Customer Reviews

Between Black & White

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This CD, like all of Hiroshima's work, has the effect of drawing in the listener and enveloping him/her with their own unique tonal blend. My only disappointment is that there isn't more taiko (Johnny Mori) on this album. I love the strong, traditional stuff with the Asian influence filtering through the smooth jazz focus. There is, gratefully, a lot of June Kuramoto's koto magic featured. What a talent! This band is an L.A. original with a strong local following that is ever-growing outward - another treasure unique to Los Angeles. I can't wait for the next CD!

After experimenting with "Urban World Music," Hiroshima is back and this time they've stuck to their original formula for success: Creating instrumentals that run deep! They only included one song with lyrics, "The Door Is Open," and it's the cream of the crop because this CD is mostly a showcase of Hiroshima's latest signature jazz sound. The instrumentals on this CD is the music style of Hiroshima that has kept me coming back for 15 years!

This is Hiroshima in their element. The sound, the vibe, the music....the very essence of smooth. My only complaints are that 1.) Kimya Seward, a fine vocalist, is no longer singing with the group, and 2.) the band's rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" didn't find it's way onto this disc. If you've seen the band recently, you will attest to these mild complaints. Otherwise, let's hope that Windham Hill doesn't "sanitize" jazz too much with the signing of all of these "smooth jazz" acts (The Rippingtons, Spyro Gyra, and Earl Klugh to name a few) and then having them put out "new-age sounding pap". This disc hovers dangerously close!

I am 19 and am sick of campus rock music, so I dared to check out something new & different. I like Kodo, but wanted something a little different. I saw the Hiroshima cd, and figured I was throwing money away, but after only 2 minutes of listening, I knew that I had a real winner. I can't wait to buy thier past music! This is a really unique sound that I only wish I would have found sooner!

Hiroshima's latest album: Between Black and White, is one of their best yet. The group has returned to their original jazz genre, without many vocal tracks to distract from their unique sound, for instance, their previous album: Urban World Music has contained. My first listening to this album, had me spellbound, which the music took me into another world of it's own like no other jazz artist could maintained. I love every song on this album, and it was well worth the wait from one of the best contemporary jazz artists in the industry, and I am waiting for their next project to be released. This CD is a "MUST" to be purchased by Hiroshima fans and others who are not familiar with their great talent and unique sound. Between Black and White has deliver my expectations,and it's well worth the money spent, and more. after listening to this CD, I will guarantee that you will not be disappointed. I just can't comprehend on why this group has not receive the national recognition they truly deserve from the music industry. Spread the word.

Hiroshima is, without doubt, an unprecedented band for the fusion of Jazz and Asian rhythms and instrumentals. This is the album which shows this best. I have tried several others but, alas, Hiroshima seems persistently interested in mediocre vocals and even less noteworthy lyrics. Please, please, please stick to the instrumentals which are so wonderful in "Between Black and White". Everything else is second best.

I ordered this cd and got the Bridges cd instead. That would not have been so bad, except the case was cracked and the cd smudged.

After L. A. and other great efforts Hiroshima looses steam with this effort. While the album is not bad it does lack the energy of the previous efforts. A three-year mountain of waiting has produced a molehill of sound. This album is only for the most rabid fans of the group other should steer clear and spend there hard earned cash somewhere else.