Young Tokyo-born, USA-based Pianist & Composer Ittetsu Nasuda comes with a self-released debut recording titled “Tailwind“. The quintet sports, after the leader, vibraphonist Dan Neville, bassist Gabriel Vivas, and drummer Juan Chiavassa. Line up closes Japanese percussionist Takafumi Nikaido.

This must be one of the most elegant debuts I came across this year. Nasuda’s virtuosity is unquestionable and the repertoire is executed on the top level. The blend of the leader’s piano melodic eloquence, with the dynamic vitality of the Latin rhythm Section brought to my memories the great Danilo Perez as the first thought …

” You wouldn’t expect a band like that to come to fruition, but here they are … the hybrid of Latino – Caribbean folk & contemporary jazz makes a debut recording of young Japanese pianist …  ” – Greg Drygala, Jazzpress