Ken Vandermark recently said that some of the best players are working now are in Europe Japan. Sax Player Sachi Hayasaka's new disc, Minga, proves that Vandermark is right on the target.

Hayasaka is considered one of Japan's most original and creative musicians, and her playing is rich with cross-cultural and historical references. She has recorded with Japanese pianists Yosuke Yamashita and Satoko Fuji and released several solo discs in Japan, and collaborated with Peter Kowald. Ned Rothenberg, Wadada Leo Smith and Mal Waldron. Minga, first released in Japan on her label, Nbagi (with a slightly different cover), is her second release outside Japan, following 2.26, which was released by Enja in 1994.

Minga covers many bases, from ethnic influences to jazz to prog, in an original and organic way. "Casa Minga," is reminiscent of Charlie Mariano's collaboration with the Indian Karnataka College of Percussion and recorded by ECM almost twenty years ago. "Break Up" is an homage to Brazilian Hermeto Pascoal. "Jelly Fish Suites," the longest track at almost 16 minutes, begins with African percussion led by Wagane Ndiaye Rose on sabar, and dramatically evolves into something akin to early Mahavishnu Orchestra or even Gong pieces, with amazing guitar work by Kido Natsuki (who played in drummer Tatsuya Yoshida's Korekyojin, also on Tzadik), while Hayasaka's soprano swirls around the three percussionists and soars over Natsuki's electric guitar solo. "Ligeuyou Ndeye Dom" is an African call-and-response song with Hayasaka singing and playing alongside the three percussionists. "The Night With Midnight Sun" is based on traditional Bulgarian melody and Hayasaka's beautiful arrangement is freer and more open than other recent arrangements of traditional Balkan pieces, such as those by Pachora, Tiny Bell Trio, or even Japanese sax player Kazutoki Umezo. The closing track is the quiet and dreamy "Abyss" with vocals by Otaka Sizzle and Hayasaka's restrained playing bringing to mind John Surman's solo efforts. Beautiful.

Wth Tzadik's reintroduction of this player little known outside Japan, it would be a shame to have to wait a decade for another release to make it outside her homeland. I am also anxious to hear more from Hayasaka's excellent players, especially guitarist Kido Natsuki and bass player, Nagata Toshiki. Zorn, are you listening?