Album Review: Quartet Vol. II from Takeshi Asai

 

Album:  Quartet Vol. II
Artist:  Takeshi Asai
Label:  Fono Bono Records
Release Date:  November 20, 2026
Website:  https://www.takeshiasai.com/index.html
https://takeshiasai.com/QuartetVol2_Album.html
 
The esteemed Takeshi Asai, a New York City-based jazz pianist, composer and bandleader releases his 24th album Quartet Vol. II, featuring Hashem Assadullahi on alto saxophone, Mark Wade on bass, and John Clay on drums.  The quartet fuses bop, swing, blues, and straight-ahead jazz into a sonic consortium that balances melodic motifs with improvised musings.  At times, the quartet ventures into organic conversations among themselves, but now and then, they immerse their audience in spellbinding storylines that speak to the listener.
 
"Fillet Mignon" is one such track that speaks to the audience.  The whispery swells of Asai's keys scroll intense musings that cause the listener to pause and take a moment to reflect.  The intensely emotive score reels listeners into the content, holding then with a velvet grip. 
 
Other tracks are a lighter fare like "C Blues," an upbeat bopping romp that showcases the flare of Assadullahi's saxophone, filling the space with frolicking twirls as Asai's keys punctuate the track with pulsating patterns.  The ambling stride of Asai's keys drive the momentum of "Mr. Bones" while Assadullahi's sax floats gracefully along the smooth melodic riffs.
 
The cheerful ambience of "Discrepency" is laden with sauntering keys and bubbly saxophone toots.  Moving into "Eve's Door," highlighting Wade's palpitating bass beats, creating a nocturnal setting as the strokes of Clay's drums glide softly along the undercurrent.  The keys and sax add to the nocturnal vibe, weaving an enchanting storyline.
 
Asai's wispy keys caress the melodic ripples strewn across "Fictious" producing a pensive atmosphere, turning to a mirthful mood through "O'new."  The elegant phrasing of "The White Daisy Loves You More" has an uplifting gait as the sax and keys choregraph a wondrous adventure that emotes warmth and pleasing reflections.
 
Asai's quartet keeps their stories spellbinding and their conversations animated.  They mesmerize their audience with melodic tales and adventures that hold the listener with a velvet grip.
 
Musicians:
Takeshi Asai - piano, composer and bandleader
Hashem Assadullahi - alto saxophone
Mark Wade - bass
John Clay - drums