Zazen features the prodigious talents of guitarist Joaquin Lievano, whose playing has taken further leaps into the unimaginable on this trio's impressive debut. Along with
Andy West on bass and
Steve Kaplan on synthesizers, this may well be the first "power trio" in new age circles. And power chords abound on these lengthy, all-instrumental tracks with soaring passages and sharply accented melodies. With dynamic production (and added percussion) by
Rama,
Zazen's high-gloss packaging and quasi-spiritual overtones have been extremely visible in a well-oiled promotional campaign launched through the mainstream music kingdom, and has garnered an enthusiastic response from new agers desiring potent guitar music from a trio with chops galore.