Kimiko Kasai, Kosuke Mine Quartet

*2026 stock* Legendary Japanese jazz vocalist Kimiko Kasai, one of the most innovative singers of the 1970s, joins forces with the fiery Kosuke Mine Quartet on the newly reissued Yellow Carcass in the Blue, originally released in 1971 on the esteemed Three Blind Mice (TBM) label. This rare leader album captures Kasai at her peak, blending her husky, soulful voice with avant-garde improvisation and fusion grooves, featuring standout tracks like the title song—Masabumi Kikuchi's composition elevated by Kasai's own original English lyrics. 

The album showcases Kasai's expressive range across standards and originals, from the swinging opener "Alone Together" to her lyrical takes on "Blues in C Minor," "Round Midnight," and the haunting "Be Still My Soul."  Backed by Kosuke Mine's passionate soprano and alto sax, Masahiro Kikuchi on piano, Yoshio Suzuki on bass, and Hiroshi Murakami on drums, the quartet delivers intense, free-leaning performances that digest bop, modal jazz, and experimental edges. Recorded live at AOI Studio in Tokyo on July 11 & 13, 1971, it stands as a double bill highlighting both Kasai's vocal originality and the quartet's all-star prowess.

Yellow Carcass in the Blue marks a pivotal moment in Japanese jazz history, bridging straight-ahead swing with bolder, freer modes akin to Karin Krog's experimental style—yet distinctly Kasai's own.  Long celebrated by collectors for its organic grooves and emotional depth, the reissue from TBM/Craftsman.