Boston Post-Gazette

Facts on Wax
January 30, 2004

Drummer Akira Tana teams up with pianist Ted Lo and bassist Rufus Reid to deliver eleven electric cuts of jazz gems on Moon Over The World. Together they draw upon Chinese and Japanese pop and folk melodies as inspiration for a set of improvisational jazz. Cuts of note include, "Jewel's Eyes," the '40s Chinese title track "Moon Over The World," trailed by the contemporary Japanese song, "Vacation of Love" Horace Silver's sugary "Sweet Stuff," and Tana's composition "Skyline." That's just the half of it, as the mood is maintained via "No Place Is The End Of The World," the tasty "Sofflee," from the TV show Kung Fu — "Condor Man," plus the tender "Three Views Of A Secret," the catchy "Chinese Fingers," and the moon is full with tender to combustible Chinese folk song — "Reflections of Love." An exciting and interesting album blending the music of both cultures!

— Bob Morello
© 2004 Boston Post-Gazette