EXPECTATION

[Machine Translation] Three years after their shocking debut with "Five Dance", The Blend, led by Yoshio Suzuki (b), aka "Chin-san", is back with their first studio album! The appeal of this band, which is made up of mid-career to veteran musicians such as Atsusuke Mine (sax), Keisuke Nakamura (tp), Hakuei Kim (p), and Tamaya Honda (ds), is the beautiful and catchy original songs written by Suzuki and the improvisations in which their personalities collide over a matured groove. This album features the title track and other unique new songs, as well as live favorites "SHINJUKU" and "BURNING POINT," and "CHIN SAN" from Atsusuke Mine's "2nd Album" (1971), re-recorded in a new arrangement. The standard tune "MONA LISA" played by a bowed player is a masterpiece that touches the heartstrings. Yoshio Suzuki, who has played in many famous bands in Japan and abroad, including Sadao Watanabe and Art Blakey, and who has also charmed fans with his own East Bounce and Bass Talk, creates a fusion of the freedom inherent in jazz and the precision of a band ensemble on The Blend. This is a masterpiece that allows you to enjoy the ever-evolving world of Yoshio Suzuki! ( Released by: FRIENDS MUSIC ) ( Label: FRIENDS MUSIC )

『Five Dance』での衝撃のデビューから3年、満を持して"チンさん"こと鈴木良雄(b)率いるThe Blendの初スタジオ作が完成! 峰厚介(sax)、中村恵介(tp)、ハクエイ・キム(p)、本田珠也(ds)という、中堅～ベテランが顔を揃えたこのバンドの魅力は、鈴木が書く美麗でキャッチーなオリジナル曲と、熟成されたグルーヴの上で個性がぶつかり合うインプロヴィゼーション。本作にはタイトル曲をはじめとするユニークな新曲を中心に、ライヴでお馴染みの「SHINJUKU」や「BURNING POINT」の他、峰厚介の『2nd Album』(1971年)から「CHIN SAN」も新アレンジで再録。弓弾きで奏でられるスタンダード曲「MONA LISA」は心の琴線に触れる名演。渡辺貞夫やアート・ブレイキーなど国内外の有名バンドを歴任、自身のEAST BOUNCEやBASS TALKでもファンを魅了し続けてきた鈴木良雄。The Blendで彼が描き出すのは、ジャズが本来持つ"自由さ"とバンドならではの"精緻なアンサンブル"の融合。進化を続ける鈴木良雄ワールドを堪能できる傑作が完成! 【発売元: FRIENDS MUSIC】【レーベル名: FRIENDS MUSIC】