This 2013 debut album by South Korean bassist and composer Kim Sung-Bae is a remarkable masterpiece. Anchored by a two-horn quintet, the music blends Eastern and Middle Eastern modes with spiritual jazz, weaving a soundscape that is deeply emotional, beautiful, and profoundly moving. The overarching narrative carries an epic, cinematic scale that commands repeat listens. From the sublimely beautiful, oriental-tinged piano trio masterpiece ‘Eastern Restaurant’ to the spellbinding Middle Eastern modal jazz of ‘Pepper Man’, the quality of this record is nothing short of breathtaking. - Masao Maruyama