|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Every
Nearfest has had a band that unexpectedly bedazzles the audience.
For Nearfest 2005, that band surely must have been Kenso. The Japanese
symphonic instrumental fusion group played a two hour set that never
let up in energy and judging from the reaction, Kenso just might have
gone home with Nearfest 2005's Best of the Fest trophy. Call it
something in the air, but the band's hyper-kinetic chops and unbridled
enthusiasm was simply infectious. These guys were having the time of
their lives on stage! |
One could (and some did) criticize the band's compositions for sounding
too samey on stage but I heartily disagree. I found plenty of variety
in the band's compositions, from jazz fusion to Japanese folk to Happy
the Man style symphonic rock. Kenso played many cuts from albums like Sparta,
Yume No Oka and Fabulis Marabilibus de
Bombycosi Scriptis with "Fist of Fury" and "Echoes From Foro
Romano", "Les Phases de la
Lune" being just some highlights. And how can one forget band
leader/guitarist Yoshihisa Shimizu's "Nearfest Song" that he composed
on the spot?! The quick nimble keyboard runs of both Kenichi Oguchi and
Kenichi Mitsuda were enough to leave one's head spinning.
Kenso along with PFM probably got the best audience response of the
entire weekend. Indeed, Shimizu was so moved by the crowd reaction that
he could barely contain himself and burst into tears. During the
encore, Kenso quoted riffs from American bands ranging from Grand Funk
Railroad to Kansas in a classic rock medley. Kenso's set will surely be
remembered by many for years to come.
|
Hits: 3790
|
|
| |
|
|
|
© 2004 Sea Of Tranquility | For information regarding where to send CD promos and advertising, please see our FAQ page.
If you have questions or comments, please Contact Us.
Please see our Policies Page for Site Usage, Privacy, and Copyright Policies.
|
All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner. The comments are property of their posters, all other content © Sea of Tranquility
SoT is Hosted by SpeedSoft.com 
|
|
Print
Send to a Friend