Two fantastic cuts from Cravo E Canela – a Brazilian combo who take the Brasil 66 style of Sergio Mendes, and move it into even groovier, funkier territory! "Preco De Cada Um" has this soaring blend of female vocals, funky bass, and wonderful piano and keyboard lines – moving at a great clip, but never too fast – and with richer colors that really open up the tune! The flipside features a beautiful mixing of "Asa Branca" and "Que Nem Gilo" – in a tune that uses the forro energy of the original to bring a sharp edge to the jazzy changes of the vocals and instrumentation! 7-inch, Vinyl record
(2016 issue.)
Possible matches: 15
2
Fred Fisher Atalobhor & His Ogiza Dance Band —
African Carnival ... LP Vampi Soul (Spain), Late 70s/1980s. Near Mint- 2LP ...
$29.99
Funky African work from Fred Fisher – a Nigerian trombonist who crafted his own unique groove at the end of the 70s! Fred both sings and plays trombone – the latter with a Fred Wesley-like soulfulness – and his rhythms here are really wide-ranging, and embrace a host of new styles coming into play at the time – including a fair bit of influences from American soul! Some cuts have a rootsy groove, while others move into tighter dancefloor territory – never in a commercial style at all, but with traces of boogie and other 80s modes in the mix. Vocals are sometimes in English, which furthers the global appeal of the music – and the set brings together tracks from 4 different albums by Fisher. Titles include "Say The Truth", "Asa Sa", "Iye Ye Mu Elediamemisise", "No Way", "Let Love Free", "WTFS", "Beautiful Dancer", "Happy Blue Night", "The Beginning Ishan", "Ehimedede", "Babajoo", and "Ebi Lolo". 2LP set features 12 tracks in all. Note: The music on the whole set is great, but there are a few tracks that suffer sound-wise from some distortion in the masters used. Most of the other tracks are fine, though. LP, Vinyl record album
A stunning live recording from Elis Regina – one of the last few records she cut during her short time on this planet – and one of the best as well! The album's got a jazzy fire that's missing from some of Regina's other material of the time – and Elis sings with a group that includes a stellar guest performance by Hermeto Pascoal on a number of tracks, and runs through a lively set of tracks that includes a bunch of excellent groovers – upbeat numbers that almost get a bit funky at times. A highlight of the album is the long cut "Cobra Criada", which builds slowly into a complex funky line, with Elis scatting madly over the top. Other goodies include "Asa Branca", "Cai Dentro", "Garota De Ipanema", and a great remake of "Upa Neguinho", with nice messed-up arrangements. LP, Vinyl record album
(Early 80s pressing. Includes heavy inner sleeve. Cover has light ring wear, light bumps on the opening edge.)
Raul Seixas follows a similar path as Rita Lee, Caetano Veloso, and other important Brazilian artists of the 70s – and uses this live date to really pay tribute to the American music of the past that inspired his crazier work at the time – taking older songs of the 50s and 60s, but delivering them with some of the rawer energy he was bringing to his own tunes! Lyrics move between English and Portuguese effortlessly – as Raul takes on tunes that include "Roll Over Beethoven", "So Glad You're Mine", "My Baby Left Me", "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans", and "Blue Moon/Asa Branca". LP, Vinyl record album
Includes music by Mac Wiseman, the Stonemans, Chubby Wise, Don Reno, the Shelton Brothers, Grandpa Jones, Gene Autry, Fiddlin' Red Heron, Asa Martin, and Lester Flatt – 20 tracks total. CD
(Barcode has a cutout hole.)
6
As One —
Reflections ... LP Art/Lapsus (Spain), 1994. New Copy 2LP (reissue)...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
Early magic from Kirk Degiorgio – tracks recorded in the first few years of the 90s, but which already show him to be one of the freest-thinking talents of the decade! Kirk's name may not have topped as many lists as others back in the day, but a record like this had an undeniable influence on grooves for a few generations to come – providing a key link between the older fusion modes of the 70s and some of the more complicated rhythms of the 90s – all with a wonderfully understated approach and a real lack of ego. Keyboards are in the front on all tracks, played with a spacey sensibility that shows Kirk's keen love of Herbie Hancock – and titles include "Orchilla", "Meridian", "Mihara", "Shambala", "Asa Nisi Masa", "Moon Over The Moab", and "Star Gaze". LP, Vinyl record album
7
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '77 —
Pais Tropical ... LP A&M, 1971. Very Good+ ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
A great album from the early 70s – one that has Sergio and crew doing Brazilian tracks with a bit of an LA studio feel – one that takes their older bossa groove into even more soulful territory! Dave Grusin and Tom Scott did the arrangements, both in the best styles of their key early work – which means that things are tight, but never to slick or overpolished. The album's a real standout gem that links together 2 different period's of Sergio's career – and titles include wonderful versions of "Asa Branca" and "Zanzibar", plus a version of "Pais Tropical", done here in one of the best versions we've ever heard! Other tracks include "So Many People", "Gone Forever", "I Know You", "After Midnight", "Morro Velho" and "Tonga". LP, Vinyl record album
(Original brown label pressing in the fold-over cover, with some stuck-on paper near the bottom.)
8
Fred Fisher Atalobhor & His Ogiza Dance Band —
African Carnival ... CD Vampi Soul (Spain), Late 70s/1980s. New Copy 2CD ...
Out Of Stock
Funky African work from Fred Fisher – a Nigerian trombonist who crafted his own unique groove at the end of the 70s! Fred both sings and plays trombone – the latter with a Fred Wesley-like soulfulness – and his rhythms here are really wide-ranging, and embrace a host of new styles coming into play at the time – including a fair bit of influences from American soul! Some cuts have a rootsy groove, while others move into tighter dancefloor territory – never in a commercial style at all, but with traces of boogie and other 80s modes in the mix. Vocals are sometimes in English, which furthers the global appeal of the music – and the set brings together tracks from 4 different albums by Fisher. Titles include "Say The Truth", "Asa Sa", "Iye Ye Mu Elediamemisise", "No Way", "Let Love Free", "WTFS", "Beautiful Dancer", "Happy Blue Night", "The Beginning Ishan", "Ehimedede", "Babajoo", and "Ebi Lolo". 2CD set features 20 tracks in all. Note: The music on the whole set is great, but there are a few tracks that suffer sound-wise from some distortion in the masters used. Most of the other tracks are fine, though. CD
One of the greatest albums ever from Caetano Veloso – a rare all-English language set, recorded in London during the years of his exile! The post-Tropicalia set is a fair bit different than any other Veloso album we can think of – not just because of the English language, but also because the approach is somewhat gentle, and almost folksy at times – a real change from his experimental modes of the late 60s, and easily his most personal statement to date. The tunes are incredibly beautiful – filled with themes of loss and longing that no doubt come from his separation from Brazil – and although a few tunes feature light strings from Phil Ryan, most of the backings are relatively light, and almost acoustic. Titles include the classics "Shoot Me Dead", "If You Hold a Stone", "Maria Bethania", "In The Hot Sun Of A Christmas Day", and "London, London" – plus a cover of "Asa Branca". CD
One of the greatest albums ever from Caetano Veloso – a rare all-English language set, recorded in London during the years of his exile! The post-Tropicalia set is a fair bit different than any other Veloso album we can think of – not just because of the English language, but also because the approach is somewhat gentle, and almost folksy at times – a real change from his experimental modes of the late 60s, and easily his most personal statement to date. The tunes are incredibly beautiful – filled with themes of loss and longing that no doubt come from his separation from Brazil – and although a few tunes feature light strings from Phil Ryan, most of the backings are relatively light, and almost acoustic. Titles include the classics "Shoot Me Dead", "If You Hold a Stone", "Maria Bethania", "In The Hot Sun Of A Christmas Day", and "London, London" – plus a cover of "Asa Branca". LP, Vinyl record album
A very cool oversized package of rare 78rpm material – with an excellent Robert Crumb cover! Music from Freeny's Barn Dance Band, Son House, Ernest Phipps, Memphis Minnie, Tommy Johnson, Three Stripped Gears, the Kentucky Ramblers, Amedie Ardoin, Yank Rachelm, Asa Martin, Blind Roosevelt Graves, Ken Maynard & more. CD
Quite possibly the clearest moment of genius ever from the legendary Hermeto Pascoal – a tremendous album that helped reshape instrumental Brazilian music for many years to come! At one level, the record shares a sound with some of the fuller, richer orchestrations going on in the post-bossa years – especially the work of Edu Lobo and Marcos Valle – but at another, it's filled with the kind of inventive instrumental interplay that's always made Hermeto so great, but which has never come off so perfectly as it does here! As you might expect from Pascoal, there's some especially great reed passages – crafted in a flurry of colors and tones – but there's also a warmer, more flowing quality to the whole album – less of the dark notes and pointy edges that show up often in Hermeto's work from later years. Bits of strings help the whole thing glide tremendously – and the record's a genre-busting blend of jazz, Brazilian roots, and complicated arrangements – unlike anything else we've ever heard, and still one of our favorite albums of all time! Titles include "Bebe", "Asa Branca", "Carinhoso", "Plin", "Gaio Da Roseira", and "Sereiarei". CD
The second album by Made In Brasil – a great San Francisco combo from the 70s, with a flair for jazzy Brazilian tunes that's every bit as great as groups from Rio or Sao Paulo at the time! The group at this point features keyboardist Claudio Medeiros – who really adds a lot to their sound with his tight work on organ, clavinet, and electric piano! The tracks have a much more expansive sound than before – jazzily grooving in the Brazilian fusion mode of the 70s, touched with all the brightness of the west coast scene. Titles include "Circles", "A Briza", "Slick", "Madalena", "Salt Song", "Carinhoso", and "Ponteio/Asa Branca". CD
14
Joao do Vale —
Joao Do Vale ... CD Sony (Brazil), Early 90s. Used ...
Out Of Stock
Rootsy work from singer Joao Do Vale – one of his strongest albums ever, recorded by Chico Buarque, who also makes an appearance on the album, along with guests that include Nara Leao, Tom Jobim, Clara Nunes, Jackso Do Pandeiro, Luiz Gonzaga Jr, and others. The approach is mostly samba-based, with some soulful touches that add a lot of warm to the session – and titles include "Pe Do Lageiro", "Na Asa Do Vento", "Pipira", "Fogo No Parana", "Minha Historia", "Morena Do Grotao", "Carcara", and "O Canto De Ema". CD
Incredible new work from Tom Ze – possibly his best since the 70s! The style of the album reminds us very much of his groundbreaking post-Tropicalia records – with a mixture of spare guitar, vocals, and percussion, all filtered and sifted into a mad mad blend that's completely beyond description. Ze's lost none of his edge on this recording – and the 14 tracks that make up the album are a perfect complement to any of his albums from the 70s. Titles include "Jimi Renda-Se", "Passagem De Som", "Medo De Mulher", "Conto De Fraldas", "Asa Branca", "Cafuas, Guetos E Santuarios", and "Sonhar". Plus, the CD comes with a "CD Auxilhar" that includes a bunch of extra material! CD
Brazilian grooves, deep house, and more – all brought together by the able hands of Sunaga T! The CD's one long mix by Sunaga – featuring recent club tracks from Japan and other points global, all glowing with a sunny finish, and a positive jazzy feel! The names alone will give you a great idea of the sound – and the "World Standard" in the title helps you understand where Sunaga's trying to go with the whole set. Titles include "Brisa (At Jazz rmx)" and "Livin High (12" mix)" by Jazztronik, "Minor Villain" by Peckham Royalty, "Girls" by Daedelus, "Viver" by Sandboy, "New Dance (jazz piano mix)" by Toshiyuki Goto presents Influence, "Eye Fly" by Raw Deal with Gary Bardouille, "Peaceful Morning (new mix)" by Soulmate, "Like Samba" by Asa, "Musical Prayer" by Markus Enochson with E-Man, and "Aya" by Su Paka Pooh. CD
(Original mid-50s issue in a black textured cover, with light wear and small white blemishes.)
18
Paolo Bata Bianconcini —
Asapani ... LP La Scimmia (France), 2024. New Copy ...
$29.9934.99
A record with a nicely earthy vibe, and a sound that definitely lives up to the "misticismo percussivo" and "primitivismo sonoro" promise of the cover! The group's a quartet with plenty of percussion throughout – mixed with bass, keyboards, and some nicely moody woodwinds – all served up on a set of tracks dedicated to the four elements wind, water, fire, and air – in a style that's almost a contemporary blend of spiritual jazz currents with older exotica inspirations! The approach is great, and makes the record slide nicely between genres to a space that's all its own – on titles that include "Chango", "Oyanza", "Ile Aye", and "Omi Tuto". LP, Vinyl record album
One of the most spiritual, most well-conceived sessions we've heard from reedman David Boykin in years – a single performance that runs for almost 30 minutes, featuring a totally hip lineup that includes Nicole Mitchell on flute, Joshua Abrams on bass, Jeff Parker on guitar, Eliel Sherman Storey on tenor, and Avreeyal Ra on drums! The key element here, though, is Lasana Kazembe – who delivers a powerful spoken passage at points – these righteous words about our fair city of Chicago, with a powerful message about the city and life within. Lawrence Jones adds congas to the proceedings, Zahra Glenda Baker sings a bit, and the whole thing resonates with a mix of jazz, spoken word, and spiritual message that takes us back to some of our favorite recordings of the 70s! CD
America's never sounded better than in the hands of Italian sound library talent Daniela Casa – who does a great job here of serving up all these cool tracks that would have been right at home in a film set during the 70s! The music is a mix of themes that evoke different slices of the American experience – almost all of them with keyboards, and most with a nice current of funk as well – plenty of action elements that resonate nicely with the best Italian soundtracks of the crime/cop variety from the same stretch in time! Titles include "Icarus", "Big Sur", "Spiralys", "Beta Lady", "NYC 42nd", "Fix", "Third World Tango", "Puertorico Slum", "Soft Bird", and "Kentucky Fried Chicken". CD
21
Daniela Casa —
Arte Moderna ... LP Flipper/Cacophonic (UK), 1972. New Copy ...
$24.9929.99
Modern art, but of the sonic variety – served up here by composer Daniela Casa on a rare sound library album, but with a free-thinking quality that rivals the best of the avant garde at the time! Unlike some more staid, academic record, there's no overarching concept here – no detailed notes that you need to read to "get" the music. Instead, Casa creates these short, dark little passages of sound – sometimes very abstract, occasionally tuneful – with elements that move between free jazz, atonal piano and woodwinds, offbeat strings, and even a bit of Fender Rhodes! The whole thing's a great reminder of just how much genius was bubbling up in Italy during the 70s – so much so that a record like this, which would have been worthy of release by Columbia or Deutsche Grammophon in bigger scenes, was only pressed up in small quantities by the Flipper music label. Titles include "Concetto Informale", "Dimensione Umana", "Prima Maniera", "Ricerca Della Materia", "Visione Surreale", and "Ricerca Cromatica". LP, Vinyl record album
Lots of cool keyboards from Francesco De Masi – served up in a style that's a lot more 80s than his famous earlier work – almost as if Francesco was trying trying to get in with the younger horror soundtrack generation! The style is still great, though – with sounds that show all of De Masi's rich understanding of broader instrumental arrangements – which sometimes factor into the music, but which also seem to emanate from his keyboards even when they're in the lead. The music has a nice current of warmth from time to time – not just the starkness of the usual electric keyboard score, which makes for a very rich vibe to the whole record! Titles include "House In The Park", "Dreadful Cellar", "Twisted Mind", "Fear & Blood", "Girl & Violence", "So Many Corpses", and "Handicapped Girl". Wow – creepy song titles! LP, Vinyl record album
Early genius from the legendary pianist Hasaan – an artist most people know for his famous Atlantic album with Max Roach, but who steps out here in a set of earlier material that's completely amazing! The set begins with six trio tracks – performed in a group with Henry Grimes on bass and Kalil Madi on drums – a combo who carve out space that's completely their own, taking some of the 50s modern piano ideas of Herbie Nichols and Thelonious Monk, but letting them loose with even more imagination – yet also avoiding any too-free modes as well. The balance is incredible – on all original titles that include "Viceroy", "Pay Not Play Not", "Off My Back Jack", "Almost Like Me", and "Dinka Street". Next are three long tracks that feature the vocals of Muriel Gilliam (aka Muriel Winston from her Strata East days), singing alongside Hasaan's piano on these really amazing takes on standards – stretched out, and given lots of sharp edges – on takes of "Embraceable You", "Stella By Starlight", and "Body & Soul". Last up are two very long solo tracks – stunningly imaginative versions of "After You've Gone" and "End Of A Love Affair". CD
Early genius from the legendary pianist Hasaan – an artist most people know for his famous Atlantic album with Max Roach, but who steps out here in a set of earlier material that's completely amazing! The set begins with six trio tracks – performed in a group with Henry Grimes on bass and Kalil Madi on drums – a combo who carve out space that's completely their own, taking some of the 50s modern piano ideas of Herbie Nichols and Thelonious Monk, but letting them loose with even more imagination – yet also avoiding any too-free modes as well. The balance is incredible – on all original titles that include "Viceroy", "Pay Not Play Not", "Off My Back Jack", "Almost Like Me", and "Dinka Street". Next are three long tracks that feature the vocals of Muriel Gilliam (aka Muriel Winston from her Strata East days), singing alongside Hasaan's piano on these really amazing takes on standards – stretched out, and given lots of sharp edges – on takes of "Embraceable You", "Stella By Starlight", and "Body & Soul". Last up are two very long solo tracks – stunningly imaginative versions of "After You've Gone" and "End Of A Love Affair". LP, Vinyl record album
Kim Sang Hee with Masahiko Sato Trio & Freedom Unity —
World Pops & Love Story ... LP All Art/Solid (Japan), Early 70s. New Copy ...
$41.9949.99
A really groovy little record from singer Kim Sang Hee – a vocalist who works here in English throughout, but gets backing from a few different forces on the Japanese jazz scene! Things change up nicely throughout the record – so that some tracks have Fender Rhodes backings from the trio of Masahiko Sato, some have the groovy sound of the Freedom Unity group, and others have larger backings from the New Herd of Toshiyuki Miyama – who gets great arrangements from Norio Maeda! Kim's vocals are nice too – but it's the overall instrumental vibe that really sends the album home, and makes things groovy – as you'll hear on cuts that include "The Look Of Love", "We've Only Just Begun", "Close To You", "Scarborough Fair", "You've Made Me So Very Happy", "Spinning Wheel", and "Love Story". LP, Vinyl record album
Terumasa Hino on trumpet and cornet, Roger Byam on tenor saxophone, John Hart on guitar, Onaje Allan Gumbs on piano, Michael Formanek on bass, and Michael Carvin on drums. CD
(US pressing. Spine has a thin cutout notch.)
28
Terumasa Hino —
Hogiuta ... CD East Wind/Universal (Japan), 1976. New Copy ...
$10.9914.99About May 29, 2024
One of the most striking mid 70s sessions from Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino – an extended suite of tracks performed by a very hip group that includes Mtume on congas and percussion, Cecil McBee on bass, and Motohiko Hino on drums! The approach here is almost in a mid 70s spiritual soul jazz mode – with lots of spare percussion and bass work at the beginning, building in mood and meaning as the set goes on and things heat up. Hino plays trumpet and percussion, and all players vocalize at parts of the performance – chanting along with the tunes in a way that really adds a soulful undercurrent to the record. Titles include "The Good People", "Hohjoh", "Hogiuta", and "Yuhkyu". CD
(Part of the East Wind Masters Collection 1000!)
29
Terumasa Hino —
Live In Concert ... CD East Wind/Universal (Japan), 1975. New Copy ...
$10.9914.99About May 29, 2024
A real lost treasure from trumpeter Terumasa Hino – a warm and wonderful live set, and one that's neither too free, nor too smooth – just perfectly set up right down the middle to open up on these beautiful long performances! The lineup is all Japanese – a great array of players that includes Shigeharu Mukai on trombone, Hideo Miyata on tenor, Sadao Watanabe on alto sax, Motohiko Hino on drums, and Fumio Itabashi on Fender Rhodes – part of a slightly larger ensemble who can be tight at times, but still allow plenty of room for open freedom on the solos. Hino's only part of the picture, as the other soloists get in some great space too – and the set includes the 23 minute groover "Logical Mystery", the long soulful original "Into The Darkness", and a sweet mellow take on "Round Midnight". CD
30
Terumasa Hino —
Speak To Loneliness ... CD East Wind/Universal (Japan), 1975. New Copy ...
$10.9914.99About May 29, 2024
A classic set from Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino – and a record that's filled with long, open-ended tracks that rank with his best work of the time! Hino's got all the boldness of his best early years here – none of the smoother sounds that marked some of his albums in the US, and a very spacious approach to trumpet that's clearly inspired by Miles and Freddie Hubbard, but which has all the sharp tones that we love in Hino's work too. The instrumentation is mostly non-electric, but there's an undercurrent of fusion-based ideas – with a lot of free-wheeling solos, and lots of space to open up – and the titles are wonderfully sensitive numbers that include "Speak To Loneliness", "Little Lovers", and "Hi Nology". CD
A searing live performance from this brilliant Japanese trumpeter – working here at the height of his stretched-out, open-ended powers – but with a style that's a bit more inside than some of his work from the start of the 70s! Hino really shows himself to be a great leader here – working with a group that includes Hideo Miyata on tenor, Kiyoshi Sugimoto on guitar, and Fumio Itabashi on some especially great Fender Rhodes and piano – a wonderful player who really gives the album a solid grounding, which then allows the horn players to really soar! Hino's really finding his voice here – growing into one of the best trumpet talents of his generation – and this first volume features two long tracks – "Mocco" and "In The Darkness", both of which spin out for over 15 minutes! CD
A searing live performance from this brilliant Japanese trumpeter – working here at the height of his stretched-out, open-ended powers – but with a style that's a bit more inside than some of his work from the start of the 70s! Hino really shows himself to be a great leader here – working with a group that includes Hideo Miyata on tenor, Kiyoshi Sugimoto on guitar, and Fumio Itabashi on some especially great Fender Rhodes and piano – a wonderful player who really gives the album a solid grounding, which then allows the horn players to really soar! Hino's really finding his voice here – growing into one of the best trumpet talents of his generation – and this second volume features two long tracks, "Speak To Loneliness" and "Round Midnight". CD
Rare rock from the Japanese scene of the postwar years – but sounds that definitely have a universal appeal overall! Masaaki Hirao is way more than just a novelty remake of American rockers of the time – as he's got a sharp-edged sound that easily rivals the best we had to offer here in the US – the charm of Elvis, the propulsion of Johnny Burnette, and the offbeat appeal of Buddy Holly! Yet the sounds here are often quite their own thing, too – especially on the Japanese language numbers which make up most of the set, and which have Masaaki stepping away from straight American cover versions, and really doing some great things on his own. The guitar lines are especially great – recorded with brilliant twang and echo that really matches the power of the vocals – and the set features some mighty nice live tracks that are even more biting than the studio material! 10 cuts in all – including "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", "Hoshi Wa Nandemo Shitteiru", "Isuki No Komoriuta Rock", "Crazy Love", "Ooh My Soul", "Jenny Jenny", "Miyo Chan", and "Blue De Memphis". LP, Vinyl record album
A sweet little record from this Japanese trio – all instrumental, and put together in a style that blends elements of electro pop, electric fusion, and maybe a bit of sound library funk! The tunes are all pretty vivid – maybe evoking the scene in the title – but they also have elements that tie them more strongly to the emerging electronic groove coming from the Japanese scene at the end of the 70s – almost as if you were stripping away vocals, and coming up with spare tracks that are heavy on keyboards and other eletric touches. Titles are all in Japanese – but translate as "Aegean Fantasy", "Rose Between The Waves", "Image", "Daybreak", "Aphrodite's Mourning", and "Mykonos' Bride". LP, Vinyl record album
Michael Hudson Casanova is a saxophonist, but the sound of the record draws equally strongly from the contributions of Erik Skov's guitar – a player whose sense of color is balanced wonderfully by the sharper edges of the saxophone – then given some nice structure through the work on drums by Gustavo Cortinas Fouilloux! The work on the record has a slow-building, spacious vibe – maybe not too far from contemporary ECM, but a lot warmer overall – thanks in part to the very expressive sounds of the leader – a player who can cover a lot of ground, but all without going outside – and never in a way that's showy or calls too much attention to itself. James Davis joins the group on trumpet on one track – and titles include "The Now", "Animus", "Infinite Perspective", "Continuum", "Etude For Clementine", "What If Everything Is Not Enough", and "Recycle". LP, Vinyl record album
36
Masaru Imada —
Blue Eyes ... CD Yupiteru/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1983. New Copy ...
$24.9928.99
Warm, well-rounded piano work from the great Masaru Imada – an 80s set, but one that resonates strongly with his classic work for the Three Blind Mice label of the 70s – thanks in part to some superb work on bass from Isoo Fukui – a player whose tones and timing really shape the sound of the album! The recording quality is excellent, and Fukui comes through with this raspy edge at times, and a depth that balances Imada's sparkling work on the keys of the piano – all held in place by nicely subtle work on drums from Tatsujiro Obara. Titles include "Blue Eyes", "Samba Domingo", "Round Midnight", "Stella By Starlight", and "Poppy". CD
37
Masaru Imada —
Mint Breeze ... CD Polydor/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1984. New Copy ...
$24.9928.99
Pianist Masaru Imada picks up some keyboards for this sweet 80s set – still keeping things in that warmly soulful style of some of his previous albums, but also opening up the groove too – thanks to some excellent guest work from Japanese jazz heavyweights Kazumi Watanabe on guitar and Toshiyuki Honda on alto, soprano sax, and flute! The set's got more of a fusion vibe than some of Masaru's 70s material, but still also has an acoustic ear at the heart – a sense of warmth and lyricism that holds strong throughout, on titles that include "On The Waves", "Sunshine Blvd", "Marine Diving", "Mad Riding", and "Pretty Skip". CD
38
Masaru Imada —
Piko ... CD Full House/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1979. New Copy ...
$24.9928.99
A sublime solo set from pianist Masaru Imada – one that really opens up with the kind of warm, spacious approach to jazz that he showcased on his famous albums for the Three Blind Mice label! Imada's got a completely captivating sound here – really bringing us in with a personal approach, but one that's never too easygoing to be casual either – graced with an understanding of just the right touch on the keys and timing of the groove and resonating with a really great sound throughout! Titles include "Menina Moca", "Pico", "Sometime Ago", "Little Blue", "Spring March", "I Thought About You", and "3 x 3 Steps". CD
One of those really special piano albums from the Japanese jazz scene of the 70s – a record that's overflowing with new ideas and imagination, all captured with a really wonderful ear for sound as well! Masaru Imada plays a Bosendorfer grand, which has a really resonant quality, even when he's swinging hard – which he definitely does at many points, thanks to work from Kunimitsu on bass, Tetsujiro Obara on drums, and Yuji Imamura on percussion – which really adds a lot at some of the best moments! The tunes are all originals by Imada – filled with feeling, but never in a hokey way at all – and titles include the 17 minute "Sea's Pasture", plus "Blue Road", "Planets", "Epilogue", and "A Marionette". CD
40
Masaru Imada —
Poppy ... CD Three Blind Mice/Craftman (Japan), 1973. New Copy ...
$14.9922.99
Really lovely piano work from Masaru Imada – a player who's a bit gentler than some of his Japanese contemporaries of the early 70s, but who also works with this wonderfully lyrical tone! Imada does a great job of balancing a sense of flow with a punctuated approach to the keys – never overdone, and often with this spacious sensibility – but more pointed than a Bill Evans style as well. The first half of the album is solo material, and the second features a trio – bass is by Isoo Fukui and drums are by Mashiko Ozu – both players who step into Imada's world in a way that's subtle, but extremely effective. Titles include "Poppy", "Sea Weeds", "Ascent", "Left Alone", and "When Sunny Gets Blue". CD
(Part of the Three Blind Mice Supreme Collection!)
Really lovely piano work from Masaru Imada – a player who's a bit gentler than some of his Japanese contemporaries of the early 70s, but who also works with this wonderfully lyrical tone! Imada does a great job of balancing a sense of flow with a punctuated approach to the keys – never overdone, and often with this spacious sensibility – but more pointed than a Bill Evans style as well. The first half of the album is solo material, and the second features a trio – bass is by Isoo Fukui and drums are by Mashiko Ozu – both players who step into Imada's world in a way that's subtle, but extremely effective. Titles include "Poppy", "Sea Weeds", "Ascent", "Left Alone", and "When Sunny Gets Blue". CD
Masaru Imada —
Seeking Blue ... CD Yupiteru/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1978. New Copy ...
$24.9928.99
A nicely bold record from pianist Masaru Imada – one of his most strongly-grooving records of the 70s, and a set that features some great hork work as well! The core trio features Kunimitsu Inaba on bass and Fumio Watanabe on drums – both of whom bring out a more soulful groove than on some of Imada's other albums of the time – which then gets really expanded by some excellent work from Seiichi Nakamura on tenor and Shigeharu Mukai on trombone – both very welcome players here, who really make the album shine! Titles include "Seeking Blue", "Piko", "Wake Up", and "Morning Sunrise". CD
A goofy title track, and a groovy little album from Jan & Dean – a set that has them settling nicely into their role as one of the most playful pairs in west coast pop – with a heck of a lot more staying power than some of their more surf-washed contemporaries! The album's got a number of tracks that follow in the similar LA-environs mode as the title track – but instead of being gimmicky, they almost come across with this whimsical sort of charm – like they're Jan & Dean's version of British tunes from The Kinks – a wonderfully playful picture postcard version of California, with more wit than you might expect! Titles include "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena", "The Anaheim Azusa & Cuckamonga Sewing Circle", "Summer Means Fun", "Old Ladies Seldom Power Shift", "Sidewalk Surfin", "One Piece Topless Bathing Suit", and "Horace The Swinging School Bus Driver". LP, Vinyl record album
(Rainbow label stereo pressing. Cover has a center split in the bottom seam and is bent at the top left corner.)
A really all-star performance from Quincy Jones – one done at the Budweiser Superfest, and which features vocal contributions from James Ingram, Patti Austin, Ashford & Simpson, and Michael Jackson! Q is at the height of his R&B production years here – and he translates that studio magic into a stunning live performance, with help from all-star giants in the instrumental lineup – including Greg Phillinganes and Rod Temperton on keyboards and a bit of vocals too! The set was originally recorded for radio broadcast – and titles include "Love Is In Control", "Razzamatazz", "Stuff Like That", "Ai No Corrida", "Just Once", "Do You Love Me", and "One Hundred Ways". LP, Vinyl record album
A sweet Soweto group from the start of the 80s – one who have a nice current of funk in their mix, but who also serve up some well-crafted solos on both guitar and flute! The vocals are often warmly in that more familiar South African style of the period – but the record's nicely rougher around the edges than both the hits or some of the more electronic sets of the time – and the use of flute really makes things stand out on some tracks, with a warm, organic quality that really keeps things interesting – especially next to more standard keyboards. Titles include "Walking In The Jungle", "Rainbow Children", "Mafeteng", "African Sunset", "Sengiyesaba", "Happy To Be Me", and "Awundiva". CD
Kimiko Kasai —
Thanks Dear ... LP Sony (Japan), 1974. Near Mint- ...
$29.99
A great set of straight jazz vocals from Kimiko Kasai – a singer who could sometimes work in soul-based modes, but who steps out here in a wonderful batch of classic-styled jazz tunes! The album's directed by Oliver Nelson, but the backing is by a small combo that features Joe Sample on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums – a great group who move in subtle, soulful ways that make the record one of Kimiko's best in this format! Titles include "For Once In My Life", "Moody's Mood For Love", "Get Out Of Town", "Too Close For Comfort", "Mistreated Blues", and "Sometimes I'm Happy". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes insert – a nice copy!)
49
Kimiko Kasai with Herbie Hancock —
Butterfly ... LP Columbia/Be With (UK), 1979. New Copy (reissue)...
Just Sold Out!
A legendary pairing of talents – as Japanese jazz singer Kimiko Kasai works alongside Herbie Hancock – in a setting that's very much on the soul side of the spectrum! Both Herbie and Kimiko started out with a straighter jazz sound in their early years – but by the end of the 70s, they'd both picked up plenty of influences from R&B – although Kasai's work was largely unknown to American audiences. This set is one of those rare Japanese-only sessions by Herbie at the time – a few of which have gotten released overseas as the decades have gone on – and Hancock is in his best keyboard groove, and also gets additional help on the keys from Webster Lewis – who no doubt brings a strong soul current to the music too. Other musicians include Bennie Maupin on soprano and tenor sax, Paul Jackson on bass, Ray Obeido on guitar, Alphonse Mouzon on drums, and Bill Summers on percussion – in a groove that's like a tighter take on the sound of The Headhunters. Kimiko sings in English – and titles include some great versions of Herbie Hancock tunes – including "Maiden Voyage", "Sunlight", "Butterfly", "Tell Me A Bedtime Story", and "Harvest Time" – plus a great take on Stevie Wonder's "As", the cut "Head In The Clouds", and the funk-steeped opener "I Thought It Was You". LP, Vinyl record album
50
Ryo Kawasaki —
Eight Mile Road ... CD East Wind (Japan), 1976. New Copy ...
$10.9914.99About May 29, 2024
A real classic from Japanese guitarist Ryo Kawasaki – a sweet batch of Japanese fusion tracks, with lots of nice work on guitar, keyboards, and reeds! Like a lot of Ryo's other albums from the time, the record blends together jazzy riffing with some smoother R&B touches – but still manages to keep things nice and hard overall, especially on the best tracks – a vibe that's more CTI than some of the later Japanese fusion of the 70s! The lineup includes Sam Morrison on tenor and soprano sax, Andy Laverne on piano and keyboards, and Phil Clendininn on a bit of extra Arp – and titles include the great slow funk number "On The Dot", plus "Montevideo", "Good Night John", and "El Diablo". CD
51
Ryo Kawasaki —
Prism ... CD East Wind (Japan), 1975. New Copy ...
$10.9914.99About May 29, 2024
Excellent early work from guitarist Ryo Kawasaki – a set that's got a leaner, meaner feel than some of his more polished later work – at a level that really lets Kawasaki shine throughout! The vibe is maybe a bit like CTI, but looser and more free – with wonderful colors and tones from Kawasaki as he finds his way on the album through a surprising range of styles – with great accompaniment from keyboardist Phil Clenninn, who plays Fender Rhodes, clavinet, and even some noisier Arp at times! The group also features Herb Bushler on bass, Buddy Williams on drums, Abdullah on percussion, and a young Steve Turre on shells – and titles include "Bridge Moon", "Bridge Sun", "Angana", and "Joni". CD
52
Masabumi Kikuchi —
East Wind ... CD East Wind/Universal (Japan), 1974. New Copy ...
$10.9914.99About May 29, 2024
A brilliant set from Japanese pianist Masabumi Kikuchi – two long, leaping, loping tracks that almost feel like some of McCoy Tyner's best work! Kikuchi plays acoustic piano, and the group's a quartet with Terumasu Hino on trumpet, Koshuke Mine on tenor, Eric Gravatt on drums, and Juni Booth playing some really wonderful bass. Booth's bass leads the tracks with a soulful quality that you don't always hear on Kikuchi's other work – really giving the record a strongly-rooted vibe, while the musicians are still free to really open up and explore. The album's tracks, "East Wind" and "Green Dance", are both excellent examples of the soulful freedoms allowed in the Japanese scene of the 70s – side-long numbers that are different both from contemporary performances on both the US and European scenes of the period. CD
(Part of the East Wind Masters Collection 1000!)
53
Masabumi Kikuchi —
Kochi/Wishes ... CD East Wind/Universal (Japan), 1976. New Copy ...
$10.9914.99About May 29, 2024
An excellent mid 70s Japanese fusion set, led by the Gil Evans protege Masabumi Kikuchi – with a very similar group to the one on his awesome Susto LP! The vibe isn't quite as funky on this outing – in fact it's a bit more reminiscent of Miles' spacey electric explorations – though there are some pretty hard groovin' moments should definitely appeal to fans of funky fusion. Steve Grossman and Dave Liebman play some nice coloristic lines on reeds, and Terumasa Hino is in fine form on trumpet. The rest of the group is rounded out by Reggie Lucas on guitar playing some hard choppy accompaniment to Kikuchi's synths and electric piano, Mtume on percussion, Al Foster on drums and Anthony Jackson on bass. We're especially keen on the dark and heavy "Auroral Flare", the spacious "Pacific Hushes" which opens with a beautiful line played by Hino and the set's closer "Alone". CD
A key example of why the Japanese scene was so great at the start of the 70s – really mindblowing work from keyboardist Masabumi Kikuchi, and every bit as wonderful as some of our favorite American sides from the time! Kikuchi acoustic piano with a warmly soulful sensitivity – alongside the Fender Rhodes of Masahiro Kikuchi, who has a hard-edged sound that almost takes off from Joe Zawinul's use of the instrument, then soars into even mightier territory. The style is somewhat loose at times, but never too free – and the group here is a sextet that also includes amazing alto from Kosuke Mine – an excellent player who's never gotten his due on this side of the Pacific. Titles include "Love Token", "Tenacious Prayer Forever", "Roaming In Darkness", "Young Bloods", and "Piece To Peace". CD
(Part of the Japanese Jazz Revisited series – SHM-CD pressing!)
A brilliant pairing of piano talents – and a record that also features some incredible horn work from Billy Harper and Hannibal Marvin Peterson too! Masabumi Kikuchi plays electric piano throughout – working with a large Evans-led ensemble that also includes Harper on tenor and flute, and Peterson on trumpet and flugelhorn – not to mention some surprising sounds on ring modulator from Evans himself! The arrangements are quite bold – like the best of Gil's work of the time – and really do a great job of mixing electric and acoustic elements in a really fresh way – quite different from any other big band styles of the time, and with all the modernism you'd expect from Evans' music. Titles include "Priestess", "Ictus", "Cry Of Hunger", "Eleven", "Drizzling Rain", and "Thoroughbred". CD
(Part of the Japanese Jazz Revisited series – SHM-CD pressing!)
A set that definitely lives up to the poetry promised in its title – with none of the too-clean sounds you might guess from its hand-washing reference either! The album's one of the freest, most organic sessions we've heard from pianist Masabumi Kikuchi – almost improvised at points, but with a poetic cohesion in the piano lines that's really great – kind of an offbeat sense of lyricism that points in the same directions that Steve Kuhn or Keith Jarrett were heading in the late 60s. Drummer Masahiko Togashi plays lots of cool percussion and even a bit of gong – and Gary Peacock's bass here is as great as on any of his other excellent Japanese recordings. Titles include "Dreams", "The Trap", "The Milky Way", "Apple", "Get Magic Again", and "End". CD
(Part of the Japanese Jazz Revisited series – SHM-CD pressing!)
57
Katsumasa Kusunose —
Jazz Kissa 2022/2023 ... Book Jazz City (Japan), New Copy ...
$22.9928.99About March 20, 2024 (delayed)
Features Herbie Mann on flute, Romero Lubambo on guitar, Eduardo Simon and Mark Soskin on piano, Paul Socolow on bass, Ricky Sebastian on drums, and Cafe on percussion. Tracks include "Anima", "Pao E Poesia", "Aparecida", "Gabriela's Song", and "Choro Das Aguas". CD
(Hybrid SACD pressing – works on regular players too!)
One of the best albums ever from Japanese pianist Masabumi Kikuchi – a set that continues his development as a wonderfully expressive player on his instrument, but one that also opens up with a bit more bite at times, too – thanks to the presence of some sharp-edged contemporaries! The group's a sextet – with contributions from Hideyuki Kikuchi on alto, Akio Nishimura on tenor, and Tetuso Fushimi on trumpet – all musicians who can lay back in a soulbop groove if needed, but also come on with a bit more fire, too – almost working in a spiritual fusion mode on a few tracks, then balancing things out nicely at other times. Masabumi plays some very cool electric harpsichord on the Sadao Watanabe tune "If I Said The Sky Was Falling" – and other titles include "Matrix", "Green Dolphin Street", "In Fourth Way", and "Little Aby". LP, Vinyl record album
63
Masaki Matsubara —
Painted Woman ... LP Pony Canyon (Japan), New Copy (reissue)...
$44.9954.99About August 3, 2024
... LP, Vinyl record album
64
Masaki Matsubara —
Sniper ... LP Pony Canyon (Japan), New Copy (reissue)...
$44.9954.99About August 3, 2024
A really deep dig into the Japanese scene of the 90s – a unique discography that brings together key records in a variety of different styles – from tuneful to noisy, soulful to electronic! The book's a more contemporary variation of the sort of Japanese discographies we normally stock for jazz and soul music – and like those, it's got listings for titles with a full color reproduction of the cover, some details in English, and more text in Japanese. The feel is a bit like flipping through the record racks in Tokyo – where you can understand the context and the nature of the records, even if you can't understand the language. The book features sections on a wide range of styles – including Japanese house, Japanese hip hop, club jazz, Japanese dub, techno, Japanese lounge, J Rock, avant noise, alternative, and even sections on labels like Crue-L and Sokkyo. There's shorter features along the way – all in Japanese – and the book is softcover, full color, and almost 200 pages. Book
66
Hideki Matsutake, Masashi Komatsubara, & KOnae Imato —
Edo ... LP Columbia/Soave (Italy), 1977. New Copy (reissue)...
$24.9932.99
Back in the 70s, there were plenty of records that mixed together the Japanese shamisen with more contemporary sounds – but of them all, this set might well be one of the wildest – as it features two side-long tracks that mix the acoustic strings of the ancient instrument with a mix of moogy electronics and keyboards! Konae Imato handles the shamisen in a very classic style – with lots of raspy touches along the three strings – while Masashi Komatsubara delivers all these different sounds from the moog – sometimes very abstract, sometimes tuneful, sometimes very experimental – all of which makes for a wonderful sense of variety throughout the record! Hideki Matsutake (aka Logic System) was part of the album's creation too – and the record features the long tracks "Journey To Edo" and "The City Of Edo". LP, Vinyl record album
A masterpiece of spiritual sounds from Japanese drummer Takahashi Miyasaka – one of those sublime 70s records that really carries the Coltrane legacy forward, and finds a whole new channel of inspiration in the universe! The group is led by Miyasaka, but features fantastic horn work from Koichi Matsukaze on alto and tenor, Genji Sawai on soprano and alto, and Hiroshi Itaya on trombone – the last of whom has a wonderfully distinct voice, with these crisp, concise notes that really make the record shine! Pianist Hiromachi Tsugaki is wonderful too – a player we don't know at all, but who ranks right up there with the best Japanese pianists of the decade – and bassist Kagehiro Ohba has a spacious stepping sound that really keeps things in line. All tracks are nice and long – and titles include "Dog's Dance", "Pecker's Blues", "Ballad For Mammoth", and "Animals Garden". LP, Vinyl record album
An excellent 70s outing by Orquesta Broadway – grooving hard in the new charanga groove that helped older acts like them hit a fresh new audience at the time. The album's got some great electric bass driving the group, echoing away darkly under the flute and violin solos – and titles include "Presentimiento", "Isla Del Encanto", "Arrepientete", "El Material", "Guajira Del Amor", and "Barrio Del Pilar". LP, Vinyl record album
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Two Italian horror scores on one CD! Piero Piccioni did the soundtrack for Seven Murders For Scotland Yard – in a style that mixes more dramatic orchestrations with a few great mod touches on organ, flute, and percussion – which step out nicely on the groovier tracks, and bring in a nice note of action and surprise to a score that's mostly tense and poised for danger! Titles include "Seven Murders", "Unknown Maniac", "Reminding The Ripper", "Suspecting", "Inspector Campbell", and "Professor Christie". Francesco De Masi follows with the score for 7 Hyden Park La Casa Maledetta – done in a cool 70s electronic mode, one that often features the keyboards playing simple, but eerie melodies that set a great tone for the film's creepy plot! Titles include "Handicapped Girl", "Falling", "In The Past", "Cursed House", "House In The Park", "Fear & Blood", "So Many Corpses", and "Dreadful Cellar". CD
Hideto Sasaki —
Stop Over ... CD BBE (UK), 1976. New Copy ...
$9.9918.99
A great group, and one we've never heard before – stepping out with some tremendous trumpet and alto work that really makes the album sparkle! The group's led by trumpeter Hideto Sasaki, and features alto from guest Sekine Toshiyuki – both working in a mode that's sharply angular, but deeply soulful – like some of the most modern Blue Note work at the end of the 60s! There's some really wonderful interplay between the horns – supported by vamping, soaring rhythms on piano, bass, and drums – and in a way, the record feels like one of those later Lee Morgan dates, still rooted in hardbop traditions, but really taking off with new ideas! Titles include a wonderful version of "Little B's Poem", plus "Carole's Garden", "Turquoise Twice", "Stop Over", and "Soultrane". CD
Hideto Sasaki —
Stop Over ... LP BBE (UK), 1976. New Copy 2LP Gatefold (reissue)...
$34.9939.99
A great group, and one we've never heard before – stepping out with some tremendous trumpet and alto work that really makes the album sparkle! The group's led by trumpeter Hideto Sasaki, and features alto from guest Sekine Toshiyuki – both working in a mode that's sharply angular, but deeply soulful – like some of the most modern Blue Note work at the end of the 60s! There's some really wonderful interplay between the horns – supported by vamping, soaring rhythms on piano, bass, and drums – and in a way, the record feels like one of those later Lee Morgan dates, still rooted in hardbop traditions, but really taking off with new ideas! Titles include a wonderful version of "Little B's Poem", plus "Carole's Garden", "Turquoise Twice", "Stop Over", and "Soultrane". LP, Vinyl record album
Masahiko Sato —
Holography ... LP Columbia/Endless Happiness (Italy), 1970. New Copy (reissue)...
$27.9929.99
Two sides of very free piano from the great Masahiko Sato – an album of improvised genius, and surprising beauty as well! Playing solo on two side-long improvisations, Sato is very much in Cecil Taylor territory – yet he also delivers his performance with this inherent sense of lyricism – a very different, almost painterly way of presenting free jazz piano – in a style that's got the same sort of beautifully fluid feel as the image on the cover! LP, Vinyl record album
78
Masahiko Sato —
Palladium ... LP Express/Universal (Japan), 1969. New Copy (reissue)...
$42.9949.99
The debut album of the legendary pianist Masahiko Sato – a musician who's got a way with a piano that's unlike anyone else we can think of – almost creating these sinister moments at times, which are balanced by occasional moments of warmth, amidst a very groundbreaking sense of freedom! At this point in his career, Sato is so different than American or European avant pianists – and there's a clarity to the performance here that really demonstrates his unique approach – supported by superb work from Yasuo Arakawa on bass and Masahiko Togashi on drums – both players who have these deeper, organic qualities that balance the sharper edges of the piano. All titles are originals – save for an unusual version of "Michelle" – and tracks include "Der Zweig Von Salzburg", "Palladium", and "Closing". LP, Vinyl record album
(Great Japanese pressing – with obi!)
79
Masahiko Satoh & Others —
Dear Memories ... CD Ratspack (Japan), New Copy ...
$16.9924.99About April 20, 2024
Musical themes from classic Bogart flicks, including Treasure Of Sierra Madre, Key Largo, The Big Sleep, Sabrina, and To Have And Have Not, plus an extended suite from Casablanca – performed by Charles Gerhardt and The National Philharmonic Orchestra CD
81
Masayoshi Takanaka —
Insatiable High ... LP Kitty/Universal (Japan), 1977. New Copy (reissue)...
$41.9949.99About August 7, 2024
A real gem from that key moment in Japanese fusion when some of the nation's best artists were hopping over to the American scene – cutting records like this, which often beat the American soul fusion scene at its own game – thanks to the help of a big array of all-star players! Masayoshi Takanaka plays guitar solos throughout, but also gets some help from Lee Ritenour on the electric strings – in a group that also has arrangements from Greg Adams of Tower Of Power, who brings in the rest of the TOP horns too – plus keyboards from Patrice Rushen, bass from Chuck Rainey, and drums from the great Harvey Mason – a rhythm combo that really keeps things groovy throughout. There's two vocal tracks on the set – which feature work from Jim Gilstrap, Maxi Anderson, and The Waters – on titles that include "Malibu", "ESP", "Sexy Dance", "Sundrops", "Good Bad Old Days", and the title track "Insatiable High". LP, Vinyl record album
82
Masayoshi Takanaka —
Seychelles ... LP Kitty/Universal (Japan), 1976. New Copy (reissue)...
$41.9949.99About August 7, 2024
Really lovely guitar work from Masayoshi Takanaka – music that's part of that great solo change after his work in Sadistic Mika Band – as he really expanded his sound on guitar with all these cool chromatic touches that are perfect for the light fusion-based sound of the record! Masayoshi sings a bit too, but his main "voice" is the guitar – set up here in a small combo that features saxophone work from the great Jake Conception, and keyboards from Hiroshi Imai – all at a level that's nicely laidback, compared to some of Takanaka's later records. Titles include "Tropic Birds", "Oh Tengo Suerte", and "Funkee Mah Chan" – plus other titles in Japanese. LP, Vinyl record album
83
Masayoshi Takanaka —
Super Takanaka Live ... LP Universal (Japan), New Copy (reissue)...
$41.9949.99About August 7, 2024
... LP, Vinyl record album
84
Masayoshi Takanaka —
Takanaka ... LP Universal (Japan), New Copy (reissue)...
$41.9949.99About August 7, 2024
... LP, Vinyl record album
85
Masayuki Takayanagi & Kaoru Abe New Direction —
Real Jazz ... CD Jinya (Japan), New Copy ...
$22.9928.99About May 29, 2024
... CD
86
Masayuki Takayanagi & New Direction For The Arts —
Free Form Suite ... CD Three Blind Mice/Craftman (Japan), 1972. New Copy ...
$14.9922.99
A really compelling set from this important Japanese group of the 70s – a quartet headed up by guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi – but which features a very complex balance of work from all the individual members! The set initially begins with a traditional vibe, but then seems to step out with each new track – almost encompassing a history of modern jazz in the music, then moving past with its own sense of invention! Masayuki's guitar rings out on the spare "The Blues", which begins – but then moves aside for free flute work from Kenji Mori on a mindblowing take of "You Don't Know What Love Is" – almost handled with a late Dolphy vibe. "Sun In The East" has the ensemble moving boldly together – with double drums and percussion from Joe Mizuki and Hiroshi Yamazaki – and the set concludes with the extended "Free Form Suite" – a tune that definitely lives up to its name! CD
(Part of the Three Blind Mice Supreme Collection!)
Masayuki Takayanagi & New Direction For The Arts —
Free Form Suite ... LP Three Blind Mice/Endless Happiness, 1972. New Copy (reissue)...
$27.9929.99
A really compelling set from this important Japanese group of the 70s – a quartet headed up by guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi – but which features a very complex balance of work from all the individual members! The set initially begins with a traditional vibe, but then seems to step out with each new track – almost encompassing a history of modern jazz in the music, then moving past with its own sense of invention! Masayuki's guitar rings out on the spare "The Blues", which begins – but then moves aside for free flute work from Kenji Mori on a mindblowing take of "You Don't Know What Love Is" – almost handled with a late Dolphy vibe. "Sun In The East" has the ensemble moving boldly together – with double drums and percussion from Joe Mizuki and Hiroshi Yamazaki – and the set concludes with the extended "Free Form Suite" – a tune that definitely lives up to its name! LP, Vinyl record album
A fantastically free session from the Japanese scene of the late 60s – a set that really points the way towards some of the more dramatic, dynamic guitar-based expression to come in later decades! The group's a trio, with guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi very firmly in the lead – playing his instrument in a range of compelling ways – bowing the strings one minute, plucking with Derek Bailey-like complexity the next – sometimes with heavy drums and bass, other times standing out in very free solo space. The whole album's got a very freely improvised feel, and stands as an early link between free jazz and experimental rock modes - with tracks that include "Piranha", "Herdsman's Pipe Of Spain", "The Galactic System", "Sick Sick Sickness My Aunt", and "Study No 3 Up & Down". LP, Vinyl record album
Joe Thomas —
Masada ... CD Groove Merchant/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1975. New Copy ...
$9.9913.99
The cover's a bit righteous, but the grooves are wonderfully smooth – that shift towards warmer, club-based styles that Joe Thomas took in the 70s – an approach that comes off surprisingly well! Brad Baker's handling most of the arrangements here – with a fusion of jazz, funk, and club that's similar to some of the work coming out of the CTI/Kudu labels during the same stretch – and Joe's use of tenor sax on the album almost comes off like Stanley Turrentine in a similar setting, although with a bit less bite. Instrumentation includes keyboards, horns, and strings – and there's also a slight bit of chorus vocals on a few tracks too. Titles include "Poinciana", "Flame", "Let's Love", "Gemini Flyin' High", "I'm Gone & I'm Glad", and "Masada". CD
A brilliant set of spare duets between Japanese percussionist Masahiko Togashi and saxophonist Mototeru Takagi – both stretching out on an album-length performance that stands up to anything the European Free jazz scene was offering at the time! Togashi is amazing on the kit – very fast and deft, but with a great ear for more subtle moments along the way – a performance that's matched with this really searing quality from Takagi when he's let loose, but balanced with some spare subtle sounds at other moments, including a bit of flute. The sound is incredibly dark – and Togashi plays a range of percussion instruments, including vibes, timpani, marimba, and tubular bells! LP, Vinyl record album
(Heavy Japanese pressing – with obi!)
92
Masahiko Togashi —
Rings ... CD East Wind/Universal (Japan), 1976. New Copy ...
$10.9914.99About May 29, 2024
Spare solo percussion work from Japanese drummer Masahiko Togashi – a double-length set of tracks that runs through 12 "rings" – all different shorter passages that are part of a longer composition – played by Togashi on drums, percussion, vibes, marimba, celesta, and glockenspiel! The sound of the set builds as time goes on – overlapping passages to create a fuller sound, as Togashi explores the space around him with percussion that unfolds throughout the course of the set – in ways that are sometimes more organic and spiritual than some of his recordings with other musicians. CD
93
Masahiko Togashi —
Song For Myself ... CD East Wind/Universal (Japan), 1974. New Copy ...
$10.9914.99About May 29, 2024
The intimate nature of the title is very apt on this one – as the album features spare duets between drummer Masahiko Togashi and other Japanese musicians – including the great Sadao Watanabe on flute, and either Masahiko Satoh and Masabumi Kikuchi on piano! The sound is open, and sometimes a bit free – but in a way that's very inventive, and never too overpowering – as Togashi finds a way to really keep things grounded, and work in the best collaborative spirit with each musician. A real standout on the East West catalog of the 70s – and titles include "Haze", "Fairy Tale", "Song For Myself", and "Song For My Friends". CD
94
Masahiko Togashi —
Spiritual Nature ... CD East Wind/Universal (Japan), 1975. New Copy ...
$10.9914.99About May 29, 2024
A mid 70s live recording by Japanese percussionist Masahiko Togashi – performed with help from a larger group that includes Sadao Watanabe on reeds, Masahiko Satoh on percussion, Shigeo Suzuki on reeds, and extra added percussion. Tracks are long and exploratory – usually beginning with spare percussion, and then slowly adding in additional instrumentation. The "spiritual nature" of the title is apt, as the exploratory style of the tunes is never too avant – simply searching and stretching, in a righteous, almost post-Coltrane way. Titles include "The Beginning", "Moving", "On The Footpath", and "Spiritual Nature". CD
Percussionist Masahiko Togashi leads a really cool group here – one in which nearly all the other players handle percussion as well, but with a quality that's also surprisingly open and laidback – not a drum-heavy spectacular, but a record that allows more subtle elements to resonate a bit with some of the great string elements of the session too! The album features Keiki Midorikawa on bass and cello, and Yoshio Ikeda on bass too – with Yoshisaburo Toyozumi playing more percussion with Togashi, and use of soprano sax from Mototeru Takagi weaving throughout the record to create these nicely sharp lines from time to time! Yet even Takagi plays percussion on the record – and the album begins with gentle, organic rumblings first, then finds a bolder path – on titles that include "Things That Will Come Again", "Life Story Of Wind", "And Then", "Reunion", and "Those Passing Things". LP, Vinyl record album
96
Masahiko Togashi & Isao Suzuki —
Day Of The Sun ... LP Paddle Wheel/Cinedelic (Italy), 1979. New Copy (reissue)...
$30.9936.99
Inventive percussion and amazing bass work – plus a host of other interesting elements as well – all wrapped up beautifully in this unique collaboration between Isao Suzuki and Masahiko Togashi! Both players were some of the most creative of the mainstream Japanese scene of the 70s – Togashi a drummer who'd often go out, but still maintain a sense of soul – and Suzuki a bassist who often used variations of his instrument that were a bit unusual, and which did way more than simple rhythm work! Here, Isao's working with cello, piccolo bass, and regular bass – in addition to piano and percussion – and Togashi plays lots more percussion, and a bit of keyboards too – as both players mix up instrumentation in these sensitive shadings of sound and color that are almost a Japanese equivalent of the best ECM experiments of the 70s. Tunes are all as poetic as they sound from the titles – and titles include "A Day Of The Sun", "Birth Of Yellow Eggs", "Silvery Flash", and "Awakening Of The Fresh Green". LP, Vinyl record album
Two side-long improvised tracks – recorded in a spacious concert hall in Tokyo, and featuring the drums and percussion of Masahiko Togashi alongside some very inventive work on guitar from Masayuki Takayanagi! Togashi is very different than the usual jazz drummer – and even when working the kit, has this way of moving forward, then stopping, moving forward, then turning – almost as if he's trying to be as a-rhythmic as possible! Takayanagi's guitar is a great accompaniment in this mood – as he plays with these unusual sonic elements – almost in the school of Derek Bailey or Fred Frith, but even more tentative than both of them – really matching the quality of the drums, at a level that makes for extremely sensitive improvisation throughout. Titles include "Inner Pulsation" and "Outer Pulsation". LP, Vinyl record album
One of the greatest records ever from Japanese drummer Masahiko Togashi – a rare European session that features the talents of Don Cherry on trumpet and Charlie Haden on bass! The session's one of Cherry's most compelling performances from the time – a really loose and free date that could have easily been recorded a decade before – yet which also seems to have that new sense of warmth and spiritualism that Don brought to his best experiments in the 70s. And Togashi really brings this spiritual, soulful quality to the proceedings – using percussion in earthy and subtle ways that really let Haden's basslines come forward too! Titles include "Rain", "Song Of Soil", "June", "Oasis", and "Words Of Wind (parts 1 & 2)". LP, Vinyl record album
99
Mal Waldron/Terumasa Hino —
Reminiscent Suite ... CD Victor/BBE (UK), 1972. New Copy ...
$16.9919.99
Really evocative work from pianist Mal Waldron – a rare Japanese session cut with trumpeter Terumasa Hino, and a hip group of players who really make the set sparkle! The album's easily one of the most spiritual that Mal ever cut – and features two side long tracks that build beautifully, with soaring, searching rhythms that are unlike anything else we've ever heard in another Waldron record. Other players include Takao Uematsu on tenor, Isao Suzuki on bass, and Motohiko Hino on drums – and the set also feature added percussion, which really adds to the spiritual quality of the music. Titles include "Reminiscent Suite" and "Black Forest". CD
Mal Waldron/Terumasa Hino —
Reminiscent Suite ... LP Victor/BBE (UK), 1972. New Copy Gatefold (reissue)...
$34.9939.99
Really evocative work from pianist Mal Waldron – a rare Japanese session cut with trumpeter Terumasa Hino, and a hip group of players who really make the set sparkle! The album's easily one of the most spiritual that Mal ever cut – and features two side long tracks that build beautifully, with soaring, searching rhythms that are unlike anything else we've ever heard in another Waldron record. Other players include Takao Uematsu on tenor, Isao Suzuki on bass, and Motohiko Hino on drums – and the set also feature added percussion, which really adds to the spiritual quality of the music. Titles include "Reminiscent Suite" and "Black Forest". LP, Vinyl record album