In the West is a live, studio-ready recording from On the West, Tokyo performances of Kenso in September 1997. This excellent recording showcases a group that perfectly dances the knife’s edge between progressive rock and jazz fusion. At times they are reminiscent of Return to Forever and the Dixie Dregs; even hints of Happy the Man are detected. Kenso is a well-kept Japanese secret to most fusion fans.
Guitarist Yoshihisa Shimizu handles the fretboard like Steve Morse and Stanley Whitaker. Scandinavia’s Finnforest or Spain’s Iceberg’s visceral-fusion axe attack is heard in Shimizu’s phrasings. Expect loads of keyboard interplay and unison lines. Compositions are complex, engaging, twisting, stop-and-go flourishes. A myriad of time signatures make this weave of sound an astonishingly intricate mosaic of textures. Not one, but two keyboardists add to the punch and fullness of Kenso’s sound. Kenichi Oguchi and Kenichi Mitsuda are a fine team of synth players. Both Shimizu and Oguchi pen songs, with Shimizu creating 12 of the 14 songs. Each song’s a beautiful aural experience, transporting the listener through virtuoso jazz fusion and superbly structured progressive rock — Mahavishnu Orchestra-ish one moment and Yes-like the next.
Shunji Saegusa is Kenso’s memorable bassist and Masayuki Muraishi demolishes the drums like a good fusion/progger percussionist should. For high-energy, serious, soul-fired tunes that will be collector’s items one day, sample Japan’s Kenso. – John W. Patterson