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Kenso: In the West (CD, 71: 42); Musea FGBG 4291.AR
Musea, 138 rue de Vallieres
57070 Metz, France
FAX: +33 (0)3 87 36 64 73
Cyberhome: http://www.musearecords.com and
	   http://www.mplant.com/kensoenglish.html

In the West is a live, studio-ready recording from On the West, 
Tokyo performances of Kenso in Sep 1997. (After having my PC's 
Microsoft Word crash three times after this last sentence – I try and 
push on and remember exactly what I was going to say, again!) This 
excellent recording showcases a group that perfectly dances the knife-
edge twixt progressive rock and jazz fusion. At times they remind me of 
Return to Forever and then The Dixie Dregs. Even hints of Happy the Man 
are detected. Kenso is a well-kept Japanese secret to most fusion fans.



	Guitarist Yoshihisa Shimizu handles the fret board like Steve 
Morse and Stanley Whitaker. I even hear Scandinavia's Finnforest or 
Spain's Iceberg visceral-fusion, axe attack in Shimizu's phrasings. 
Expect loads of keyboard interplay and unison lines. Compositions are 
complex, engaging, twisting, stop-n-go flourishes. A myriad of time-
sigs make this weave of sound an astonishingly intricate mosaic of 
textures. Not one but two keyboardists add to the punch and 
fullness of Kenso's sound. Kenichi Oguchi and Kenichi Mitsuda are a fine 
team of synth players. Both Shimizu and Oguchi pen songs with Shimizu 
creating 12 of the 14 songs. Each song's a beautiful aural experience, 
transporting the listener through virtuoso jazz fusion and superbly 
structured, progressive rock -- Mahavishnu Ork-ish one moment and Yes-
like the next.

	Shunji Saegusa is Kenso's memorable bassist and Masayuki 
Muraishi demolishes the drums like a good fusion/progger percussionist 
should. I refuse to recommend any track over the next. They each have 
their own special merit. For high-energy, serious soul-fired tunes that 
will be a collector's item one day I heartily recommend Japan's Kenso. 
This has been . . .	~ John W. Patterson




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