YAKUZA, THE

Label: FSMCD Vol.8 No.12
Date: 1975
Tracks: 23
Time = 70:33

Oriignal soundtrack from exceptional Sydney Pollack tale of honor, commitment, starring Robert Mitchum, Takakura Ken. Dave Grusin takes listeners to Japan with requisite Far Eastern color, then goes so much further. Taceting brass save French horn, Grusin uses variety of woodwinds, percussion, strings plus sax in exquisite settings, gentle lines, remarkably transparent ideas. Harmonies (both minor, major) are often implied rather than spelled out. Interesting meld of expectant shakuhachi with traditional flute (both standard and bass) adds rich timbre to orchestra. When juxtaposed with low strings and piano, the ideas are striking. Suspense takes back seat to haunting, genuinely complex material: solo arpeggios for harp, delicate lines for oboe, figures for waterphone, orchestra bells, what have you. Top-drawer FSM production standards are further enhanced by particularly insightful notes, impeccably clean sonics. Repeated playings will yield many rewards. Dave Grusin conducts. Knockout!