Jazz /
Aketa's Erotical Piano Solo & Grotesque Piano Trio
*Limited Edition* Pianist Shoji Aketagawa, the creative force behind the consistently unconventional Aketa's Disc label, presents an album with an unusual title that aligns with the label's distinctiveness. The material, while not explicitly erotic or grotesque, showcases Shoji's beautiful and robust notes on several solo tracks. The album takes a unique turn as Shoji collaborates with the trio on the final tune, offering a quality unlike any other artist we can think of. The piano, possessing t…
Matrix
Esteemed pianist Masabumi Kikuchi enjoyed a long and illustrious career in jazz that encompassed many forms. After playing in Lionel Hampton’s Japanese touring band, he played on five Sadao Watanabe albums in mid-1960s and backed Sonny Rollins before studying at the Berklee College of Music. Matrix was the first of five albums recorded with his Sextet and is rightly rated one of the greatest of his entire career, the album mixing well-executed covers of songs by Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Watanab…
Tryangle
*2023 stock* From 1960 era, Hiroshi Yamazaki played with Masayuki Takayanagi, Kaoru Abe, Masabumi Kikuchi, and so on. He plays from standard Jazz to Freeform Improvisation by his original drum sounds and now he put the focus on this unit called Tryangle. Also bassist Nobuyoshi Ino played with Masayuki Takayanagi and Yamazaki from 60 era. Tryangle is the unsettled unit that drummer Yamazaki and bassist Ino invite unique guest musician. For example, Takayuki Kato (g), Masayo Koketsu (as), Sachi Ha…
Root
*2023 stock* Japanese prog. irregular time signature drum master, Tatsuya Yoshida and crazy beautiful jazz pianist, Dairo Suga met and improvised first time at the venue “7th Floor”, Tokyo on 2021. This CD is the all recorded memorable live performance then. The duo playing has a passion, a sense of speed, number of voices and mugginess ! Yoshida uses brushes ( unbelievable ! ) and singing by falsetto voice, and Suga send out a prog-rock-like phrase. They are getting closer to each other but don…
HMT
*2023 stock* "A critical point of explosive hardcore improv! A relentless mass of sound! The long-awaited first album of this hardcore trio, which has been steadily increasing its fan base by always running at full speed and radiating sound to the limits of their physical and mental strength, has finally made its debut! This group was formed based on Hirose's concept of packing condensed sounds to the limit, and there are no gaps between sounds, no interplay, and no formulaic improvisational ele…
What's Going On
*2023 stock* The impossibly cool 1973 album What's Going On from Late, Great Japanese Funk & Jazz Don Takehiro Honda which swings through jazz orchestral renditions of American R&B and Funk Classics like Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On, "Otis Redding's "Sitting On The Dock of the Bay," and James Brown's "Ain't It Funky Now" turning them into the most Down Home, Grits 'N' Gravy Grooviest Versions and sounding like they were recorded at the studio of the band that taught the Memphis Rhythm Sections…
The Impossible Dream
Delve into the groovy sounds of a Japanese harp jazz trio led by Tadao Hayashi. Similar to Dorothy Ashby's small combo records, the trio, with Takao Kusagaya on bass and Koichi Suzaki on drums, maintains a lean approach. Hayashi's harp work, given ample space, weaves mesmerizing note combinations with a gentle groove, especially enhanced by skillful bass. Familiar tunes take on a fresh perspective, resonating strongly in this recording.
Inner Space
*2023 stock* "Japanese pianist Yosuke Yamashita built his name as one of the country's avant-garde jazz leader with his bass-less trio founded still in 1969 (with drummer Takeo Moriyama and tenorist Seiichi Nakamura, in 1973 Nakamura has been changed by alto sax player Akira Sakata). Early-mid 70s were all years of trio's fame documented by representative collection of studio and live albums, all containing high energy fast and tight strongly improvisation music.Year 1977 was a transitional for …
Sabu - Message To Chicago
*2023 stock* A wonderful recording by Japanese first generation free improvisers Sabu Toyozumi, Syoji Ukaji and Ryoh Hara.
Evolution
*2024 stock* "This release Shintaro Quintet’s private press release ‘Evolution’. It’s another well-chosen release that comes with superb packaging, high sound quality and some interesting sleeve notes which give a fascinating in-depth insight into the music and the musicians in Japan within the specified time period.
Recorded in New York, the one-off recording by bassist Shintaro Nakamura and his quintet features the brilliant trumpeter Shunzo Ohno, who has played on many of the quintessential J…
East Plants
*2023 stock* "A genuine ‘under the radar’ album known only to a handful of Japanese jazz collectors, ‘East Plants’ is now available once more, reissued as CD and digital formats. Originally released in 1983 on the Japanese VAP label, ‘East Plants’ is an essential album in the J Jazz canon. It’s an album that distils several key characteristics of Moriyama’s music: clearly articulated and inventive rhythms, open yet orderly arrangements, and an accessible groove balanced with a graceful control. …
Rebirth of "TBM" - The Japanese Deep Jazz (Compiled by Tatsuo Sunaga)
Tip! Three Blind Mice revitalized the Japanese jazz scene during the 1970s and 1980s. Its initial mission was to proactively produce albums of new musicians. Another goal was to expand its fan base, which was done by releasing albums of famous musicians. Through these efforts, TBM has greatly contributed to enriching the Japanese jazz scene. Tsuyoshi Yamamoto and Isao Suzuki were two of the leading figures who gained prominence by their works on TBM. Yamamoto quickly became a star in the Japanes…
Enraku's Playboy Chapter 12 - The Playboy's Manual
*Limited Edition* This late '60s Japanese "Playboy Manual" features a sexy cover and a unique format. Each track begins with Japanese spoken segments from Norio Maeda, possibly on seduction, followed by groovy instrumental music. The blend of jazz and easy modes, with romping piano, blasting horns, and mod rhythms, makes it a stylish and lively record.
Jazz A Maison De Japon, Paris
*Limited Edition* Embark on a wonderful French journey with the Japanese duo of saxophonist Mototeru Takagi and pianist Takashi Kako, accompanied by the exceptional Kent Carter on bass and cello, along with Ron Pittner on drums and percussion. This performance showcases Takagi and Kako in a slightly different light, possibly influenced by the Paris ambiance. While their creativity remains modern and distinctive, there's a nuanced sentimentality in their playing, evoking a special undercurrent th…
Flash
*Limited Edition* This trio, led by drummer Motohiko Hino and featuring Masahiko Satoh on piano and Nobuyoshi Ino on bass, delivers truly unique work that transcends the typical piano trio conventions of its time. The trio breaks open the format with their creative exploration on the album. Satoh's piano work initially leans towards lyricism before expanding, while Ino's bass rolls and dips with its own beautiful sense of melody. Hino's drumming diverges far from a straight rhythm, often adding …
First Flight
*Limited Edition* This Japanese trio session from the 70s is precisely the kind of record that has us exploring this era so fervently. Filled with warm, soulful sounds, inventive changes, and engaging rhythms, the album maintains a subtle funk undercurrent without overpowering the best lyrical lines of pianist Kichiro Sugino. The trio, featuring Kishio Kitahara on bass and Mitsaki Katayama on drums, is perfectly synchronized, soaring elegantly throughout the record, living up to the "flight" in …
850113
*Limited Edition* Japanese guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi's performance in this set is bold and powerful, not entirely "angry" but striking nonetheless. His sharp-edged guitar work, reminiscent of Sonny Sharrock's experiments, avoids noise for its own sake. Balanced by Nobuyoshi Ino on bass and Hiroshi Yamazaki on percussion/drums, the trio creates a freer, fuzzier take on older guitar modes. The album's titles, numbered variations of the album's name, include four selections.
Valencia
*Limited Edition* Percussionist Masahiko Togashi collaborates with the exceptional piano accompaniment of Takashi Kako in a unique and captivating musical journey. Kako's piano work, marked by a distinctive sense of touch and tone, complements Togashi's drumming. Kako's ability to extract guitar-like sounds from the piano, characterized by an airy chromatic quality, adds a warm and poetic dimension to the moments of freer improvisation on the record. While the music remains rooted in free jazz, …
Trinity
*Limited Edition* Japanese pianist Masahiko Sato joins forces with Peter Warren on bass and Pierre Favre on drums in an enthralling collaboration. Recorded live at Studio 70 in Munich, the two expansive tracks showcase the trio's boundless creativity. Sato's piano work, reminiscent of the era's best free improvisation, occasionally channels a Cecil Taylor-like intensity, interspersed with moments of reflective pause. Favre adeptly balances restraint and bursts of energy, complementing Warren's b…
Maracaibo
*Limited Edition* Japanese drummer George Ohtsuka reunites with the Maracaibo group, creating a fusion of Latin influences on extended tracks that diverge from the smoother sounds of the contemporaneous scene. The ensemble includes Mabumi Yamaguchi on tenor and soprano sax, Tsunehide Matsuki on guitar, and Toshiyuki Sekine on Fender Rhodes. Special guest appearances by Miroslav Vitous on bass and Nana Vasconcelos on percussion and vocals add depth to the musical landscape. In contrast to other J…