By: Stomu Yamashta - The Man from the East (CD, Imported)

This brave attempt to meld music from two completely disparate cultures is a difficult listen for Westerners and Japanese alike. Yamashta draws from kabuki, other traditional Japanese music, Western pop, and jazz. Understandably, it doesn't always mesh. The beautiful "Mountain Pass" closes the album after its centerpiece, the harrowing "Memory of Hiroshima." Since the music was composed to accompany a theater piece, it's possible there's more being lost in the translation than is being caused by cultural differences. ~ Mark Allan