanese reedman Sadao Watanabe at the end of the 60s! Sadao started his career out as a hell of a bopper, then moved into some sweet Brazilian modes in the 60s - but by the time of this record, he was really emerging with a great vision of his own - a way of opening up in these longer, more lyrical ways on alto, soprano sax, and flute - with styles that were very different than any American or European players of the time!
There's less of the echoes of the Japanese folk roots that Watanabe tried out a few years before - as his tone and timing is much more sophisticated, with a really tremendous sense of melody - and a way of bringing in rich feelings without ever getting too sentimental - almost at the best sort of soundtrack scoring level…

Sadao Watanabe has been disappointing on more than a few occasions. In fact, some of his more commercial, radio-oriented efforts have been quite forgettable. But when he's playing from the heart instead of pandering to commercial radio, Watanabe can be captivating. An adventurous "inside/outside" post-bop date employing Chick Corea (acoustic & electric piano), Miroslav Vitous (upright bass), and Jack De Johnette (drums), Round Trip is one of his finest accomplishments. There's nothing even remotely predictable about this CD, which ranges from the Celtic-influenced, Weather Report-ish "Pastoral" to the contemplative "Nostalgia" to the insistent, 20-minute "Round Trip: Going and Coming." Best known for his Charlie Parker-influenced alto playing, an especially inspired Watanabe sticks to the soprano sax and flute this time.

Sadao Watanabe - Front Seat (1989) {Elektra 9 60906-2}
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© 1989 Elektra / Warner | 9 60906-2
Jazz / Contemporary Jazz / Crossover Jazz / Smooth Jazz / Jazz Pop / Saxophone

Highly overlooked due to what some consider inconsistent albums that range from bop to pop, Sadao Watanabe is one of the jazz geniuses, especially in Japan. This cd is one of his best pop-type recordings. All songs are written by Sadao with the exception of the ones that feature vocals: one that was a duel collaboration with Robbie Buchanan and one other that was penned by Robbie Buchanan and Diane Warren.

Sadao Watanabe - California Shower (1978) {Flying Disk Japan VDP-5008 rel 1986)
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© 1978, 1986 Flying Disk / Victor Japan VDP-5008
Jazz / Fusion / Groove / Crossover Jazz / Saxophone / Flute

Sadao Watanabe (渡辺 貞夫, Watanabe Sadao) (born February 1, 1933) is a Japanese musician who plays the alto saxophone, sopranino saxophone and flute. He is known for his bossa nova recordings, although his work encompasses a large range of styles with collaborations from musicians all over the world. He has had 13 albums reach the top 50 billboard charts and 2 within the top 10. He has also had numerous albums reach number one on the jazz charts.

A key fusion set from Sadao Watanabe a record that has him moving away from some of the bolder tones of the early 70s, into warmly soulful territory that would him him find a much bigger international audience! The album's still got a nice sharp edge, though as it's recorded in that key Japanese fusion stretch of the late 70s a time when the overseas scene was digging some of the best elements from American electric jazz, and putting them together with a style that was clean, lean, and still plenty soulful. Watanabe's reeds get some great help here from American players who include Dave Grusin on Fender Rhodes, Lee Ritenour on guitar, Oscar Brashear on trumpet, and Ernie Watts on tenor and rhythms feature tight drums from Harvey Mason, plus extra percussion from Paulinho Da Costa.

Sadao Watanabe - How's Everything: Sadao Watanabe Live At Budokan (1980) {2016 Japan Crossover & Fusion Collection Series SICJ 168}
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© 1980, 2016 Columbia / Sony Music Japan | SICJ 168
Jazz / Fusion / Contemporary Jazz / Crossover Jazz / Saxophone / Flute

Reissue with the latest DSD remastering. Comes with liner notes. 2016 reissue of this live album, recorded in July 1980 at the legendary venue the Budokan in Japan over two nights. The album features a who's who of Jazz Fusion musicians including Richard Tee, Steve Gadd, Eric Gale, Ralph MacDonald, Anthony Jackson, Jeff Mironov and Dave Grusin. Grusin also arranged and conducted the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra on these two magical nights. How's Everything contains versions of the Sadao Watanabe classics 'Up Country' and 'Nice Shot'. a positively must-have CD for all Jazz Fusion fans. Robinsongs.