There’s a tendency to assume that all Japanese alto players have to sound like either Kaoru Abe or Sadao Watanabe, either all-in screamers or crossover smoothies. Yamanaka usefully sinks any such misconception. If anything, he veers somewhat to the second persuasion, with a light, clear sound that has something of the plangency of Jackie McLean … Continue reading Kazuki Yamanaka: Dancer In Nirvana