An organ group with two horns? Makes me think of Larry Young's 1960's line up with Woody Shaw and Joe Henderson. New York Osaka Junction is a family affair, led by trumpeter Joe Magnarelli and the fiery organ of Akiko Tsuruga (who's also Joe's wife). Add baritone sax master Gary Smulyan and drummer Rudy Royston and you just have to let this foursome play through—with originals alongside inventive takes of Johnny Mandel's "Emily" and the Bob Haggart classic "What's New." All said, as Neil Tesser writes in his notes, "The image of a well-oiled roadster comes to mind, sleek and exhilarating as the music heard here."
From Monday, August 7 through Friday, August 11, one cut from the New York Osaka Junction album will be featured each morning on the New Day, New Play spotlight on my Daybreak show.
Preview “Reverend Tsuruga” from New York Osaka Junction, above.
