This guy used to be one of the greatest guitarists in jazz fusion and did wonderful work in the 70's with the Gil Evans Orchestra and put out a number of albums under his own name on the East Wind label which were also top notch(Eight Mile Road and Prism). This CD,however, sounds like an experiment gone terribly wrong, either that or Mr Kawasaki has sold out to make a few bucks from the club scene. While his guitar work is as flawless as ever he has backed himself with some of the cheesiest preprogrammed synth beats I have ever heard. The backing sounds like it came out of a cheap casio keyboard. Jazz guitar and watered down programmed hiphop beats do not mix well at all. If you are a lover of jazz or fusion stay away from this one. If you want to experience Ryo Kawasaki at his best get the above mentioned East Wind albums.