Kyoto Jazz Massive with Vanessa Freeman -- The Brightness Of These Days

 

For the last several months, I've been enjoying the shortened version of the NHK World anime "Maiko-san chi no Makanai-san"（舞妓さんちのまかないさん...Kiyo in Kyoto: From the Maiko House） based on the 2016 manga; apparently, we're getting bits and pieces of the original episodes but even then, those 10 minutes each Friday afternoon have been very soothing. There's that sumptuous combination of the demanding development of the maiko along with the home-cooked goodness of the dishes with everything set in the lovely setting of Kyoto.

From what I've seen of the episodes, I don't think that the main characters of Kiyo and Sumire can have much of a nightlife in the ancient capital; Kiyo is too busy thinking about what to cook for everybody the next day while Sumire has her training and entertaining duties (for one episode, the latter was freaking out about even entering a konbini). However, I gather that somewhere in Kyoto, there is some sort of nightclubbing quarter.

And therefore, I segue into the jazz and electronic project of Kyoto Jazz Massive featuring Shuya and Yoshihiro Okino（沖野修也・沖野好洋）. I've already mentioned them in past articles for Shinichi Osawa (大沢伸一...aka Mondo Grosso) and Makoto, but KJM finally gets their first solo article here on KKP with the second track of their first bona fide studio album "Spirit of the Sun" (September 2002).

I'm still kinda hazy on what this Crossover Jazz is all about but from what I've read about it on Wikipedia, it's jazz with all sorts of other musical genres coming in (maybe it's a "Multiverse of Madness" sort of thing). That second track, by the way, is "The Brightness Of These Days" with Vanessa Freeman providing some sultry vocals. The backing music by the Okino brothers is jazz oomphed up with some beats and grooviness. It's not quite enough to get folks up and dancing but they can enjoy their cocktails and chill + sway at their dimly-lit tables in the club.

Would also love to give my compliments to whoever came up with the album cover for "Spirit of the Sun" with the silhouette of Kyoto Tower in front of the setting sun.