Sincere yet uninhibited. Powerful yet vibrant. This remarkable debut album captures the breakthrough moment of rising pianist Mikio Masuda. Mikio Masuda first came to prominence as a member of the Terumasa Hino Group, and this is his debut album as a leader. The musicians are essentially the same lineup that was performing with the Hino Group in 1974, but with Masuda at the helm, the music takes on an especially fresh and energetic character. He plays with remarkable freedom and confidence, as if completely at home in the spotlight. Four of the album’s six tracks are Masuda originals. At times he moves forward with a light, agile touch; at others, he unfolds beautiful themes with lyrical sensitivity. The variety of the compositions and the freshness of the performances are consistently striking. Among the highlights is “Prayer”, a powerful, Afrocentric piece that stands as an outstanding example of the post-Coltrane approach. Both compositionally and performance-wise, it ranks among the album’s defining achievements. This album marks the starting point of Masuda’s career and remains one of his signature works, documenting the emergence of an artist who would later become one of the leading figures of the fusion era. text by Yusuke Ogawa (UNIVERSOUNDS / DEEP JAZZ REALITY)