Warren Smith & Masami Nakagawa
Kaiko / Saiun
RCA (Japan) 1977
RVL-8502 (12”) w/obi, insert.
sleeve : EX-(some wear on side and corner, light dirts)
media : EX/EX(some slightly noise)
Released in 1977, this 12-inch single pairs American drummer and percussionist Warren Smith—known for his work with Sam Rivers and Julius Hemphill, as well as for teaching alongside Ken McIntyre at the State University of New York—with Japanese flutist Shozo Nakagawa, whose career has encompassed classical music, contemporary composition, and jazz. Following Smith’s visit to Japan with the Sam Rivers Trio, he quietly returned to the country and took part in a series of sessions conceived to bring him together with Japanese musicians at RVC’s studio. The performances were entirely unrehearsed free improvisations recorded by direct-to-disc cutting. Rich in both improvised contemporary-music elements and ethnic-inflected free jazz, the recording creates a remarkable three-dimensional sound space in which Smith’s powerful, resilient drumming—reminiscent of percussionists such as Stomu Yamash’ta, Michael Ranta, and Yasunori Yamaguchi—intersects with Nakagawa’s organic flute playing. Highly recommended.
A: 邂逅(Kaiko)
B: 彩雲(Saiun)