Search - Gota :: Day & Night

After setting the smooth-jazz world ablaze in early 1999 with his second Album, Let's Get Started, drummer and studio musician Gota Yashiki returns with another solid album that effortlessly bridges the gap between the English acid jazz-funk movement and the American smooth-jazz scene. From the sly reference to Curtis Mayfield on "Around the Corner," to the obvious Tower of Power tribute on "What's Up, Charlie," Gota waves the 1970s funk flag high throughout Day and Night. He also keeps a prevailing acid-groove bed, with a smooth-jazz sheen as a covering. "Sweet Emotion" is a perfect example of Gota's mix. It starts off with a motif straight out of Stevie Wonder before Gota's perfectly programmed percussion kicks off a funky midtempo beat that immediately leads to a sweet sax line that builds into a radio friendly hook taken in unison with a synthesizer that leads to a nice melodic guitar solo. Former Brand New Heavies keyboardist Neal Cowley shines throughout as Gota spreads his musical wealth around among some great players from the U.K. Even though the last track is a ballad, this is a record that builds in intensity and emotion from the first few smoother tracks to the latter more acidic stuff. --Mark Ruffin