Sunday, 7 February 2010

Casiopea vs The Square - Live 2004




Genre: Jazz, Fusion, jazz - rock
Format: Flac + cue + log
Released: 2004
Label: Sony Music





01. Omens of Love
02. Looking Up
03. Kapiolani
04. Justice
05. Once in a Blue Moon
06. Midnight Circle
07. Yuh-Ja
08. Mid Manhattan
09. Eccentric Games
10. Nab That Chap!!
11. Japanese Soul Brothers
12. Fightman
13. Truth
14. Asayake








The first disc of the double disc set starts with both groups performing together for the two opening tracks. Then The Square takes center stage for seven tracks, and give up the stage to Casiopea for eight tracks. On the second disc members from each group square off against one another. Guitar, Keyboard, Drum, and Bass battles encompass the first ten tracks. The last two tracks of the disc has the groups reuniting for two encore tracks.








CBW - Electric (2005)




Genre: Jazz
Format: Flac + cue + log
Released: 2005
Label: Chesky Records





01. Wolfbane (Lenny White)
02. BB Blues (Larry Coryell)
03. So What (Miles Davis)
04. Sex Machine (Sylvester Stewart)
05. Black Dog (Page/Plant/Baldwin)
06. Footprints (Wayne Shorter)
07. Born Under a Bad Sign (Bell/Jones)
08. Low Blow (Victor Bailey)
09. Rhapsody and Blues (Larry Coryell)





By: Rick Calic

That lineup conjures musical magic in the minds of Jazz Rock fans, and rightfully so. Larry Coryell was a true Jazz Rock pioneer and arguably inventor as well. Lenny White the legendary
drummer in Return to Forever and on the groundbreaking Miles Davis Bitches Brew recordings, is a monster often overlooked by fans in favor of flashier style drummers. Victory Bailey originally “that guy that took over for Pastorius?? in Weather Report has grown into a phenomenal musician in every respect. Then for the icing on the cake, the Cd is on Chesky, well
known for their extremely high quality recordings. I was really putting high expectations on
this recording for all those reasons.
For those of you not familiar with Home Theater or Multi-Channel recordings, you might
experience an ambience you’re not used to. Anyone with a DVD-Audio or SACD player will tell
you. Don’t let that fool you, the recording is really amazing and I enjoyed both Stereo and Multi-Channel listening.
If there’s an issue with the performance on this Cd, you have to keep in mind that the type of
recording made here is virtually live in the studio. If anyone remembers the vinyl Direct to
Disk recordings, I’m sure they’ll also remember the performances were usually not as polished
as a typical studio productions. Same thing here, basically because the recording is so good,
you hear every nuance of sound and most of us are not used to that. Consequently you will also
hear flaws that might have been mixed into oblivion by standard studio productions. In addition
this type of recording is like performing in the Olympics, you get one chance – there’s no “takeovers??. I have several Direct to Disk records including the Japanese released VSOP “Five Stars?? , Herbie Hancock’s “Direct Step??, Paul Jackson’s “Black Octopus?? and The Great Jazz
Trio’s “Direct from LA??, and they all have wrong notes, missed beats, and other minor flaws
that would have probably been "fixed" in a standard recording.
I personally found the music on Electric to be disappointing at first, but dismiss that as having expectations that were not realistic and may revise that statement after a few more listens. In addition, this is not a recording of some young Jazz Rockers trying to blow your socks off. Rather, it’s the sound of a relaxed trio of exceptional veterans playing some fun stuff together. They play a Led Zeppelin tune, a Sly Stone tune, a Miles Davis classic, and some original compositions. None of them show the slightest effort to push the envelope or break new ground, it’s just good stuff.
Overall, this may not be the best Jazz Rock recording ever made, but it is certainly worth
owning. Take your testosterone level down a few notches, sit back and enjoy a live concert by
three of the finest musicians of our times.






Friday, 5 February 2010

Teodosi Spasov - Ultramarin (2001)




Genre: Jazz, Ethnic/Jazz
Format: Flac + cue + log
Released: 2001
Label: Kuker Myuzyk





01. Rada
02. Theodosii Spassov solo
03. Rapship, Sapship, Rapshipsarap
04. Tatar blus / Enver Izmailov solo
05. At Sea
06. Barabar
07. Near the Grapes
08. Morning






Credits:

Record of "Ultramarine" was made on 30th Deutsche Jazz Festival in Frankfurt. It participates
Enver Izmaylov and guitarist who is already well known in Germany. Theodosius Spasov (flute,
vocals), Anatoly Vapirov (saxophone) and Stoyan Yankoulov (drum, percussion) create an independent "Bulgarian World jazz" in a new form, which speaks for itself with free improvisation with singing without words ... Impresivniyat and often melancholic sound of the pipe is mixed with the voice of Sax on Vapirov and deep pounding drums as if the instruments belonged to one different ages. With breathtaking ease Enver Izmaylov be joined with clean guitar line. Everything is played a dance as close to the Bulgarian wedding music - zasvirva increasingly faster and faster, almost of ecstasy, a brilliant solo izpalnenieya. Once it is rock, which is obvious after Arabic influences are or breadth and loneliness Some Bulgarian landscape - beautiful ornament in spokynite more times. "Trio Story" deserves its name - "Ultramarine" is "Music to sleep." KARINA shackles / Dzhazdaymenshan


Приказки с край и без-край, разказани от Теодосий Спасов
И още за музиката и хората...




Казват,че синьото било най-чистият цвят, най-дълбокият - цветът му все иска да убягва. Но и най-студеният. "Когато синьото потъмнее, то се превръща в път на съня. Там съзнателната мисъл малко по малко отстъпва пред несъзнателната, както и дневната светлина неусетно се превръща в нощна, в нощносиня".

"Ултрамарин" се нарича последният албум на трио "Приказка". Един музикален проект от световна величина. Издаден от "Кукер Музика", което в имена означава Димитър Панев, Румен Спасов, Иво Христов и Виктор Лилов. Това е свирене на живо - известните български музиканти Теодосий Спасов, Стоян Янкулов и Анатоли Вапиров свирят заедно със също тъй известния татарски китарист Енвер Измаилов.

Всъщност триото се създаде малко случайно. Обадиха ми се от Фондация "Отворено общество" и ме поканиха за концерт в Маями. Анатоли Вапиров беше "варненската линия" в проекта. Аз предложих Стоян Янкулов. Така започна историята, която се въплъти в три албума - единият, издаден в Германия, а другите, тук, в България. "Ултрамарин" е последният, това за мен е "каймакът" на "Приказка", творческият й таван. Най-доброто е, че Енвер свиреше с нас. Това провокира любопитство, надви привикването - ние бяхме свирили дълго време заедно. Даде един хармоничен баланс в изпълненията.

Първо само чух за Аполониевските "приказки" на триото, отзивите бяха страхотни. После ги гледах. Звуко-думи в непонятен синхрон. Не съм си представяла, че Яворов може да ми звучи. За кой ли път откривам за себе си Теодосий и Стоян. Музика, която сякаш преминава през хората, които я свирят, през тези, които я слушат. Идва отнякъде много далече и се запътва пак нанякъде. Въпреки че ни се иска да я задържим.

Концертът е една работа, която трябва да се свърши максимално добре, с отдаденост от всички. Да няма на сцената дребнави мисли и дрязги. Когато ти си се изкачил там, си се пренесъл в някакви други нива и измерения. Да чувстваш на сцената дребния човек, "човещинките" - това не искам да ми се случва. Наистина в такива моменти ставам изключително чувствителен, започвам да чета мислите на хората, които са около мен. Започвам да ги усещам - дори какви семейни проблеми имат. Това ме напряга до краен предел, камо ли пък завист да се появи. Свиренето е партньорство. Аз не съм от типа музиканти, които правят състезание на сцената, "режат глави" на публиката и нещо такова - това за мен е антимузика. Аз искам да правя изкуство, вярвам, че го правя, а не да бъда състезател или "екзекутор" на публиката си. На сцената различни хора са заедно - един с една цел, друг с друга - поради различни обстоятелства. Но всички те трябва да правят изкуство заедно. Лошото е, че аз наистина усещам тези "изключвания" от художествената посока и като виждам, че на сцената някой се занимава с друго или си мисли колко струват обувките, които ще си купи утре, как може да спечели от това още и още - тогава у мен настъпват съмнения в труда ми. Най-доброто в такава ситуация е човек да спре. Както аз един ден ще спра и ще сляза от сцената и няма да досаждам на публиката със своите "мощи". Защото изкуството е за млади и красиви хора. Няма значение, че може душата ми да е "млада и красива". Няма да има значение и това, че публиката ще се радва - че съм успял още един концерт да направя. Да победя по някакъв начин. За мен музиката не е победа над нещо, това е любов преди всичко. Има хора, за които това е недостъпно. А някои не познават любовта дори. Стремят се към нея и когато им я поднесеш, покажеш им я - те са готови с най-голямата си възможна грубост да я отблъснат, "захвърлят" и да кажат - че нищо не се е случило. Ето такива "приказки" ми се въртят в главата сега.

Преди няколко дни Стоян Янкулов сподели, че на концерта във Франкфурт свирил като че ли подсъзнателно "за последно". И едва ли някога ще свири по този начин.

Между другото аз съм много щастлив, че Стоян е човекът, който успя да се развие в това трио. Това беше една школа за него, той откри как трябва да се свири, освободено, намери си инструментариума там и се оформи като един интернационален перкусионист, музикант и човек на високо ниво, на когото му предстои да се развива още и още.

Всъщност какво е "краят" на една история, кой със сигурност е щастливият край на една приказка?

Аз много се зарадвах на излизането на този албум наистина. Даже си го държа у дома, още на никого не съм го дал. Харесва ми и името. Ясно е. Може да скрива "неяснотите", фалшивото. За мен името е нещо много важно, код към човека. Предопределя пътя му. Може да ти разкрие какъв е, какво има "вътре" у него.

Наистина последната композиция "Утро" е някакъв "край", финал. Но има и стремления оттатък него - те обаче са съвсем, съвсем други. Може и космически да са. Питам се, трябваше ли да "умре" някой от нас, за да свърши Приказката. Мисля, че сме достигнали възрастта, в която не трябва да си губим времето с кухи начинания. Иначе по-добре е да не се захващаме. По-добре е да ходим някъде по шумите, да почиваме, да си мислим...

Трябва каквото започнем да го правим - да е много хубаво, точно такова, че да остане.

Катя Атанасова

Theodosii Spassov is a Bulgarian traditional music and jazz performer of world renown. He began studying the kaval at the music high school in Kotel and later at the Academy of Music and Dance Art in Plovdiv graduating in 1986. He developed his own unique style of playing the instrument by intertwining traditional music with elements taken from jazz, classical and pop music. He has performed with eminent Bulgarian and foreign performers and bands such as Jazz Line, the Balgarka Trio, Dave Liebman, Dimitrios Vasilakis, Andy Shepherd, Yildiz Ibrahimova, Ennio Morricone, Jamey Haddad, Veselin Nikolov, Albert Mangelsdorf, M. Johnson, Ivo Papazov, the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Kazumi Watanabe, the Acoustic Version, the Mystery of Bulgarian Voices, Rabbi Abu Halil, Milcho Leviev, Dionisi Savapoulos, etc. In 1994 he performed with Sofia Women’s Radio Choir and won with it the Grammy Award for The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices. During the season 1998- 99 he worked in the USA with the world-famous Irish dance show River Dance. At the fourth European Jazz Night Festival, Theodosii Spassov was a featured performer along with other jazz musicians, including Winton Marsalis. He won the Special Prize of the festival in Detroit (USA) in 1994. He was also laureate of the International Art Academy in Paris (1996). In Bulgaria he was elected twice Musician of the Year (1997, 2002).

From 1994 to 1999 he worked as artistic director of the Philip Koutev National Folklore Ensemble. Since 2000 he has been member of the Programme Council of the Bulgarian National Radio. He is also soloist of the Bulgarian National Radio. In 1998 he was elected member of the River Dance Managing Body.

His music was released on 15 CDs. He composed film music and performed it. In 1993 he wrote the music to the French-Bulgarian production Granitza (The Border), directed by Hristian Nochev and Ilian Simeonov (1994); the following year he wrote the score to the TV film Gori, gori, oganche (Burn, Little Fire, Burn), directed by Rumyana Petkova (1994). He also made a number of folksong and instrumental arrangements, and also authored instrumental pieces..




Saturday, 30 January 2010

Bass Extremes - Cookbook (1998)




Genre: Jazz
Format: Flac + cue + log
Released: November 24, 1998
Label: AGAT





01. To Serve Man
02. 1/2 Fast
03. Not a 3
04. What So
05. Acoustic Brew
06. Madonna Lee
07. Bassically Yours
08. Cool Groove
09. Glorius Pastorius
10. Eye of the Beholder
11. Gloria's Child
12. Little Stevie Ray Charles Mingus





Bass Extremes: Just Add Water reunites bassists Steve Bailey and Victor Wooten with special guests John Patitucci, Anthony Jackson, Billy Sheehan, and Oteil Burbridge. There are no “multiple tracks” from any one on this recording. Wooten and Bailey each played one track of bass on each song (when listening in stereo, Wooten is panned left, and Bailey is panned right). All special guest bass guitarists are panned center, and each guest contributed one track of bass on their respective track, for maximum low end listenability. Bass Extremes: Just Add Water once again brings together the top eschelon of bassists in the world to create an incredible display of musicality and phenomenal bass chops.





Bass Extremes: Victor Wooten And Steve Bailey With Greg Bissonette

Tuesday, 26 January 2010

Dhafer Youssef - Divine Shadows (2006)



Genre: Jazz, Arabic, Sufi, World music
Format: Flac + cue + log
Released: 2006
Label: Emarcy Import





01. Cantus Lamentus
02. 27th Century Ethos
03. Miel et Cendres
04. Winds And Shadows
05. Odd Poetry
06. 27th Ethos
07. Persona Non Grata
08. Postludium
09. Eleventh Stone
10. Ivresse Divine
11. Un Soupir Eternel





"... the Tunisian vocalist and oud virtuoso juxtaposes the ancient, mystical, hypnotic music of
Islamic Sufism with the textures of electric jazz." TIME OUT
Divine Shadows - review

Divine Shadows sees the culmination of Dhafer Youssef's musical journey over the past five
years. This, Dhafer's fourth album, consolidates ideas that have emerged through his three
albums on Enja Records whilst introducing a new dynamic.
Since his arrival in Europe in 1990, Tunisian vocalist and oud player Dhafer Youssef, has
established himself as one of the most exciting artists working in contemporary music. Bringing
together the spiritual quality of Sufi with the most cutting edge sound of European jazz, has
created a distinctive sound synonymous with his name.

Produced by Norwegian guitarist, composer and producer Eivind Aarset, and featuring music which has formed the basis of the group's live concerts for the past year, Dhafer's debut album for Jazzland displays a mature cohesion. Unlike previous albums, Dhafer's voice and oud are at the fore in this album, from the glorious sweeping vocals of the opening track Cantus Lamentus to the purity of the oud on Miel et Cendres.
The balance of tracks between string quartet and the band create a breadth of textures and
musical styles that gives the album diversity and momentum. Gradually building and falling away from the hymn like beginning through the 11 meter groove of Eleventh Stone, the spatial glitchy electronics of 27 th Century Ethos and gently closing with the tender Un Soupir Eternel.

Work on Divine Shadows began almost two years ago when BBC Radio 3 commissioned Dhafer to write 45 minutes of new music for a Contemporary Music Network UK tour featuring a special line up.
Over the first three albums and through his live performances, Dhafer had become increasingly
inspired by the sound world and improvisatory style of the Norwegian scene. It was this cinematic and compelling sound world which Dhafer chose to create a backdrop to his voice and
oud playing.

At the heart of this group is his long term collaborator Eivind Aarset. Having begun working
together in 2001, Dhafer and Eivind have developed a very close personal and musical
relationship. Also drawn from his previous band is drummer Rune Arnesen. Previous bands
featured acoustic bass, however for this new band Dhafer partnered Rune with his colleague from Nils Petter Molvaer's group, electric bass player Audun Erlien. This quartet of truly
remarkable musicians, was topped off by one of Norway's most creative and inspiring musicians,
trumpeter Arve Henriksen.

Divine Shadows introduces a new dimension to the band's live performances. The album has an
added complexity and subtlety, aided by the inclusion of the Oslo Session String Quartet, which
emphasises the melodies, complementing the textures and colours that the core band conjure up.

Divine Shadows reveals the full potential of Dhafer both as a composer and performer, working
with musicians whose creativity provides the perfect vehicle for his music.






Saturday, 23 January 2010

Renaud Garcia-Fons - Oriental Bass 1997



Genre: Jazz/Contemporary Jazz
Format: Flac + cue + log
Released: 1997
Label: Enja





01. Oriental Bass
02. San Juan
03. Goodjinns
04. Oryssa
05. Ghazali
06. Jullundur
07. Hommage A Ostat
08. Bajo Andaluz
09. Jam Buleria
10. Djani






Amazon.com
Playing a five-string acoustic bass, Renaud Garcia-Fons offers a type of global music that owes some of its potency and stylistic flexibility to jazz improvisation. But Garcia-Fons writes in the short liner note to Oriental Bass that his dream of a bass "half Gypsy and half Mauretanian" takes the instrument through Andalusia and the Mediterranean. His compositions travel the same routes, drawing in trombone, flutes, accordion, flamenco guitar, tablas, lute, derbouka, daf, and more. The mix of hand percussion from Eastern Europe and North Africa with flamenco flairs makes Garcia-Fons's music dizzying. This is very springy music, bouncing and bounding with choruses of horns pulsing powerfully. Few composers can balance, much less thrive in, the panoply of national styles that Garcia-Fons draws in with Oriental Bass. --Andrew Bartlett


Sometimes referred to as "the Paganini of double bass," Renaud Garcia-Fons is a composer and five-string bass player who was deeply influenced by the brilliant bassist François Rabbath.
Garcia-Fons actually started his studies in music at an early age. He began with piano when he
was only five, switched to classical guitar at eight, and then to rock in his teens, finally settling on the bass when he was 16. Garcia-Fons lives in Paris and has toured through Germany and Europe performing at festivals. In 1987, he became a member of the Orchestre de Contrebasses. He remained with them for six years, also appearing with the Orchestre National de Jazz during some of that time. ENJA Records released Garcia-Fons' solo debut, Légendes, in the '90s. Alboreá was his next release. The album featured his quartet of Jean-Louis Matinier on accordion, Jacques Mahieux on drums, and Yves Torchinsky on bass. Garcia-Fons' third album,
Oriental Bass, which he composed, was released in 1998. Next, he combined talents with accordionist Jean-Louis Matinier on the album Fuera. Garcia-Fons' music is a rich gypsy mix of
global jazz flavored with Indian, Greek, African, flamenco, Latin American, tango, and new
musette. On many works he is accompanied by a variety of instruments, including guitar, lute,
derbouka, flutes, trombone, and accordion. ~ Charlotte Dillon, All Music Guide







Friday, 22 January 2010

Kadola - Kadola (2003)



Genre: Ethno-Jazz
Format: Flac + cue + log
Released: 2003
Label: Eshel Studios





01. Kadola (Yaron Ziv)
02. Dance Of Life (Aziza Mustafa Zade)
03. Still Waiting 4 Q (Kobi Mishal)
04. Afro Blue (Santamaria)
05. I Vadaut (Uri Kam)
06. My Favorite Things (Richard Rogers)
07. Zula Ba Atuna (Uri Kam)
08. Always Late (Yaron Ziv)
09. Top Hit (Shaul Elman)






About kadola
Kadola - An Israeli Ethno-Jazz Ensemble with a wonderful first album, which includes 9 original segments and standard ones, integrating western music of jazz and blues, together with eastern motifs which exist in the Israeli roots. Using ethnic instruments - bouzouki, accordion and darbuka - provides the melodies a folk-ethnic color, and leads the songs to new surprising associations. Prominent combinations between the styles can be heard in some segments: Kadola (original): based on a traditional Moroccan rhythm and on a western melody. Ei vadaut (original): the composition is influenced by scales and Greek-Balkan rhythms, using instruments which characterize the style. Dance of fire: was originally written and performed by Aziza Mustafa Zadeh- an Azerbaijan pianist and a singer, who lives in Europe. My favorite things: a famous standard whose theme is conveyed by the bouzouki tone. The ensemble, which exists 3 years, is comprised of five senior, talented musicians, graduate of Rimon School for music and of Levinski College. The members of the ensemble have already performed all over the country (Israel), are teaching music in various schools, and are composing and adapting music for youth displays. Some of them have also performed with well known singers and actors in Israel. First album was released in februar 2004, compositions was often used in radio shows

Uri Kam - Guitars 37 years old, a graduate of Rimon School (1994). A player in various ensembles, a composer, and an adapter. During the live performance plays the guitars, bass and the bouzouki. Kobi Mishal - Piano and Accordion 37 years old, a graduate of Rimon School (1992).Composes and adapts music for shows. Instructs music in music schools and in music classes in high schools. An active participant in singing, music and theater performances (with various singers and actors). Plays in various television shows. During the live performance plays the piano and the accordion. Yaron Ziv - Guitars 37 years old. A player in various ensembles, a composer, and an adapter. Instructs music in music schools all over the country. Plays in shows and music performances. During the live performance plays the acoustic guitar, ud and bass. Shaul Elman - Drums 28 years old, a graduate of Rimon School (2001). A graduate of Levinski College in music teaching and special education.Instructs music in music schools, integrating musical special education. A player in various ensembles, a composer, and an adapter. During the live performance plays the drums and other special percussion instruments. Noa Vax – Percussion Instruments 27 years old, a graduate of Rimon School (2001) and of Levinski College. B.A. in music teaching. Army service as a member of education corps' band. Participates in various music productions and plays in famous television programs.During the live performance plays the kongs, jamba, bells, darbuka and other special percussion instruments.







Sunday, 17 January 2010

Andrea Parodi, Al Di Meola - Midnight Night In Sardinia Armentos (2005)



Genre: Jazz,Ethnic/Jazz
Format: Flac + cue + log
Released: 2005
Label: Mint




01. Amargura
02. Deo Ti Gheria Maria (The Sound Of Silence)
03. Efix
04. Umbras
05. No Photo Reposare
06. Creation
07. La Maza
08. Armentos
09. Astrolicamus
10. A Foua*



* Recorded at "Teatro Comunale" of Cagliari 22 June 2005
Line-up/Musicians

- Al Di Meola / Guitar
- Andrea Parodi / Voice

Plus:
- Gumbi Ortiz / Percussion
- Gavino Murgia / Sax, Launeddas, Sulittu, Bassu, Duduk, Ethnic Instruments
- Roberto Dani / Brums

Also plus: Trio Ammentos:
- Paolo "Peo" Alfonsi / Classic Guitar
- Salvatore Maiore / Contrabass
- Fausto Beccalossi / Accordion and Whistle
Releases information

Helikonia/ Rai Trade RTPE 003 (2005)

Recorded 8 August 2004 at "Rocce Rosse & Blues 2004" at Santa Maria Navarrese (Nuoro, Italy)






Tuesday, 12 January 2010

Akira Jimbo - Flower 1996



Genre: Jazz, Fusion
Format: ape + cue + log
Released: 1996
Label: Countdown





01. Blooming Forest
02. Let the Breeze
03. Violet
04. Rouge
05. Sloppy Joe
06. Trilal Root
07. Rosary
08. Red Soil
09. Cactus
10. Windflower






This CD is pretty cool! It is nothing like the Casiopea stuff, or anything like his videos. This CD has akira playing a more laid back style. If you want to here ferocious solos(as if he has anything to prove), don't get this. If you want to here a nice pocket that feels good, I totally reccomend this.





Sunday, 3 January 2010

Tetsuo Sakurai - Gentle Hearts Tour 2004




Genre: Jazz,Bass virtuoso
Format: Flac + cue + log
Released: 2004
Label: EMI




01. Meeting of the Spirits
02. Dawn
03. Noonward Race
04. A Lotus on Irish Streams
05. Vital Transformation
06. The Dance of Maya
07. You Know, You Know
08. Awakening



In 2001, Japanese bassist Tetsuo Sakurai released an awesome hard-hitting fusion album called "Gentle Hearts." This great album featured Greg Howe on guitar and Dennis Chambers on drums. The trio did a tour last year with Akira Onozuka on keys, the result of which is this great live DVD "Gentle Hearts Tour 2004" (they released a CD version as well which has some, but not all, of the tunes from the DVD version). The DVD mainly consists of a show recorded live in Yokohama Japan on September 5th, 2004. Most of the songs are off the Gentle Hearts album. They also play "Proto-Cosmos" and "Extraction" from the awesome Greg Howe, Victor Wooten, & Dennis Chambers album "Extraction", and a couple of others including a cool bass & drums duet called "Firewater." It also has a couple of rehearsal clips, an interview segment, and a couple of other backstage pieces. I don't know if the songs were played at the show in the same order that they appear on the disc, but it seems that way since Howe gets better as the disc progresses. I'd say Howe's best playing is on "Extraction" and "Wonderland in the Sky." I really like Akira Onozuka's keyboard playing on this disc as well. He does some cool trading off with Howe on "Extraction," and plays great solos on "Proto Cosmos" and "Wonderland in the Sky." Sakurai plays a six-string bass throughout the show, and is an absolute monster! On "Brain Storm" he's frickin unconscious! Greg Howe fans, and fans of the heavy-fusion genre in general will definitely dig this DVD. Highly recommended!