kyoto jazz massive: message from a new dawn
Francisco Espregueira
O Sótão ends its 2021 series of features with the rebirth of one the acts that inspired a lot of what we’ve been posting since 2014. The two brothers Shuya Okino and Yoshihiro Okino return to their Kyoto Jazz Massive affairs with A Message From A New Dawn, 19 years after their only release Spirit Of The Sun - a highly influential record that marked the nu-jazz scene. The Okino brothers built their career as DJs, producers, club-runners and remixers. Their trademark blend of jazz, bossa, latin, house, travelling into UK funky vibes is, more than often, instantly recognized and is deeply present in this very special album.
A Message From A New Dawn is another standout fusion of synth, broken beat and nu-jazz. It crosses over Kyoto Jazz Massive’s work of two decades providing energetic feelings deriving from the power of a full band sonic experience. Their legendary textures survive, in the form of pure dancefloor heaters such as “Get Up”, while others gaze off to a cosmic future such as “Visions Of Tomorrow” and its the gorgeous synths. Accompanied by an incredible cast of talent composed by the genius of Vanessa Freeman, Kenichi Ikeda, Takashi Nakazato or Roy Ayers, A Message From A New Dawn is an essential piece of music from the beginning of the 2020’s decade. Available on vinyl, via Extra Freedom.