Kazumi Watanabe feat. Jeff Berlin & Bill Bruford: Lim-Poo. (The 'Spice Of Life' Japan Tour, 1987)

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I was in Japan a lot in the 80’s and 90’s - sometimes twice a year - until the Japanese economy fell off a cliff in the mid-90s. It was a wonderful country to work in, and its people gracious and deferential to a fault. But the Japanese music scene had little to no critical thinking as we would recognise it in the west, so album and concert reviews and interviews never let you know what anyone thought of the music. This clip was captured on a Japan tour with guitarist, composer and producer Kazumi Watanabe and bassist Jeff Berlin in 1987.
Musicians typically work as a leader, with a leader, for a leader, or without a leader. With Kazumi, Jeff and I were employees required to provide, to the best of our ability, what the leader thought would make him sound good. Nothing wrong with that at all - it's what most drummers do most of the time, and it’s a very clear power structure. Working 'for' someone is at its best when you’re all but working 'with' him: suggestions are requested and acted upon, and the leadership is very light touch, allowing the side-people as far as possible to be themselves. What Kazumi and his western rhythm section wanted were closely aligned and I think it shows here on his piece Lim-Poo.
Mostly the tour featured Kazumi’s music. There were no drum parts written: in keeping with ‘light touch’ leadership, it was assumed I’d find something appropriate. The ascending melody at the beginning and 1’26” and 3’34” is a charmer, particularly after the harmonically static preceding sections. We’re all tethered to the click track of course, but, as I recall, it was the only tune in the set with pre-programmed information. The vintage Simmons drum sounds haven’t dated well, but hey, they were among the best available at the time.
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