Let's Get Started

Gota | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 19, 1999)
• Original Release Date: January 19, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Instinct Records
• ASIN: B00000G4NT
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #169,466 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #55 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Acid Jazz

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

On his list of accomplishments, Japanese drummer Gota Yashiki lists programming, playing, or arranging credits with acts from Simply Red and Sinead O'Connor to Depeche Mode and Massive Attack. On Let's Get Started, a nicely diverse assortment of contemporary jazz targeted squarely at a smooth-jazz radio audience, Gota exercises his ability to compose and perform multi-instrumental audio environments that range from banal to stylishly interesting. Oddly, his album's title track is one of his most undistinguished works, whereas selections such as "Riding the Dawn," distinguished by smart sax lines and a polite but addictive groove, and the romantic, sax-fueled "We'd Better Move On" demonstrate his facility at sculpting above-average (and occasionally very worthwhile) fodder for smooth-jazz playlists. --Terry Wood

From Jazziz

Since both contemporary and acid jazz focus on smooth, groove-oriented music, it was just a matter of time before the underground movement's programmed rhythms found their way into contemporary-jazz studios. Gota's Let's Get Started (Instinct) is a perfect example of how these styles have come together. The album finds drummer and programmer Gota Yashiki mixing retro dance grooves with David Sanborn-esque saxophones and Lee Ritenour-flavored guitars.

--- JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the finest contemporary albums of the year, July 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Let's Get Started (Audio CD)

As a lover of contemporary jazz music, I bought this CD on a whim, after being thoroughly impressed by other releases from Instinct artists like Brian Tarquin and Soundscape UK. Needless to say, this CD does not disappoint. While all the songs are infinetely listenable, I would like to focus on Gota's ability as a songwriter which is quite skilled for a drummer. He knows how to make songs that not only compel the listener to groove to them, but also quieter and bluesier pieces that reveal multi-layered depth. His arrangements for the soloing by some unknown, but very talented musicians, are better than a lot of releases that are being released by more popular contempo artists. Worth mentioning are the instrumental skills by Neil Cowley, who takes some breezy fast-paced solos on acoustic piano, Gota's steady undercurrent of drums and percussion and especially the work of Mark Jaimes and Kenji Jammer on Electric Guitar who show-off their abilities to play fast and clean, yet sometimes crunchy and bluesy and Ian Kirkham (of Simply Red) on Saxophones who plays with so much more guts and passion than Kenny G. or Boney James do that he deserves his own solo project. (sorry reviewer from Connecticut, this is not Sanborn and "Captain Fingers") A top-flite recording all around Instinct is quickly becoming my favorite recording company for Contemporary Jazz

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE BEST, June 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Let's Get Started (Audio CD)

I had almost forgotten about Gota after relocating to another city. After hearing European Comfort (from his first CD) I ordered this one and it instantly has become my favorite Jazz cd.The title cut is infectious and the rest of the set is memorable--only Gota can make a flute sound sexy! An instant classic in my book along with his DAY AND NIGHT cd.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Let's get started... But not with this album., November 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Let's Get Started (Audio CD)

There's a few catchy tunes here, which in-it-self is a great step forward from the patchy, very disappointing and deeply uninteresting earlier album 'It's so different here' (one or two tracks excepted). Individually played - as on the radio - many of these tracks appear to stand up as a worthwhile listen, but as a whole, this album becomes very tiring. For the most part, Gota appears to set up a straight 4/4 pattern, then simply go at it hammer and tongs for the duration of the track. Many non-drummers do better with tape loops or drum machines, at least making an effort to include some variety and thus create/maintain interest. In these days where many smooth jazz artists resort to mechanical drum machine patterns, it seems a great shame Gota seems quite content to emulate one, rather than use these opportunities as a showcase to demonstrate some true 'live drumming' talent - i.e. playing with feeling. Better examples of Gota's drumming exist elsewhere, although to his credit, Gota has at least written these tunes.