Let There Be Drums

Drummer Akira Tana, bassist Rufus Ried and pianist Ted Lo make it all seem so effortless on Moon Over The World. Originally released on a Japanese label, the musicians seamlessly transform Oriental pop/folk melodies into jazz-based frameworks. They unify an explosive gait with poise and magnetism. Lo's lightning-fast delivery conjures up remembrances of Bud Powell during some of the high-impact selections. Tana and Reid perform with burning passion as the trio incorporates snappy Latin beats, complex unison choruses and dainty melodies into various arrangements.

— Glenn Astarita
© 2004 DownBeat, November 2004