Toto/Osaka,Japan 2019

“40 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN TOUR 2019” has received great praise. This week, the latest Live in Japan will be released at the same time. This work is the second masterpiece live album of “February 21, 2019: Osaka Castle Hall”. In conjunction with the first Nippon Budokan masterpiece “LIVE AT BUDOKAN 2019”, let’s first check the show’s position on the currently ongoing tour schedule. ・February 14th: Hiroshima Bunka Gakuen HBG Hall ・February 16th: Kanazawa Opera Theater ・February 18th: Fukuoka Civic Center ・February 20th: Nippon Budokan “LIVE AT BUDOKAN 2019” ・February 21st: Osaka Castle Hall [This work] February 23rd: Iwate Prefectural Civic Center February 25th: Nagoya International Conference Center Century Hall February 27th: Sendai Sunplaza Hall A total of 8 performances. This week’s Nippon Budokan and Osaka Castle were the two highlight performances in the middle of the tour. This work that recorded such a show is also a wonderful masterpiece audience recording. This is an original recording only for this work, but it is neat and powerful with plenty of direct feeling. There is no doubt that it was an audience recording as it was given to me by the recording artist himself, but when I listen to it I forget that fact. What’s most wonderful is the sense of closeness. There was almost no reverberation from the venue, and the crisp performance and singing voice filled my ears with no time lag. Although it is extremely thick like a rope, it has a lustrous core like porcelain, and yet its sense of stability does not waver in the slightest. What’s even better is the balance. Anyway, it’s well-balanced, and the extended highs, the responsive midrange, and the delicate bass tones, all of which don’t jump out or fall out. I can barely remember that it was an audience recording due to the applause between songs and the faint applause. It is a famous recording worthy of being called such a “soundboard”. The show drawn with such quality is also indescribably wonderful. The final Sendai performance has not yet been held, but so far all the Japanese performances have had the same set. I will leave the details to the explanation of “LIVE AT BUDOKAN 2019”, but the performance of the delicious and fresh “Ura Best” is also wonderful. Far from faltering, the stable ensemble shows no signs of decline, relaxed yet impregnable. Not only the three main characters, but also Shannon Forrest’s Jeff Porcaro performance is even better. Whether it’s the shuffle of “Dune (Desert Theme)” or the way it plays during “Lovers In The Night,” it’s as if Jeff has taken over. Also, “Lovers In The Night” is fresh again. Unfortunately, David Paich was unable to come to Japan this time due to illness, but Joseph Williams will sing this song in his place. The set itself was new this time, but this song is also a great bonus. Five of the eight members are the same as last time in 2016, but the remaining three are also great. In particular, Dominique “Xavier” Tavlin, who took on the heavy responsibility of filling in for Paich, was a surprising performer. As they were part of Prince’s backing band, their technical skills were impeccable, and they didn’t feel out of place on “Rosanna,” with Paich’s phrases etched into my mind. It’s a big deal just to not feel Paich’s absence, but Dominic’s personality comes out on the instrumental songs “Jake To The Bone” and “Girl Goodbye.” Based on jazz and classical music, he uses unique phrases to add new charm to famous songs. In addition, Siem Von Schrock on bass and Warren Hamm, who plays three types of saxophone, flute, and harmonica, are also wonderful. Each performance is good, but the chorus is even better. Shem, who Lukather praises as having a “super high tenor voice,” and Warren, who also takes the lead for part of the encore song “Home Of The Brave.” If you notice, there was no female chorus this time, but you can hear the beautiful chorus work that will make you forget even that. This work also has a sound that allows you to clearly understand its subtleties. Anyway, the 40th anniversary special set is a masterpiece of a dazzling live album with beautiful sound. I thought that only TOTO, which has a high level of sound as well as performance, would produce a beautiful recording, but I didn’t expect it to go this far. An exquisite piece that will make you wonder, “Was Osaka Castle’s sound this good?” Live at Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka, Japan 21st February 2019 TRULY PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1 (77:11) 1. Intro. 2. Devil’s Tower 3. Hold the Line 4. Lovers in the Night 5. Alone 6. I Will Remember 7. English Eyes 8. Jake to the Bone 9. Rosanna 10. Georgy Porgy 11. Human Nature 12. I’ll Be Over You 13. No Love 14. Stop Loving You 15. Piano solo 16. Girl Goodbye Disc 2 (50:30) 1. Band Introductions 2. Lion 3. Dune (Desert Theme) 4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 5. Make Believe 6. Africa 7. Home of the Brave