KADOMATSU T's SONGS FROM L.A. - The Ballad Covers Collection (2004)

Japanese multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and orchestrator Toshiki Kadomatsu has been very popular in Asia since the early '80s creating music for other artists and recording his own albums in a Westcoast / AOR / Pop style, with many American musicians as session players.
During the '90s, and due the musical climate in the US, top artists from the genre found refugee in the Japanese market, always eager for delicate sounds and melodies.

Then Kadomatsu had the idea to re-work his most popular Japanese songs to be performed by US musicians, and moved to California to record this "KADOMATSU T's SONGS FROM L.A. - The Ballad Covers Collection" after the other volume including more poppy songs, previously featured here on the blog.
The best L.A. session cats were part of the project, including superb guitarists Jay Graydon & Michael Landau, alongside other monsters like Brett Raymond, Gino Vannelli, Tom Keane, Abraham Laboriel and more.



As on the previous volume the vocalists involved are top notch too: again Joseph Williams (Toto), Chicago's Jason Scheff and the great Tommy Funderburk, but now featuring the likes of Richard Page (Mr. Mister) and talented Brett Raymond doing lead vocals apart of playing keyboards and programming.
All singers did the lyric adaptation to English language and Kadomatsu the arrangements to fit the new versions. As you could imagine, this is a bunch of excellent material spotlessly clean produced and rich in smooth melodies all over.
Delicious CD only released in Japan, now out of print.


01 - Gino Vanelli - Still I'm In Love With You
02 - Michael North - Midnight Girl
03 - Jessica Sheely - You're My Only Shinin' Star
04 - Richard Page - Desire
05 - Lea Herman - August Rain
06 - Jason Scheff - Distance
07 - Henry Kapono - It's Hard to Say Good-Bye
08 - Presley Tucker - Mermaid Princess
09 - Brett Raymond - Let Me Say...
10 - Tommy Funderburk - Ramp In

Jay Graydon: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Michael Landau: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Toshi Onikuza: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Tak Akimoto: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Grant Geissman, Abraham Laboriel: Acoustic Guitars
John H. Wayne, Jim Stout: Bass
Todd Sorensen: Drums
Gino Vannelli: Piano
Brett Raymond: Keyboards & Programming
Tom Keane: Keyboards
Michael Binikos, Tak Akimoto: Keyboards, Programming
Marco Tessier: Programming
Richard Beaudette: Sax
Larry Lunetta, Andy Suzuki, Alex Ailes: Horns
Jason Scheff, Joseph Williams, Marilyn Martin, Tom Keane, Margaret Linn, Mary Linn, Michael North: Background vocals


KADOMATSU T's SONGS FROM L.A. Ballad Covers Collection
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KADOMATSU T's SONGS FROM L.A. - The Pop Covers Collection (2004)

Japanese multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and orchestrator Toshiki Kadomatsu has been very popular in Asia since the early '80s creating music for other artists and recording his own albums in a Westcoast / AOR / Pop style, with many American musicians as session players.
During the '90s, and due the musical climate in the US, top artists from the genre found refugee in the Japanese market, always eager for delicate sounds and melodies.

Then Kadomatsu had the idea to re-work his most popular Japanese songs to be performed by US musicians, and moved to California to record this "KADOMATSU T's SONGS FROM L.A. - The Pop Covers Collection", and another volume but focused on ballads.
The best L.A. session cats were part of the project, including superb guitarists Michael Landau and Tim Pierce, alongside other monsters like Brett Raymond, CJ Vanston, Tom Keane, Vinnie Colaiuta, Abraham Laboriel and more.
And the vocalists involved are top notch too: Joseph Williams (Toto), Starship's Mickey Thomas, Mike Reno (Loverboy), Chicago's Jason Scheff, the great Tommy Funderburk... just to name some.



All singers did the lyric adaptation to English language and Kadomatsu the arrangements to fit the new versions.
As you could imagine, this is a bunch of excellent material spotlessly clean produced and rich in smooth melodies all over.
Delicious CD only released in Japan, now out of print.


01 - Kadomatsu T - Sea Line
02 - Jason Scheff - I Don't Want Let You Go Again
03 - Mickey Thomas - Never Touch Again
04 - Tommy Funderburk - Take It Away
05 - Will Champlin - City Nights
06 - Joseph Williams - Secret Lover
07 - Patrice Rushen - Take Me Far Away
08 - Buzz Feiten - After 5 Crash
09 - Pauline Wilson - Summer Babe
10 - Mike Reno - Can't You See

Michael Landau: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Tim Pierce: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Ray Fuller: Electric Guitar
Grant Geissman: Acoustic Guitars
Brett Raymond: Keyboards, Programming
CJ Vanston: Keyboards, Programming
Tom Keane: Keyboards, Programming
Mark Portmann: Keyboards
Tom Washington: Piano
John Pena, Abraham Laboriel, Leland Sklar: Bass
Curt Bisquera, Abraham Laboriel Jr.: Drums
Vinnie Colaiuta: Drums, Percussion
Andy Suzuki: Tenor Sax
Wayne Bergeron. Larry Lunetta, Alex Ailes: Horns
Jason Scheff, Joseph Williams, Bernie Barlow, Bill Champlin, Tamara Champlin: Background Vocals


KADOMATSU T's SONGS FROM L.A. Pop Covers Collection
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KADOMATSU T’s Songs from L. A. - The Ballad Covers Collection (2004)

Requested by a friend, this hard to find disk outside east-side-of-the-world.
Toshiki Kadomatsu is a well known name in Japan.
Multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, the man has a magical touch.
Several albums released in Asia, mostly westcoast oriented.
Kadomatsu called the genre's greatest "names" for these recordings of he's original material.
Delicate and ethereal, spotlessly produced.
His songs charged life with this monsters voices / musicians (check the personnel).
Some westcoast / AOR for the soul...

If you like it, try to find a copy...and BUY IT

1. Still, I’m In Love With You (vocals: Gino Vanelli)
2. Midnight Girl (vocals: Michael North)
3. You’re My Only Shinin’ Star (vocals: Jessica Sheely)
4. Desire (vocals: Richard Page)
5. August Rain -It’s Our Pure Hearts- (vocals: Lea Herman)
6. Distance (vocals: Jason Scheff)
7. It's Hard To Say Good-Bye (vocals: H. Kapono, E. Atuaia)
8. Mermaid Princess (vocals: Presley Tucker)
9. Let Me Say... (vocals: Brett Raymond)
10. Ramp In (vocals: Tommy Funderburk)

* Guitars: Jay Graydon, Michael Landau, Grant Geissman
* Bass: Abraham Laboriel, Jim Staut, John H. Wayne
* Drums: Todd Sorenson
* Keyboards: Tom Keane
* Sax: Eric Marienthanl
* Horns: Andy Suzuki
* Background Vocals: Jason Scheff, Joseph Williams, Marilyn Martin

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