A muffled bass line is soon matched by Katsumi Tanaka¡¯s staccato electric guitar riff loosely emulating a shamisen. Congas and timbales start grooving in the rhythm of cumbia before the horn section dives in, setting the stage for Fredy Tsukamoto to belt out a high-pitched, vibrato-filled rendition of ¡°Kushimoto Bushi,¡± a ³¾¾±²Ô²â¨ folk song from western Wakayama Prefecture.
The opening track on ¡°Echoes of Japan,¡± the debut album by Minyo Crusaders, exemplifies how the 10-piece group seamlessly blends Afro-Cuban and Caribbean rhythms with old Japanese ³¾¾±²Ô²â¨ to create an exotic and compelling modern interpretation of the time-worn folk genre.
¡°They naturally work together, since both ³¾¾±²Ô²â¨ and Latin music use plenty of minor keys,¡± says Tanaka, the long-haired, bearded 47-year-old guitarist and leader of the band.
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