Customer Reviews

Hana

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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.

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.

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.

Tak Matsumoto, the only Asian guitarist to date that owns two signature Les Paul Gibsons, is also song-writer and guitarist of B'z, Japan's best-selling rock band to date. They have been around for 15 years and is hailed as an evergreen band.
HANA features more of the musician and song-writer side of Tak. Koi Uta and Hana, both songs boast beautiful Oriental melody. Who would have guessed that electric guitar and er-hu (ancient Chinese instrumental) combines so well! You would be charmed by Tak's choice of melody and his improvisation skill in all songs. Besides Koi Uta and Hana, I also love #1090, Midosuji Blue, Romeo & Juliet, Engaged and 2011.
For more rocking Tak though, I would recommend any B'z works like Brotherhood or Eleven. The guitar playing is simply MAD!

Tak Matsumoto is a talented Japanese guitarist who is known for his pop rock band the B'z. His solo disc shows much more diversity, running from jazz, movie tunes, and Japanese modern electric folk, if that is even a category (it is now!). The diversity of sounds is impressive as well, using acoustic and electronic percussion, and even string sections and traditional Japanese instruments. It is hard to compare him to any one western musician, but possibly Ireland's Gary Moore, for his lyrical sense and singing tone. Tak plays for the song, showing restraint and taste. A treat for the ears, highly recommended.