Masayoshi Takanaka, is a Japanese guitarist, composer, and producer. He was born in 1953 in the Shinagawa ward in Tokyo, Japan. Takanaka's music was influential in the city pop genre of the late 1970s and '80s.
A real gem from that key moment in Japanese fusion when some of the nation's best artists were hopping over to the American scene - cutting records like this, which often beat the American soul fusion scene at its own game - thanks to the help of a big array of all-star players! Masayoshi Takanaka plays guitar solos throughout, but also gets some help from Lee Ritenour on the electric strings - in a group that also has arrangements from Greg Adams of Tower Of Power, who brings in the rest of the TOP horns too - plus keyboards from Patrice Rushen, bass from Chuck Rainey, and drums from the great Harvey Mason - a rhythm combo that really keeps things groovy throughout. There's two vocal tracks on the set - which feature work from Jim Gilstrap, Maxi Anderson, and The Waters.
A real gem from that key moment in Japanese fusion when some of the nation's best artists were hopping over to the American scene - cutting records like this, which often beat the American soul fusion scene at its own game - thanks to the help of a big array of all-star players! Masayoshi Takanaka plays guitar solos throughout, but also gets some help from Lee Ritenour on the electric strings - in a group that also has arrangements from Greg Adams of Tower Of Power, who brings in the rest of the TOP horns too - plus keyboards from Patrice Rushen, bass from Chuck Rainey, and drums from the great Harvey Mason - a rhythm combo that really keeps things groovy throughout. There's two vocal tracks on the set - which feature work from Jim Gilstrap, Maxi Anderson, and The Waters.
Mao Fujita, one of the most sought after pianists of his generation, debuts with a major recording project – the eagerly anticipated studio recording of Mozart’s complete Piano Sonatas, presented across 5 CDs. With an innate musical sensitivity and naturalness to his artistry, Mao Fujita has already impressed many leading musicians as one of those special talents which comes along only rarely.
Mao Fujita, one of the most sought after pianists of his generation, debuts with a major recording project – the eagerly anticipated studio recording of Mozart’s complete Piano Sonatas, presented across 5 CDs. With an innate musical sensitivity and naturalness to his artistry, Mao Fujita has already impressed many leading musicians as one of those special talents which comes along only rarely.
Mao Fujita, one of the most sought after pianists of his generation, debuts with a major recording project – the eagerly anticipated studio recording of Mozart’s complete Piano Sonatas, presented across 5 CDs. With an innate musical sensitivity and naturalness to his artistry, Mao Fujita has already impressed many leading musicians as one of those special talents which comes along only rarely.
Mao Fujita follows up his 'acclaimed' debut album on Sony Classical, the complete Mozart Piano Sonatas, with a similarly ambitious recording project, 'Preludes'; three complete sets of 24 preludes by Chopin, Scriabin, and 20th century Japanese composer Akio Yashiro. This album represents a fascinating exploration of three different but intricately connected worlds, each full of poetic diversity, volcanic energy and atmospheric stillness.
Mao Fujita, one of the most sought after pianists of his generation, debuts with a major recording project – the eagerly anticipated studio recording of Mozart’s complete Piano Sonatas, presented across 5 CDs. With an innate musical sensitivity and naturalness to his artistry, Mao Fujita has already impressed many leading musicians as one of those special talents which comes along only rarely.