The Bridge

广岛乐团成立于1974年美国洛杉矶, 由日裔美籍乐手Dan Kuramoto与古筝演奏家June Kuramoto两人联合带领乐团。近30年间, 该团于1985年曾以一曲"One Wish"成为爵士电台当年点播率的排行宠儿。多年来该团一直寻找新的元素, 从东西方音乐文化的根源出发, 到融合多种音色变化成的新和声, 他们执着的即兴口味是相当让人激赏的。古筝的巧妙拨弹与R&B的演唱在一曲"Seven Rivers"当中呈现融合音乐的奥秘, 整首乐曲的转调抑扬顿挫极为动人, 编曲者的巧思立见高下。而以代表东方的锣声敲开第一声的"Eternal Phoenix", 更有日出东方的遐思。乐曲的串接中, 一种当代都会的节奏感随之而起。延伸自"One Wish"的轻快乐曲"Another Wish"与抒情优美的"Manzanar"也都展现东西合璧乐思。总之成功的编曲, 本辑为耐听又流畅的录音专辑。 by Jonathan Widran Few bands have so artfully and appealingly blended pop, R&B, jazz and world music over the past few decades as this East L.A.-bred ensemble, Hiroshima, which enters the new millennium with a set that draws on everything from old-school soul to Les McCann to the Japanese traditions so dear to its heart. Heads Up will no doubt market this as a smooth jazz project, but only a few tracks are middle of the road enough to truly qualify. The best of these, the lilting and inspirational "Believe," balances Terry Steele's seductive soul vocals with the exotic touches of bandleader Dan Kuramoto's breathy alto flute and June Kuramoto's trademark koto. "Another Wish" also captures the dreamy side of their artistry. That's part of the secret of Hiroshima's success; even at their mellowest, there's still a feast for globally attuned ears. Then when they go funky, as on the horn driven "Shaka Phonk," there are always June's glistening strings floating beyond the groove. The disc begins with a tune ("Eternal Phoenix") that offers a colorful hodgepodge of all their best elements, from ancient chimes and flutes to hypnotic percussion, modern grooving and distant, crunchy fusion guitars. The band has gone through various female lead vocalists but does even better with Terry Steele, who creates appealing updates of classic Isley Brothers and George Benson tunes.