Nautiloid Quest (2017)

Domo arigato, Nautilus!

music albums

Nautiloid Quest

Japanese drum-led piano trio Nautilus make their overseas debut with this engaging compilation of their beats first, hook second, solo third brand of jazz – a kind of modern ‘rare groove’, very easy to enjoy and annoyingly hummable.
The group Nautilus keep a simple trio format based on keyboard (often Rhodes piano), bass and drums, augmented from time to time with guest vocalists.
The band begin by emphasising their jazzy credentials with an instrumental cover of the Roy Ayers classic We Live In Brooklyn Baby, the juicy bass guitar of Shigeki Umezawa sharing lead duties.
The Theme of Nautilus dances along with plenty of good tension-and-release moments, tight grooves making way for more relaxed and expansive sections which certainly keeps the interest going.
Three of the tracks feature guest female vocalists, and this adds to the variety. Mizuki Kamata adds a close up breathy exposed vocal to Tom’s Diner, a bit ‘Astrid Gilberto meets the big beat’. Kei Owada adds indie insouciance to Lady Day and John Coltrane, riding Sasaki’s rhythmic shifts effectively, while Sara Yoshida heads for power ballad territory on Good Enough. All three of these songs have great potential.
CHECK No 2 & No 7!!!!!