New Horizon

New Horizon
Album by Tak Matsumoto
Released	April 30, 2014
Genre	Instrumental, Rock, Jazz
Label	Vermillion Records House Of Strings (Japan) 335 Records (International)
Producer	Tak Matsumoto

The promo image of Tak distributed with the announcement for the album's release. The album was titled New Horizon as it is a work in which Tak wanted to explore new avenues he had not yet taken in his musical career.

The special vinyl set that was announced as being available in an extremely limited quantity of only 300 copies. This special edition is only available to those that purchase the album and redeem the special offer card inside prior to the deadline.

Tak on the cover of Japan Jazz magazine. His reputation as a jazz musician had its roots in his 2010 collaboration with Larry Carlton, TAKE YOUR PICK.

New Horizon is the tenth studio album by Tak Matsumoto, set to be released on April 30, 2014. As with Tak's previous album Strings Of My Soul, the album is also scheduled for an international release at a later date and will again be produced by Tak alongside 335 Records' Paul Brown. The cover of the album and various promotional materials feature Tak's new signature Gibson Firebird guitar. As with Tak's previous work, the track listing features an all-new vocal song in addition to its variety of instrumental offerings with American soul singer Wendy Moten as a guest performer.

In a promotional campaign offer announced on April 18, 2014, it was revealed that copies of the album would come packaged with a special card that could be redeemed to earn a chance to win one of 300 specially-pressed vinyl editions of the album.

The album will be supported by Tak Matsumoto LIVE 2014 -New Horizon-. The tour, which will tour from May to June of 2014, is Tak's first true solo tour and will feature new and old support members for the shows, including Yoshinobu Ohga, who has worked with both Tak in his solo efforts as well as numerous recent B'z live outings.

Production and information

According to an interview in [[Be With! Vol. 101 (March 2014)|Be With! Volume 101], work on the songs that would eventually find their way onto the album began sometime in 2012. However, due to commitments stemming from the 25th anniversary for B'z and the subsequent tour, Tak put the album on hold temporarily and did not resume work on it until December of the year.

The release of the album was promoted prior to making it to store shelves in a number of different avenues, including television, internet coverage, magazine featurettes, and radio appearances. On April 21, Tak appeared on Tokyo FM to discuss the album and his career, during which album tracks "Gakuseigai no Kissaten", "New Horizon", and "Feel like a woman tonite" were previewed at length for the first time.

While no music videos were filmed for the release, two brief television commercials for "New Horizon" and "Rain" began airing in the weeks leading up to the album's release.

Track listing

All music composed by and guitar performed by Tak Matsumoto unless otherwise noted.

1. New Horizon

   Brand new title song for the album that was used as the theme song for a series of Sagawa Express television commercials.

2. Take 5

   An updated cover of the revered Jazz masterpiece previously covered by Tak on his very first studio album Thousand Wave in 1988.

3. Feel like a woman tonite

   An all-new song featuring American soul singer Wendy Moten on vocals.

4. Rodeo Blues
5. Island of peace
6. That's Cool
7. Shattered Glass
8. Tsuki no Akari — Light of the Moon, 月のあかり

   Cover of classic 1978 composition by Masahiro Kuwana.

9. Reason to be...
10. BLACK JACK

    A re-recording of a song Tak made in 2003 for the Japanese anime Black Jack, created for and featured in a special video release in the series.

11. Gakuseigai no Kissaten — Student Village Cafe, 学生街の喫茶店

    Cover of 1972 song by threepiece acoustic rock band GARO.

12. Rain

    The studio debut of the song performed as Tak's solo from B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER-.

International Edition

As with Tak's previous solo album Strings Of My Soul in 2012, the album is again tentatively scheduled for an international release following the domestic Japanese launch. Paul Brown is again producing the album and will oversee its western release.

Personnel

Credits apply to original Japanese track order

• Tak Matsumoto: Guitar, Music Composition (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12), Arrangement