Pianist Johnny Todd has spent much of his career working as musical director, conductor and arranger for entertainers like Hawaiian super star Don Ho and backing such artists as Sammy Davis Jr, Anita O'day, Nancy Wilson, The Bee Gees and Tony Bennett. While working with Don Ho, Johnny was confronted with the enviable necessity of basing his career, for a period of time, out of Hawaii . However in 2000, Johnny's youngest daughter Mika (then 16) found success with the immensely popular Japanese vocal group “Mini Moni” and Johnny, a long time admirer of Japanese culture, decided to base his activities in Tokyo to give her support and watch over her career. It proved to be a fortuitous move, for there he met two musicians he immediately recognized could become the nucleus of an exciting jazz trio.

Japanese bassist Masatoshi Emori spent several years working on the scene in Los Angeles and on his return to Japan, used that experience to become a much sought after player on both acoustic and electric basses, performing in many genres from jazz to ethnic Japanese music.

Detroit born drummer Lorenzo Braceful moved to Japan around the same time as Johnny, following a busy musical life in the United States, backing artists like Aretha Franklin, Earl Klugh, 112 etc.

Needless to say, in Japan he continued his success, where his powerful and imaginative drumming style has kept him in constant demand.

Encantado

“Encantado” (delighted to meet you), the title track, expresses my feelings about the good fortune of meeting “Masa” and Lorenzo (“Zo”) and showcases their exciting talent in this quasi latin setting.

Three Musketeers

“Three Musketeers” tries to capture the spirit of we three musical adventurers as we take a journey through some interesting time changes. The introduction is in 4/4 time but the opening chorus alternates between 6/8 and 7/8. The solos move through traditional blues changes before coming to “sixes and sevens” for the closing.

Autumn Is My Time Of Year

“Autumn Is My Time Of Year” is a sedate ballad written as the leaves of Tokyo turned bright red and yellow in the fall of 2003.

Smooth Interface

“Smooth Interface” is a traditional be-bop style piece, feeling quite at home in the computer age.

Angelina

I have no idea who this particular “Angelina” is, but the name just seemed to emote the feeling of the complex, moving chord changes of the piece.

Spider Walk

The idea for “Spider walk” was suggested by a cartoon drawn by Japanese artist Terukazu Takada for the cover of the program of a concert given by the trio at Symphony Hills in Tokyo in February of 2003. The 4 string electric bass solo spotlights another side to the many facetted talent of bassist “Masa” Emori.

Ballade

“Ballade” is a jazz tribute to the four epic Ballades of Fredric Chopin, where the style is not that of the ballads of American pop music but features a longer story line in one tonal setting, (this one in D major), moving through varying moods and tempos.

Danny Boy

“Danny Boy” is one of the two folk songs in the collection, (one from the West and one from the East), this western one given a straight ahead jazz treatment.

Requiem For Kage

“Requiem For Kage” (Ka-Geh) is in memory of the beloved Akita dog belonging to my daughter Shay, whose sudden passing in Los Angeles left the whole family with sadness but many beautiful memories.

Yagi Bushi

The second folk song on the album, “Yagi Bushi”, hails from the Gumma region of Japan and is a popular feature at many Japanese festivals. The inventive 16 string bass solo by Masa, and Lorenzo's forceful drum solo turn this version into an exciting blend of East and West.

Afterthoughts

The final track “Afterthoughts”, is a piano solo in which I attempt to sum up my personal feelings about my association with the other two “adventurers”.