Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Sana Nagano: Smashing Humans

Sana Nagano: Smashing Humans

By Hrayr Attarian
March 15, 2021
View read count

Violinist Sana Nagano is an idiosyncratic and accomplished artist who is immersed in New York's avant-garde scene. Her sonic experiments are an end in themselves, thrilling and provocative as well as quite intimate. Nagano's debut with her new quintet, the electrifying, Smashing Humans, expresses this singular vision to its fullest, creating a wholly absorbing work of rare beauty.

The cinematic "Humans in Grey" starts off with Nagano playing repeating scales that saxophonist

Peter Apfelbaum

saxophone
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Apfelbaum echoes. The entry of the band heralds a riotous and passionate repartee with fiery tones and thunderous beats. After a series of boisterous and clamoring refrains, an eerie ambience is set as Nagano and bassist

Ken Filiano

bass
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Filiano's strings resonate against one another. Guitarist

Keisuke Matsuno

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Keisuke Matsuno coaxes otherworldly sounds from his instrument as drummer

Joe Hertenstein

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Hertenstein lets loose roaring polyrhythms. A melancholic violin melody and wailing saxophone enveloped in complex vamps conclude the tune.

This type of mercurial, evolving narrative characterizes all of the tracks on the album. This is expected as Nagano, herself, states that she was inspired both by fantasy stories and the current social climate. Thus she has created an alternative reality with her music.

The intriguing and dramatic "Heavenly Evil Devil" is intricately crafted and bristles with spontaneity. Members of the ensemble contribute free flowing individual trains of thought with angular lines. From a rousing duet between Nagano and Hertenstein to the emotive and visceral closing chorus the piece progresses intelligently and with surprising lyricism. Whimsey permeates the group interplay.

With Smashing Humans Nagano has recorded a brilliant and inventive suite perfectly suited for our surreal times. In addition to her ingenuity, what makes this release truly remarkable is the seamless synergy among her and the other musicians The result is a disc that is simultaneously urgent and timeless. It has all the elements to give it relevance, both now and in the future.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Strings & Figures; Loud Dinner Wanted; Dark Waw; Humans In Grey; The Other Seven; Chance Music; Heavenly Evil Devil; The Other Humans.

Personnel

Sana Nagano

violin

Peter Apfelbaum

saxophone

Ken Filiano

bass

Keisuke Matsuno

guitar, electric

Joe Hertenstein

drums

Album information

Title: Smashing Humans | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: 577 Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Exoplanets
< Previous

Fire And Ice: Two Nordic Contrasts
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.