Dato's familiar routine continues to attract, and it's a testament to the quality of his performances, and to his personal perseverance, that he is able to translate his concepts to so many forums. This recording captures him live in Japan with saxophonist Kazutoki Umezu, who appears entirely comfortable on Dato's musical turf. Together, the two reed players create the mixture of Eastern European medleys, Jewish wedding music, and free jazz that has characterized Dato's work. While the sources may not be original, the product is, and fans of the saxophonist should not be disappointed. The idea of two very similar performers might sound constricting (and it sometimes is), but these two make the most of the limitations with a variety of horns; collectively, they play soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, and B-flat and bass clarinets. ~ Steven Loewy|
Rovi