Travels - Downbeat

Nobuki TakamenThree WishesSummit Records 594HHH1/2On the opening track to Three Wishes, NobukiTakamen’s fourth album as a leader, the guitaristserves up roller-coaster, angular melodies, playedwith care on a clear guitar, picking out one crispnote at a time, letting it ring out before movingto the next. He occasionally moves to a verticalapproach, playing short chordal phrases, but hemostly sticks to horizontal movement, his somewhatdisjunct playing pulling the song forward.The next tune, “Freddie’s Mood,” presents anentirely different Takamen. Heavily syncopatedfunk chords set the mood over a martial snarerhythm by drummer Akihito Yoshikawa. EvenTakamen’s solo is more liquid, with figures flowingtogether in short runs and fewer large leapsbetween the notes. He’s still the same player, ofcourse, but this different approach highlights hisreluctance to play in a singular style.He slows the mood down considerably on ahandful of tunes as well. “Underground ThemeSong,” after a funky solo bass intro, morphs into afragile tune based on soft chords and a quiet melody.“Greenwich Village Sometimes” has thesame overall delicate feeling to it, but stands asone of the two times piano is added to the mix.Takamen is best, and is likely most comfortable,in a simple trio setting, but the addition of anotherharmonic instrument adds a rich layer to thecompositions.One of the standouts on the album isTakamen’s arrangement of “Scarborough Fair,”which begins with haunting, ethereal chordsbefore evolving into a breakneck piece of swing.Just like “Scarborough,” his closing number,“Homeward Bound” begins as a hopeful ballad,then, seven minutes in, Takamen throws ina hard-rocking coda to give the song the twist heseems to add to every composition on the album.—Jon RossThree Wishes: A Long Way Ahead; Freddie’s Mood; UndergroundTheme Song; Jimi’s Swing; Greenwich Village Sometimes;Three Wishes; Scarborough Fair; Let’s Get Five; HomewardBound. (60:12)Personnel: Nobuki Takamen, guitar; Toshiyuki Tanahashi, bass;Naoki Aikawa, Akihito Yoshikawa, drums; Hitoshi Kanda, piano.Ordering info: nobukitakamen.com70 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2013