Matsumoto, Tak: Strings Of My Soul

Japanese band B'z has sold more than 80,000,000 albums over the last twenty years. Guitar virtuoso Tak Matsumoto plays and produces the project that is incredibly popular in Asia and has a made a whopping eighteen albums. In 2011 Matsumoto gained international recognition for his Grammy winning album Take Your Pick, performed with guitar legend Larry Carlton.

Strings Of My Soul is more in the style of light jazz and fusion with pop elements cropping up every now and then. The music is very relaxing and soothing, perfect for unwinding after a stressful work day. If you are looking for complicated or heavy music you need to look elsewhere. Matsumoto is an excellent player and his guitar is very clean and well recorded.

The album starts with the dream-like "The Moment", a soft ballad driven by Matsumoto's lyrical guitar. Lush strings and electric piano add a poppier element. The second track "Live Life" is the only one with vocals. Again it is a mellow affair with smooth musicianship all around. Matsumoto's guitar solo is particularly tasteful.

My favourites include the moving "Koi-Uta" where Matsumoto's guitar is a thing of pure beauty and the jazzy "Sukiyaki" featuring guest musician Larry Carlton lending a hand with some mellow string bending.

The album ends with a couple of classic ballads; "My Favorite Things" and "Romeo & Juliet". Both are tastefully executed and keep the original melodies intact.

Tak Matsumoto is a fine player. If you are into the smoother side of jazz and mellower fusion sounds, Strings Of My Soul might just be the album for you.

Track Listing:
1. The Moment
2. Live Life
3. Trinity
4. Blue
5. Hana
6. Koi-Uta
7. Sasanqua
8. The Wings
9. Sukiyaki
10. My Favorite Things
11. Romeo & Juliet

Added: January 26th 2013
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 1848
Language: english

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