RU-vid channel dedicated to the dissemination and appreciation of the masterpieces from the illustrious multi-instrumentalist Masato Honda.
I discovered Japanese Jazz Fusion through the band T-Square (Adventures - 1984). Listening to their entire discography, I got as far as 1991 when the band's first album (New-S) with Masato Honda as the new saxophonist was released, and I was very impressed by the new way of making music that the band developed. I followed the band until Masato Honda left, when he decided to pursue a solo career. Since then I have followed all his rich solo discography and some of the participations he makes with other artists.
Today I am very grateful to have known the Japanese Jazz Fusion thanks to T-Square and to have deepened myself in this style by the various possibilities that Masato Honda incorporates to Fusion, either by the various instruments he plays - exceptionally well - or by his giant creativity in creating unforgettable songs and improvisations.
3:22 i heard that slap riff, thought of Tetsuo Sakurai's Domino Line solo (Mint Jams version), and i was like, is this him? looked at the credits and turns out I was right. Lol! awesome track.
also it's nice to hear something from masato honda that's still got his arranging and harmonic quirks, but leans into the funk wayyy more than most of his stuff. I like it a lot! ive definitely gotta check the rest of this album out
Not gonna lie. I'm always have a varied and weird feeling about Masato Honda since I was a kid. It's like. His time in T- Square When I was a kid : Powerfulllll Yeahhhh 😁 When I grow up : Ahhh, Too Aggressive now for me. His solo career When I was a kid : Nahhh, Too soft for me. Bring his "Megalith" time back. When I grow up : Wow! His tone was more mellow and smooth. I like it very much. Would love to explore more 😁 Now he's appeared to play with T-Square more than before, I like him a lot. And Keiji Matsumoto was totally MVP in many T-Square concert 😁
My opinions on the Honda also changed as I listened to its discography. I'm not going to lie, I like his creations from him more during the time with T-Square and in the first years of his solo career from him, in which he undeniably ended up including many songs that, apparently, had been composed for T -Square albums Of course I really like Honda's "Smooth" tone (like Across the Groove), but the solo albums I like most are Growin' and Solid State Funk with a lot of his "powerfull" tone, without even needing to mention the Voice of Elements which is basically a T-Square without guitar The saddest thing is this lack of new albums... It's been many years without releasing anything new. I hope this return to T-Square bears fruit (I'm sure it will), but so far we haven't even announced an album for this year...
Wait and see 😁 I also recommended "Italian Groove Collective - Smart Working" if you like sax music that have a same vibe of Masato Honda solo music 🙂 The album also good too.
A bit of fun fact: I just read that Good Moon was supposed to be a sister song for Bad Moon and was due to be release on Impressive, Honda's second work with T Square. However, the song was not selected as it was deemed to be too technical. Eventually, Good Moon made it to Honda's solo album, Real Fusion in 2000. So technically, Good Moon was the first song in Honda's "Moon" series.
I love reading this type of information. I always wanted to know a little more about T-Square's music, as well as inspirations and curiosities, but I never found anything, not even interviews. It's a shame that this is going to be lost
I didn't realise Fade Away from the B.B. Station live recording was based on this song. You never stop finding out new things about Honda and T-square.
