Hana [Enhanced]

Tak Matsumoto | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 25, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Favored Nations
• ASIN: B000088NUG
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #315,884 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #56 in Music > Indie Music > World Music > Far East & Asia

Track Listings

1. Koi-Uta

2. #1090 Asian Sun

3. Hana

4. Machi

5. Midousuji Blue

6. Red Sky

7. Little Wing

8. Romeo & Juliet

9. Hallelujah

10. Engaged

11. You Know...

12. 2011

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars STRANGE BEAUTIFUL MUSIK, May 28, 2003

By 

HANS D HARMS (runaway bay, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hana (Audio CD)

What a pleasant surprise. This fusion of eastern melodies with western rock and classical elements works like never before on this CD. Everyone I have played this to loves it ( not always a good sign ). Georgous melodies, superb playing and a wide range of styles keeps you entertained and challenged throughout. Comparisons are hard to find ( NEAL SCHON, JOHNNY A,PHIL KEAGGY)
and only serve to suggest the flavour rather than the style of this unique musical experience. It gets better with every listen.
Pity MATSUMOTO's other releases arn't available outside japan.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Fully-Realized, August 3, 2004

By 

truster38 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hana (Audio CD)

Let me start off by saying that I'm a college kid with an acoustic guitar. You know, the type that denounces instrumental guitar albums every chance I get. But, after hearing about Japanese virtuoso Tak Matsumoto's "Hana," I decided that I should check it out. I hated it upon first listen and in it went to the bottom of my CD stack. Boy what a mistake I made. Today, "Hana" is one of my favorite albums. Don't let categories and labels get you. Good music is good music, period. In Matsumoto, we have a true guitar treasure. His Les Paul can deliver stinging blues-rock leads (Midousuji Blue, Little Wing) and imitate the moaning, gorgeous sound of an Erhu (#1099 Asian Sun, Koi Uta). His nylon-string sings the way I wish vocalists could (Hana). He even gives our ears some silky-smooth jazz for good measure (2011). It's amazing how classy this album is. No pyrotechnics, no histrionics, just an uncommonly transcendent musicianship. Matsumoto's melodies are lyrical and his technique perfect. And even though the rhythm sections can sound a bit bland at times, this is not a "guitar" album. This is true music in every sense of the word, made by a man who has completely mastered his instrument. The guitar really is his voice. I've checked out his band, the legendary B'z, and he was never allowed to branch out musically the way he does here. I guess it's good to know that even a player of Matsumoto's skill had to go solo in order to showcase what he's really capable of. Don't expect seven strings and whammy bar mania, folks. Just expect to hear the music of a virtuoso who doesn't need those things to tell a story and pull at his listeners' heart strings.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars melody man who still can kick ...!, April 7, 2003

By 

Benjamin J. Neiman (Phila., Pa. United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hana (Audio CD)

Here is a guitarist who serves up melody on a silver platter. I know some people will complain that this is a bit smooth, but you won't find a better listen in instrumental rock if you like SONGS, not mindless jamming ... . He has great feel, great tone, real good technique and is very inspired. Pick this up if you like players like Tim Pierce, Steve Lukather, Larry Carlton and Jeff Beck. Nice stuff.