Kazumi Watanabe - Kylyn (1979)

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Kazumi Watanabe - Kylyn (1979)

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Kazumi Watanabe was only 17 when his debut Infinite was released in 1971, with his display of guitar skills establishing him as a young prodigy. As the late 70's continued, Watanabe created over a dozen jazz fusion albums, while also performing guitar segments on other musicians' albums. He travelled with Yellow Magic Orchestra on their tour in 1979 and was a key collaborator with many of the musicians involved, in particular with Ryuichi Sakamoto.

In the months before the famous Yellow Magic Orchestra performance in the Greek Theater, the two would work together on Watanabe's Kylyn, with Akiko Yano also making an appearance. While the album was rooted in Watanabe's characteristic jazz-funk style of fusion, there were some innovations made thanks to Sakamoto's experience with synthesizers after working on his solo debut, Thousand Knives of Ryuichi Sakamoto. The end result is a fascinating blend, with the album often feeling like an offshoot of Yellow Magic Orchestra, but with the maturity and intense song structures that jazz fusion had to offer.

The first full-length track Sonic Boom has synth usage mostly in the background, but is a solid fusion track which gives each of its instruments breathing room to take the spotlight. Water Ways Flow Backward Again features a signature Yano piano performance, and she would later provide vocals for I'll Be There. A Miles Davis cover, Milestones, also makes an appearance, featuring a strong guitar performance from Watanabe while the drums keep up in respectable fashion.

A live version, Kylyn Live, would be released in the same year. Watanabe would continue to release albums in the decades to follow, including The Spice of Life and its sequel, maintaining consistency while establishing himself as a central figure in Japanese jazz fusion.

by TeaKanji, rateyourmusic.com

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Kazumi Watanabe - Kylyn (1979)

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Kazumi Watanabe - Kylyn (1979)

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Kazumi Watanabe - Kylyn (1979)

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