This is a best-of with a twist. Featuring remakes of compositions from veteran fusion band Hiroshima’s first decade, Legacy is the debut entry in what leaders Dan Kuramoto and June Kuramoto say could be an ongoing series covering the group’s 30-year history. Of most interest to casual fans is the beefed-up “One Wish,” a career-defining instrumental that still earns oodles of airplay all these years later.
“Turning Point,” “Another Place” and “Thousand Cranes” are here, as well as the geographically minded titles “East” and “Hawaiian Electric.” There are other gems like “Dada,” which fuses rock guitar, furious koto playing and the lead vocals of Yvette Nii. And the superbly soulful vocalist Terry Steele is a great choice to update such light-pop fare like “Save Yourself for Me.”
In addition to Dan Kuramoto’s sax and June Kuramoto’s koto, Legacy features the core group of Kimo Cornwell on keys, Danny Yamamoto on drums and percussion, Dean Cortez on bass and Shoji Kameda on taiko and percussion.
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