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KAZUMI WATANABE NEW ELECTRIC TRIO
Mo’Bop III
(East Works Entertainment)
Forget that jazz guitarist Kazumi Watanabe is mostly exploring the terrain of legends like Pat Metheny, and it’s hard not to like the third album by his superb trio. This time they are joined by Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista, who injects Latin brio into the proceedings. Watanabe is less likable when in his notes-of-fury synthesizer guitar mode, but when he allows the music to breathe, as on “Dragon’s Secret” he’s as good as it gets. The guitarist will join the upcoming Jazz Today 06 program at STB 139 in Roppongi. See concert listings for details. DG
G. LOVE
G. Love’s Lemonade
(Epic/Sony)
Garrett Dutton, aka G. Love, the studiously offbeat Philadelphia blues-rapper, lets rip with a fusillade of collaborations on his new album. MCs Blackalicious and Lateef The Truth Speaker are down for the supple “Banger,” Ben Harper is featured on the slowburn blues number “Let the Music Play” and overrated surfer dude No. 1 Jack Johnson (to whose Brushfire label Love is signed) joins him on “Rainbow.” G. Love is an idiosyncratic stylist who makes for a fun concert, but with 17 songs, this album needs its contributors to maintain interest. G. Love plays Shibuya AX on Oct 24. See concert listings for details. DG
JOHN MAYER
Continuum
(Sony Music Entertainment)
There has always been something more behind the smooth songs of John Mayer, so it’s no surprise that he’s announced a new musical direction. Continuum, however, is hardly the pop-rock departure that he has dubbed it. Full of blues riffs and a more mature sound, the album still has smooth vocals and pruned lyrics of love and self-reflection. Mayer hasn’t detracted from what works best for him, but instead has added to his arsenal. Continuum offers a set of songs that won’t alienate his base while at the same time will win over some of his past critics. With an impressive take on Jimi Hendrix’ “Bold as Love,” Continuum is a welcome evolution to Mayer’s sound, with a little something for everyone. Trevor L. LaClair
KOBUKURO
All Singles Best
(Warner Japan)
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It wasn’t until Kobukuro’s fifth album, Nameless, that the duo cemented their place at the top, a reward for gradually winning fans over since their 1999 indie debut. Kentaro Kobuchi and Shunsuke Kuroda create cheery, spirit-lifting, simple-yet-refined pop, and have stuck to what they do best throughout, making for a cohesive collection. Built around a steady acoustic band, the album keeps the focus on the songs, with the likes of the delightful “Yell” sounding richer for its delicate treatment of strings and electric guitar. Any album containing “Sakura,” one of the J-pop highlights of 2005, is worth a close look, but this one has more to recommend that one might think. Robert Poole
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