A real 70s stormer from Frank Foster – recorded with the Loud Minority ensemble used for the Mainstream album of the same name, done in a style that's a bit more straight ahead, yet still plenty darn soulful! Frank's hanging here between the two sides of his career – working in a larger band mode at one level, yet also scoring some charts that are a lot hipper than anything the Basie generation might have imagined! The rhythm section on the set features Mickey Tucker on piano, Earl May on bass, and Charlie Persip on drums – augmented by a bit of extra percussion and guitar from time to time, in a way that really makes the tunes skip along nicely. Frank himself is on both soprano and tenor sax – sounding great on the album's title remake of his "Manhattan Fever" – and also stretching out on longer tunes that include Ronnie Matthews' great "Marie Jean", and Frank's originals "Thruway Traffic" and "Four Five Six". LP, Vinyl record album

A bold new frontier for use of the harp in experimental music – and that's saying a lot, given that Ayako Shinozaki recorded this album during the generation of Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby! Shinokazi takes the instrument a bit back towards its use in more serious music, but with definite avant leanings, and certainly a sound that's inspired by the bold frontiers of free improvisation – as she opens up the harp in ways that are very different than some of the sweeter, softer styles that were often used in the 20th century – and instead uses it with a really keen ear for experimental tones and sharper-edged sounds! Two pieces are solo – readings of Toru Takemitsu's "Stanza II" and Katsuhiro Tsubono's "Poem Of Rim" – and the second half features a duet with violinist Takehisa Kosugi on "Heterodyne". (Out Sound, Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album

With Teru Sakamoto on piano, Takao Neichi on bass, and Takeshi Watanabe on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime work from Billy Harper – one of those rare Japanese-only sessions he cut in the 70s – really tremendous stuff that blows away most of his other (already excellent) work from other points around the globe! Billy's blowing some really mighty tenor here – at a level that makes him one of the most righteous, spiritual players of the 70s – a player we'd rank right up there with John Coltrane or Pharoah Sanders at their best, working here with a bold musical vision that's all his own! The long tracks really give Harper plenty of room to stretch out – and he never goes too far out, even with the freedom – hanging tight to some tremendous rhythms from Mickey Tucker on piano, Gregg Maker on bass, and Malcolm Pinson on drums – and getting great help from trumpeter Everett Hollins in the frontline. Titles include "Love On The Sudan", "Priestess", and "Awakening". LP, Vinyl record album

A really striking solo piano session by the richly talented Fumio Itabashi – a pianist with a fluid, open feel on the keys – one that charges a session like this with the same sort of energy you'd expect from a trio album! In a way, Fumio's style would almost be held back by bass and drums – as he plays with a strongly rhythmic approach – one that colors in the spaces of the album in a way that reminds us a bit of the work of Dollar Brand, but which also has a more freely lyrical approach that reminds us of some of our favorite French players over the years. Titles include the originals "Miss Cann", "Good Bye", "Tone", and "Watarase". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent Japanese-only release – Art Farmer blows flugelhorn with backing by the Great Jazz Trio of Hank Jones on piano, Eddie Gomez on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums – with a bit of additional strings arranged by Masahiko Satoh! LP, Vinyl record album

Drummer Akira Ishikawa was easily one of the hippest cats on the Japanese scene of the late 60s and early 70s – a player and leader with a great ear for American funk and soul changes of the time, most of which he brought into play on a record like this! The album's definitely got the soul and rock promised in the title, but also plenty of jazz too – as some of the solos go nicely outside, in weird offbeat ways that nicely contrast with the tighter grooves in the rhythm – creating a nice sense of tension that really makes this record stand out from the pack! There's a really sinister undercurrent here – odd edges and weird tones on piano, guitar, and saxophone – all amidst some strongly soulful grooves from the rest of the group. Titles include "The Cougar", "Greensleeves", "No More Than A Drop", "Deep River", "Mago-Uta", and "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful sounds from the ultra-hip Max Roach Quartet of the mid 70s – a lineup that features Billy Harper on tenor, Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, and Reggie Workman on bass! Tracks are long – very much in the Harper style of the time – and titles include "It's Time", "Calvary", and "Round Midnight". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful sounds from the ultra-hip Max Roach Quartet of the mid 70s – a lineup that features Billy Harper on tenor, Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, and Reggie Workman on bass! Tracks are long – very much in the Harper style of the time – and titles include "Mr Papa Jo" and "Scott Free (parts 1 & 2)". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautifully-recorded set from this Japanese modernist! LP, Vinyl record album

Really great work from this American tenorist – a player who made records here during the R&B years, but who eventually found more fame and support over in Japan – where he recorded unique material like this! Many tunes are original, and have Japanese titles – and they feature even better tenor work from Sam than on his American albums – set to arrangements from Akira Arita! LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful 70s work from the great Frank Foster – material from that time when he'd split with the Count Basie group to go into a completely different direction – cutting spiritual records like this, and his better-known Loud Minority album for Mainstream records! The session was only ever issued in Japan – and it's got Foster really hitting new heights – picking up some of the spiritualism of his experience with Elvin Jones, but working his own sort of magic – with a personal charm that's echoed by the image on the cover. Frank blows saxes and arranged the set with a warmly angular group – in a larger group that also includes Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, Thad Jones on flugelhorn, Jerry Dodgion on alto and flute, Walter Norris on piano, George Mraz on bass, and Mel Lewis on drums. Titles include "Shitsu Mon", "Tan Kyu", "Cecilia Is Love", and "Now That She's Away". LP, Vinyl record album

A great 70s soul jazz session that ranks up there with some of the best of Billy Harper's work from the decade! The session was recorded in the same style as Harper's excellent Japanese sessions for Denon, and it features a very soulful frontline of Faddis' trumpet, Harper's tenor, and the piano and electric piano of Roland Hanna. Cecil Bridgewater plays kalimba on one track, and the rhythm's by George Mraz and Motohiko Hino. Titles include "Two D's From Shinjyuku, Dig & Dug", "This All", and "Water Bridge". LP, Vinyl record album