Album Notes

Kiyoshi Nishiji's "Available Light" is a highly eclectic Jazz / Fusion album with influence from world music and Rock / Funk tradition.

The album starts with driving Electric Jazz "Majestique Blue" that rides on R&B / Funk (and partially Latin) groove.

"Song for Ala" is an acoustic Jazz / Samba with Spanish influenced melody featuring virtuoso Flutist Ilona Kudina and enchanting vocal of Lara Norris.

"Nahant I" is a Tone Poem inspired by the view of New England ocean-scape featuring lyrical Flugelhorn by Wayne Naus and Ruslan Sirota's expressive Piano solo.

Anybody who traveled the North Shore of Boston would know what "Northern Mist" really means. This is a medium fast Fusion tune, featuring rock-guitar-like Alto Sax solo by Kim Snyder and high-flying virtuoso Guitar solo by Ben Andrews riding on Jennifer Oberle's grooving funky Bass.

Erin Hurff listened to "Nahant I" once at our rehearsal and came back next day with lyrics for the melody - thus "Nahant II" was born. She sings the tune in mellow, bluesy ballad style.

Album title tune "Available Light" is an African-pop-influenced Fusion tune with tribal-festive-like vocals. Katja Endemann's Alto Sax weaves the atmospheric texture of the deep forest.

The recording members;
Wayne Naus, Flugelhorn (Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, and his own Moksha)
Ilona Kudina, Flute (Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Mal Waldron, and Sonny Stitt)
Katja Endemann, Alto Saxophone
Ruslan Sirota, Piano (Stanley Clarke Group)
Ben Andrews, Guitar
Lara Norris, Voice
Erin Hurff, Voice, Percussion (Findings)
Jennifer Oberle, Bass
Kim Snyder, Additional Alto Saxophone
John Morgan, Additional Guitar
Michael Leggerie, Additional Piano
Kiyoshi Nishiji, Drums, Percussion, Programming, Additional Voice and Additional Guitar

Kiyoshi's influences include; Chick Corea, The Yellowjackets, The Brecker Brothers, Weather Report, Rick Wakeman of 70's Yes, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Kiyoshi is also an experienced drummer in all styles. He studied at YAMAHA School in Tokyo, Japan and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. His teachers include; Justin "Jay" Bruno, Kenwood Dennard, Casey Scheuerell, Skip Hadden, Larry Finn and Jon Hazilla. Kiyoshi Performed with Russell Ferrante of The Yellowjackets, Charley Ellerbe of Ornette Coleman and Prime Time, Princess (Supreme Records / UK), The Platters, and Findings. His favourite drummers are; Steve Gadd, David Garibaldi and Carl Palmer.