It's easy for unknowing ears to think of Japanese court music — the style used as a signifier in, for example, James Bond movies — as encompassing the whole of the nation's jukebox. But every so often, the labors of love of Japanese jazz musicians demonstrate that folk music isn't always so different from East to West. In 1997, the horn trio Compostela issued a sort of Asian polka called chindon on their Wadachi. Satoko Fujii used the min-yoh song style as the basis (and name) for her group with Curtis HasselbrigCK, Andrea Parkins and Natsuki Tamura on a 2007CK Victo release. And now, saxophonist Umezu Kazutoki brings enka to adventurous ears with an impressive set of solo reed pieces.

In the liner notes to the album, Harada Kazunori likens enka to American country and blues or French chanson, and the blues does run strong through the 14 tracks here. Umezu plays soprano and alto saxophones and B-flat and bass clarinets and strongly meets the challenges of the solo set. There are mournful ballads and explosive workouts, all played with the conviction of both heart and lungs. It's a nice new turn to hear Umezu take, and stands on its own as an excellent solo horn set.