Search - Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra :: Full Tension Beaters

The best ska album of the 90s

Rodrigo Valdebenito | Santiago, Chile | 03/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an incredible band from Japan, in their best-ever album. Funk, jazz, rock, reggae and tons of ska in a explosive package. If you like ska played at a speed of light, this is probably one of the Essentials. Amazing. (And don't let the fact that they are from Japan fool you: this is world-class material)."

Full Tension Beaters: Review

DR Bone | Tokyo | 10/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This awesome band creates yet another stonking record, Full Tension Beaters. Ska Para consistently hit the mark with incredible arrangements and top musicianship. All five horns play tight together even over the most demanding of lines, their tuning and style is second to none. This is a fun album for Ska, Jive and Jazz lovers everywhere.



The opening track, Hot Shot, is a fast tune in Bb. It shows off their talent for melodic yet powerful arranging. Trumpet takes the first solo, screaming in with #4 minims. Piano takes the second, playing up and down the whole range of his instrument with tremendous gusto.



The `shout' version of Dizzy's Blues is another track to note, the trumpet again taking responsibility for the solo. Nargo pulls it off in superb style displaying an incredibly dextrous technique at ff.



The live tune, Jon Lord (live dub), demonstrates an exceptional skill at building a piece of music up, from a percussion intro and a bass line through to sparse keyboard, guitar and baritone lines. It flows trough many choruses before a trombone solo is played and then a trumpet solo before peaking at the end with the whole band enjoying their small but important roles. It has an incredible effect; even for a live piece it has a confident and polished sound.



Their cover of Duke Ellington's, In A Sentimental Mood, is a strong album ender. The tune builds up through big piano and tenor ralls, through a percussion solo into the melody and finally breaks down into trombone and trumpet parts. Gamo, on tenor, takes the first and only solo sticking to a traditional style of Jazz playing, later on putting fills in and around the melody.



Individually these musicians are highly skilled, both at soloing and at ensemble playing. These are skills that are important to have when performing and recording tunes as complicated as these, and even songs that aren't.



The problem, in my opinion, with many modern jazz hybrids like this, is that they lose intensity when they start to record in the studio. This is certainly not the case with Ska Para. Take for instance the New York Ensemble, generally they have the same sort of ideas but sadly the emotion doesn't come across. Their sound is weak and lacking in substance.



Annoyingly for my argument I can't hear anything wrong with this album, I am unable to single out a `weakest player' as such. The production of this record cannot be faulted; even the photographs on the inlay are of high quality, exhibiting both style and substance.



This album is a truly original creation that can only push forward the boundaries of jazz; mixing up rock, dance floor, jive, ska and jazz has never been done better."

Great Band!!!

DR Bone | 02/10/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These guys are fun, fun, fun. I don't think it's possible to put on this album and not get into a good mood. However, four stars for this album. Five stars, though, for their brilliant "World Famous" album."