It's So Different Here

Even if the label on the disc hadn't offered reassurances that "this is acid jazz," composer/producer Gota Yashiki's It's So Different Here lets listeners know with raging electric guitar textures that add an alternative rock zip to '70s-flavored keyboard riffs, spacy effects, and bouncing grooves that even 3rd Force would have trouble keeping up with. Occasional tracks like "Sensual Wave" keep the disc just cool and romantic enough to achieve mainstream acceptance outside of the acid jazz world. On the other hand, reliance on bland vocals to find airplay possibilities in the smooth jazz world comes across as heavily contrived and fairly uninteresting. While Yashiki, providing all programming loops, leads the way, it's the performances by keyboardist Bernie Worrell and saxmen Ian Kirkham and Jacko Peake that make the positive differences referred to in the album title.