Japanese RPG Jazz

An ultra-polished studio tribute three years in the making, METAGROOVE is J-MUSIC Ensemble’s monument to the 2016 JRPG “Persona 5” and its iconic score by Shoji Meguro: an intricate blend of jazz, electronic and R&B widely regarded as one of the best video game soundtracks ever made. To give non-gamers an idea of the kind of phenomenon we’re dealing with here, think of it as the video game equivalent to Steely Dan’s Aja. Adored by audiophiles and nerds alike, the “Persona 5” soundtrack is currently ranked on Rate Your Music as the fifth-best video game soundtrack of all time, as well as the sixth-best album of 2017; vinyl pressings have been highly limited, so an LP version will set you back an average of $300 on Discogs.) As a cadre of established session musicians and improv jazz upstarts, NYC’s J-MUSIC Ensemble treat Meguro’s compositions with the respect they deserve, balancing the songs’ now-iconic grooves with unique embellishments and sidebars that show they’re not afraid to take risks. Hell, their interpretations of the two biggest fan favorites, “Last Surprise” and “Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There,” nearly upstage the originals with a fluid chemistry bordering on telepathy. And the lesser-known cuts fare even better, particularly on “Price”—an upbeat, oboe-spiked track that played straightforward in the original, reconfigured into a revolving door of kick-ass solos—and a slick take on “The Days When My Mother Was There.” Even if you’ve never played the game that inspired it—and you really, really should!—METAGROOVE is an instrumental epic not to be missed, especially if you’re into jazz or easy listening.

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A Hip-Hop Time Machine

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