Safari was a jazz-fusion unit led by keyboardist Toshiyuki Daitoku, who had recorded with the likes of George Otsuka and Mukai Shigeru, and Gregg Lee, a Californian who had previously played in fusion bands such as Caldera and Native Son.
Their eponymous debut album ended up being the band’s sole release. It included the track ‘Safari’, which was used as the signal song for a sports program on Fuji TV at the time. Released in 1984, the album itself is a hidden gem of AOR / jazz-fusion, showcasing mellow grooves and lush vocal harmonies.
Standout tunes include the funky ‘The Morning After’, replete with the buoyant poolside vibes of midsummer, the Latin funk number ‘Brass Monkey’, and the mellow funk of ‘All Right in The Night'. Aside from of this album, Safari recorded a number of BGM tracks for the for the same label before disbanding. While this might explain the lack of due recognition for the band, more recently they have attracted a following among DJs and fans of the newly ascendant City Pop / Mellow Groove genres. After a steady stream of requests from them, the long-awaited reissue is finally here!
