Herbie Mann - Gagaku & Beyond '1976

Tracks list

This is easily the strangest record Herbie Mann ever made -- and thats saying
something. Released as an import-only in 1976, Gagaku & Beyond had Mann working
in the world music fusion genre with great success long before new age or world
music were ever marketing catch phrases. This set puts the family of Mann --
that included bassist Tony Levin, drummer Steve Gadd, guitarist Sam T. Brown, as
well as Pat Rebillot on keyboards -- in close proximity to the stellar Japanese
ensemble Minuro Muraoka. Muraokas group concentrated on performing the royal
court music of Japan, gagaku, with original instruments that include samisen,
koto, riu teki, kakko, shoko, shakuhachi, and the big drums, taiko o-daiko and
the wa-daiko. In addition, on track one, Shomyo, the two bands are joined by
Modern Shomyo Study, a quartet of chanting zen monks. Exotic, huh? Yes, and so
stirring and beautifully textured its a wonder that hundreds of recordings were
not modeled on its subtle ambiences, gloriously rich charts, and tasteful
engagements. Manns group doesnt try to be Japanese, nor do the Japanese
musicians try to be jazzers. They engage each other in a place of respect,
frankness, and hauntingly similar intentions: to articulate inner spaces using
spare structures to illuminate timbre, breath, space, and tonalities. Yes, the
music is melodic, though some may find Shomyo a little jarring with its chants,
but they are seamless, edgeless, warm, and full. The two ensembles dont play
together all the time -- there are various configurations at work over the
albums five cuts -- but those details are for listeners to sort on their own.
For now, this is, along with Manns more soul- and bossa-oriented recordings, one
of his most essential works: groundbreaking, heartrendingly beautiful, and full
of deep, contemplative soul. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

 
Tracks:

01 Shomyo (Monks Chant) (14:22)
02 Mavue Over Blues (13:00)
03 Kurodabushi (5:25)
04 Etenraku (8:51)
05 Gagaku And Beyond (7:21)

Personnel:

Bass - Tony Levin (tracks: A1, A2, B3) 
Drums - Steve Gadd (tracks: A1, A2, B3) 
Engineer - Yuichi Shima 
Flute - Herbie Mann (tracks: A1 to B1, B3) 
Guitar - Sam Brown (tracks: A1, A2, B3) 
Keyboards - Pat Rebillot (tracks: A1, A2, B3) 
Mastered By - George Piros 
Producer - Herbie Mann 
Remix - Lew Hahn

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