Review: Since 2019, Ryozo Band have attracted the attention of fans both in their native Japan and overseas, owing to their deft workings in the realm of jazz-funk and fusion, all tempered by a buzzing affective irreverence. In 2023, they released the 'Utopia' EP, and now follow up said award-winner with yet another, equally affecting EP-form homage to all things felicific and dopaminergic: 'Pleasure'. Kicking off with an impressive, minimalist keyboard exposition, the Ryozo formula soon unfurls as a counterpoint of uptempo wrist-flicked drumming and two horns in unison, overlaid further by sax, trumpet and synth saw. Heavily borrowing from rhythmic and vibeish trends in the current UK jazz scene, 'Pleasure' is a synaptic surge of various sonic serotonins and oxytocins, amounting to what is best describable both as a qualitative and quantitative hedonic calculation in jazz.
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