Jiro Inagaki & His Friends

*2025 repress* Japan & Funky-Disco in the most explosive blend. Maestro Jiro Inagaki, in a particularly inspired year in which he also released the album “Funky Stuff” also on Nippon Columbia, flawlessly manipulates the rare-groove by covering songs of Quincy Jones, Commodores, Graham Central Station, B.T. Express, Kool & The Gang, Stevie Wonder, Sly & The Family Stone, Ohio Players, Ripple & Billy Preston. The songs are arranged by himself and Hiromasa Suzuki, another high-sounding name in Japanese jazz.

The musicians are experienced session men; congas and choristers are also present. Inagaki's open-mindedness and curiosity about all genres of music that surrounded him meant that over the years he became involved from jazz to popular music of the East, the hippie movement, funk, city pop, and more; and all succeeded him as original and credible thanks to his enthusiasm, perseverance, and skills as an arranger as well as a musician; even his time spent in America since 1969 helped him broaden his horizons.