Playing drums, percussion and melodic, Noel Okimoto delivers soulful modern jazz on this album of originals with Dean Taba/b, Tommy James/p-key, Allen Won/ts-as-ss-fl, Abe Lagrimas Jr/vib-uk, Haru Takauchi/g, DeShannon High/tp-fh and Michael Grande/ep. Taba’s electric bass is a plus here, diggin in deep on the Afro-Cuban “Cachorro” and teaming well with the leader on the samba’d “Cachorra” and funky “Up Syndrome” with James. Won’s soprano is pretty on the cute “Nine and A Half” and fragrant on the post bopping “Under The Bottom” with some ince guitar work by Higa on”Opuscule For Rowan”. The leader himself lays down impressive pulses, leaning towards Brazilia much of the time here as on the cheerful “Longest Day” while having time for the blues on “Patina Ballerina”. Upbeat beats.