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4.5
This second project teaming bassist Richard Bona with Japanese saxophone great Sadao Watanabe is a clear improvement on their first effort. The production is much cleaner and more energetic, and a change of drummers allows for a more aggressive approach. There is more of Bona's bouncing bass on these songs, and Watanabe sounds invigorated througout. Guitarist Mike Stern guests on two songs and the addition of a fifth instrument really elevates the group sound. Fans of Watanabe and Bona (and Stern) owe it to themselves to seek this one out, even at the higher Japanese import price.