Mystery

RYOZO BAND is led by bassist and composer Ryozo Obayashi, originally from Fujisawa, Kanagawa. Since making their debut in 2015 with a 7-inch produced by DJ MURO, the band has pursued a powerful live groove rooted in the Black music traditions that have shaped Obayashi's musical identity, including FUNK, SOUL, JAZZ, AFROBEAT, and HIP HOP. In 2023, they released their third album, *Utopia*, earning critical acclaim both in Japan and abroad.

At the heart of the band's sound is Obayashi's bass, joined by a formidable lineup of musicians: guitarist Tetsuta Odachi, known for his work with ODODOAFROBEAT; keyboardist Yusei Takahashi, who has performed and recorded with Terumasa Hino and STUTS; drummer Naoki Nagata, also a member of Zainichi Funk; saxophonist "KIDS" Takehide Hashimoto; percussionist Ryotaro Miyasaka; and trumpeter Kyotaro Hori. Bringing together players with strong identities and established reputations across different scenes, RYOZO BAND creates a tight yet highly open-ended ensemble that reflects each musician's individual musical background.

For their new single, RYOZO BAND welcomes singer Eminata into their raw, organic funk groove. Her soulful, expansive, supple, and exotic vocal presence introduces a new dimension to the band's sound, which has primarily developed through instrumental music, bringing melody and the expressive power of the human voice to the forefront.

At the core of the track is the formidable rhythmic foundation created by Naoki Nagata on drums and Ryotaro Miyasaka on percussion. Ryozo Obayashi's bass and Tetsuta Odachi's guitar lock into the groove, while "KIDS" Takehide Hashimoto's saxophone and Kyotaro Hori's trumpet form a powerful horn ensemble. Moving fluidly through this dense rhythmic landscape, Eminata's voice adds a distinctive sense of color and weightlessness to the track.

Another highlight is the highly danceable keyboard solo by Yusei Takahashi. His free-flowing playing over the groove constructed by the rhythm section further intensifies the track's sense of movement and momentum. While each musician's individuality remains clearly defined, their performances interact organically, complementing one another and ultimately converging into a cohesive and deeply unified ensemble.

Drawing from the foundations of FUNK and SOUL while incorporating the improvisational spirit of JAZZ, the rhythmic sensibility of AFROBEAT, and the beat-driven aesthetics that emerged in the wake of HIP HOP, RYOZO BAND does not simply recreate the Black music of the past. Instead, they reinterpret elements drawn from different eras and genres through their own musicianship, presenting them as a vital form of contemporary music.

On this new track, the addition of Eminata's vocals further expands the musical vocabulary that RYOZO BAND has developed through years of cultivating their powerful groove. The result is a compelling statement of where the band stands today-where the overwhelming musicianship of its distinctive players intersects with the expressive richness of the human voice.