With over a hundred discs as a sideman under his belt, AKIRA TANA has surely earned his leader stripes. Each of his three solo outings boasts a mature, focused eloquence. Originally a Japan-only 1993 release, Moon highlights the jazz drummer in an acoustic trio. It's a highly satisfying setting for Tana's intricate, sensitive, and swinging drumming. Aided by bassist Rufus Reid and pianist Ted Lo, Tana offers impressive origianals, covers, and jazz treatments of traditional and popular Japanese and Chinese melodies. Tana is a big listener, and exciting "orchestrator" who employs his formidable chops for phrase building. Not a gratuitous note in the set.

— Jeff Potter, June 2004
© 2004 Modern Drummer