SADAO WATANABE - Birds of Passage [1987]

Altoist Sadao Watanabe is considered one of Japan's top jazzmen. Some of his recordings are quite commercial but this particular one finds him paying tribute to Charlie Parker with what was called "the great jazz trio:" pianist Hank Jones, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams. The seven selections (four Bird compositions and three standards often played by Parker) are all given strong treatment by the quartet. Watanabe's true love is bebop and his solos here are very much in that tradition yet displaying a personality of his own.  by Scott Yanow
Tracklist  
1 Round Trip 5:51
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Dan Huff
Keyboards, Arranged By – Russell Ferrante
Percussion – Alex Acuna
Saxophone – Sadao Watanabe
2 Pastral 6:05
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Dan Huff
Keyboards, Arranged By – Russell Ferrante
Percussion – Alex Acuna
Saxophone – Sadao Watanabe
3 Salvador 5:03
Backing Vocals – Alexandria Brown, Carl Carwell, Lynn Davis, Maria Leporace
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Carlos Vega
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Percussion, Backing Vocals – Paulinho Da Costa
Saxophone, Backing Vocals – Sadao Watanabe
Synthesizer [Synclavier] – George Duke
4 Just A Touch 4:36
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Carlos Vega
Flute – Hubert Laws
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Saxophone – Sadao Watanabe
Synthesizer [Synclavier] – George Duke
5 Burung Burung "Birds" 5:39
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Carlos Vega
Flugelhorn – Freddie Hubbard
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Saxophone – Sadao Watanabe
Synthesizer [Synclavier] – George Duke
6 Birds Of Passage 5:24
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Carlos Vega
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Saxophone – Sadao Watanabe
7 Chaser 5:31
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – John Robinson 
Keyboards, Arranged By – Russell Ferrante
Percussion – Alex Acuna
Saxophone – Sadao Watanabe
8 Tanza Night 5:05
Backing Vocals – Daniel Acuna, Diana Acuna, Jimmy Haslip, Petsye Powell, Regina Acuna
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – John Robinson 
Keyboards, Arranged By – Russell Ferrante
Percussion, Backing Vocals – Alex Acuna
Saxophone, Backing Vocals – Sadao Watanabe

 SADAO WATANABE - Birds of Passage 

[1987] Elektra / CBR320 / scans

O Púbis da Rosa

RANDY BRECKER & ELIANE ELIAS – Amanda (1986) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Considering the talents of trumpeter Randy Brecker and his wife, pianist Eliane Elias, one would expect their 1985 collaboration to be quite worthwhile. However this out-of-print LP is a disappointment for they perform generally weak material, emphasize electronics and utilize rather dull rhythms. Brecker's tone is distorted on many of the numbers and even the presence of altoist Sadao Watanabe, tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker, bassist Mark Egan and drummer Danny Gottlieb on some selections does not save this effort. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :

1. Splash (5:22)

2. Para Nada (For Nothing) (7:09)

3. Pandamandium (6:25)

4. Samba De Bamba (8:16)

5. Amandamada (4:46)

6. Guaruja (8:51)

Credits :

Eliane Elias-piano, keyboards, flute, lead and background vocals

Randy Brecker-trumpet, electric trumpet

Michael Brecker-tenor saxophone, alto flute, background vocals

Dave Weckl-drums

Danny Gottlieb-drums

Will Lee-bass, background vocals

Manolo Badrena-percussions

Mark Egan-bass

Jeff Minorov-guitars

Sadao Watanabe-alto saxophone

Cyro Baptista-percussions

Chris Parker-drums

Barry Finnerty-guitar, background vocals