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Cat: HMJY 110. Rel: 30 Oct 17
Jazz

Side 1 - Track 1. Exchange Side 1 - Track 2. Watarase Side 2 - Track 1. Step Side 2 - Track 2. Smile Side 2 - Track 3. Good Bye

Vinyl copies of Japanese jazz drummer Takeo Moriyama's modal masterpiece Smile have long been in-demand amongst collectors. This can partly be attributed to its obvious quality, but also to the fact that few copies ever made it out of Japan. This reissue of the 1981 release, then, is more than welcome. Moriyama and his accompanying musicians recorded the four-track set in November 1980, serving up instrumental workouts that got a good balance between advancement of killer grooves and the showcasing of some remarkable instrumental solos. The most remarkable thing, of course, is Moriyama's drumming. In fact, you'll find few finer jazz drum solos than those on the album's standout moment, epic opener "Exchange" (though Moriyama's work on the title track is almost as good).