Sakata's Fisherman's.com

[ejp626]

I was wondering if anyone had heard (and had thoughts on) Akira Sakata's Fisherman's.com on some label called Starlet's Dogtail. This is a Japanese import that I was tipped to by Downtown Music Gallery (usually they steer me well, though I didn't care for Paul Dunmall). Anyway, was thinking about using this for BF Test, but that is years away.

The line-up is Akira Sakata on sax synth and vocals (chants)

Pete Cosey - electric guitar

Hamid Drake - drums & conga

Bill Laswell - electric bass and synth bass

There are four tracks (slightly over 40 minutes). The only drawback about the packaging is that the composers of the tracks are listed in Japanese, so I can't tell who contributed which song.

I like the first track best, which has a rock beat, both the way the drums and bass are playing (maybe a bit like Ginger Baker's crossover jazz work?), very uptempo, sort of fusion-y though basically rock-based. Then Sakata chants in Japanese across everything. Perhaps it is more of a "downtown" sound than jazz, but I think it is pretty rewarding, and of course some people want to hear everything that Drake and/or Laswell play on. Some people on the board would really dig it. I listen to it probably every three months.

I believe there was a remix of one of the tracks, also available at DMG (perhaps still), but I did not get this. Let me know if you have heard the remix as well, and have thoughts on it.

Eric

[PHILLYQ]

The disc is on the pricey side but well worth it IMHO. If you dig any of the guitar work that Pete Cosey did with Miles in the '70s, this disc is a must-have. Laswell(the producer, I believe) lets Cosey strtch out and wail, and he does so to great effect. The combination of Laswell's bass, Drake's drumming and Cosey's space guitar provide a nice rhythmic and aural landscape that allows Sakata to roam about with much alto & chanting. I enjoyed this disc a great, and I was hipped to this disc from someone on the board(can't remember who, but thanks).

[JSngry]

Appetite whetted.

Any other points of purchase besides DMG, just in case they come up empty?

[John B]

What PHILLYQ said.

I really dig this disc a lot. DMG is the only source for it that I have seen.

[7/4]

What PHILLYQ said.

I really dig this disc a lot. DMG is the only source for it that I have seen.

Ah, yes. My buds at DMG. Picked up a few Cecils there late this afternoon. I used to manage their web pages until last August. Bruce lives about a ten min. walk from my apt. Good folks.

I enjoyed the disk, but it's due for a new spin.