Shunzoh Ohno - 1975 - Something's Coming

Shunzoh Ohno

1975

Something's Coming

01. Something's Comming 14:12

02. You Dig That? 4:41

03. I Remember That It Happened 6:03

04. But It's Not So 11:06

Shunzo Ohno - Trumpet

Cedric Lawson - Keyboards

Masabumi Kikuchi - Organ

Don Pate - Bass

Reggie Lucas - Guitar

Roy Haynes - Drums

Recorded February 20, 21 and March 6, 1975 at The Basement Recording Studio Inc., New York

Something’s Comming is the second headlining album by Japanese jazz trumpeter Shunzo Ohno, released in 1975 on East Wind. Most reissues of the title correct the spelling of the word “coming.”

I got this one to check out guitarist Reggie Lucas in another electric jazz-fusion setting. The recording date is February and March 1975, shortly after Lucas appeared with Miles Davis on Agharta. The leader Ohno seems best known for his tune Bubbles which appeared on Norman Connors You are my starship LP (1977).

This is the first, and harder edged of two fusion LPs that Ohno recorded in New York for the Japanese East Wind label. The overall sound quality is clear and punchy, with Don Pate on bass and Roy Haynes drums well up in the mix. The bass playing is a highlight, the drumming tight and funky.

The title track kicks in nicely with a very funky bass line over which Ohno states his melodic theme. The problem is that Cedric Lawson starts to chop out an incessant rhythm on clavinet that dominates the mix for the next 5 minutes, going nowhere. He finally stops (loud cheers), only to re-appear make loud squiggly noises on synth. I begin to see why Miles Davis sacked him in 1972. At 8.30 minutes Lucas drops a hint by introducing some nice descending chords, soon joined by Ohno. This ushers in a more spacious section similar to some of the quieter interludes in Miles electric. Back to the main theme and groove at 10.30. 12.20 floating closing section 13.00 fade with nice bass work.

Track 2 'You dig that' powers in with a tight punchy groove and has a better balance between the players. Lucas plays some nice jazz chords towards the fade out.

Track 3 features organ and synth textures over which Ohno solos. Reminds me of some Terje Rypdal ECM material, stately and sombre..

Track 4 'But its not so' has a stealthy groove and some spooky textures, similar to contemporary work by Eddie Henderson. Lucas adds some angular comping,but only moves to centre stage in the closing section. His short solo leads nicely back into the main riff.

There are some excellent sections on this LP where all the players are all tuned in to each other, some tasty grooves and atmospheric textures. However it could have been better, especially on the title track if the keyborad noodling had been edited down and Reggie Lucas encouraged to step forward earlier instead of near the fade out.

Trumpeter Shunzo Ohno's style is clearly influenced by Miles Davis on this spacy funk-jazz fusion album. He travels back in a sonic journey somewhere between "Get up with it" (80%) and Eddie Henderson's "Realization" (20%), though in a more lyrical presentation. A view at the cast could make enthusiasts of "electric aera" Miles curious. Reggie Lucas on guitar and Cedric Lawson on keys. Besides them Masabumi Kikuchi (organ), Ron Pate (bass) and the fabulous Roy Haynes on drums.