A fantastic quintet session from this hip Japanese pianist – an artist we love for his work of the 70s, and who really takes off here in the company of two different saxophonists! The set's got a wonderfully open, spontaneous live feeling – as Fumio Karashima lays out these soaring modal lines on piano with help from Satsuku Kusi on bass and Nobuyuki Komatsu on drums – in a sound that's given very spirited accompaniment by reedmen Atsushi Ikeda and Masanori Okazaki – who have a wonderful way of working with the colors of the piano. Titles include the original "Friday Night" – plus long takes on "All The Things You Are", "Along Came Betty", "Summertime", and "Round Midnight". CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Features Charles Lloyd on reeds, flutes, piano, and percussion – with additional percussion from Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland. CD

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

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

Shankar was one of the few flying the flag of jazz/Indian music crossovers in the 80s – pushing the genre a bit farther forward at a time when most other players had abandoned it! Given that his instrumentation here is violin and drum machine, the sound's a bit different than some of the sitar/tabla-based sessions of the past – but there's a similar sensibility going on, one that stretches out the sound with inspirations drawn from Indian music, executed by a quartet that also includes Jan Garbarek on soprano and tenor sax, Zakir Hussain on tabla and congas, and Trilok Gurtu on additional percussion. Titles include "Paper Nut", "I Know", "Watching You", "Conversation", "Song For Everyone", and "Let's Go Home". LP, Vinyl record album

A tribute to the great drummer Elvin Jones – the "EJ" in the title – but a set that's very different than the sort of work you might know from Jones as a leader! The legendary Japanese drummer Takeo Moriyama is one of the co-leaders of the group, but his partner, the pianist Fumio Karashima, has this wonderfully round, full, rich sound that almost takes over at more times than the drums – holding that majestic sense of flow we've loved from Fumio's albums from the 70s onward! The group also has some great tenor from Masanori Okazaki, but playing in ways that are different than some of the freewheeling tenorists that Jones would regularly welcome to a session – and the quartet also features nice work from Ryu Kawamura on bass. Titles include Karashima originals "One For Him", "Hangin Out", and "Be Happy Please" – plus the tracks "EJ Blues", "Blood Count", and "Waltz For Monk". CD

Three long tracks from a great Japanese group – one who recorded famously with William Parker a few years before, but who maybe sound even more amazing here on their own – in a live session that's filled with free-flowing spiritual energy! The lineup features Koichi Matsukaze on alto – a player who can blow both straight and free – alongside Shoji Aketagawa on piano, Koichi Yamazaki on bass, and Takashi Miyasaka on drums. The set begins with a long-spun take on "Impressions" that's really wonderful, then slides into a very avant take on "I Love You", before hitting a nice mix of edgey, soulful modes on "Imba". CD

The final chapter in the triplet of trios albums recorded by reedman Charles Lloyd in 2022 – and one that really holds onto the special spirit of the others! As before, there's a lean setting that's perfect for the maturing talents of Lloyd – this open sonic space delivered with the guitar of Julian Lage and percussion of Zakir Hussain – both players sensitive enough to understand what Lloyd's trying to do, and give him just the right support throughout the record. The whole thing is a further demonstration that over the past 20 years, Lloyd has maybe grown as much as an artist as he did during his first 20 years in music – as you'll hear on titles that include "Desolation Sound", "Tales Of Rumi", "The Blessing", "Saraswati", and "Nachekita's Lament". CD

Matt Mitchell on piano, mellotron and synthesizer, Miles Okazaki on electric and acoustic guitars, Patricia Brennan on vibraphone and marimba, Kim Cass on acoustic and electric bass, and Kate Gentile on drums and percussion. CD

Guitarist Masayuki "Jojo" Takayanagi takes things back to basics with his Second Concept here – playing in a style that's straighter and more swinging than some of his avant work of the 70s – yet at a level that's equally compelling too! Given that he went outside a heck of a lot on previous records, Takayanagi definitely has a touch here that's informed by the farther reaches of the electric guitar in jazz – yet he applies his inventive tones and phrasings to a more conventional setting with help from Kenji Kohsei on piano, Nobuyoshi Ino on bass, and Yasuhiro Yamazaki on drums – in a mode that almost recalls some of the more inventive mix of tones and rhythms from the Lee Konitz generation of the 50s, yet served up in a more contemporary mode overall. No surprise, the set features versions of Konitz-school classics like "Palo Alto", "Lennie's Pennies", and "317 East 32nd" – plus original material that includes "Froggy Day", "These Things", and "My New Flame". CD features four bonus alternate takes too! CD

Warmly jazzy grooves from this late 70s Japanese combo – one who are more like a fusion group than some of the more standard city pop acts – in part because they've got two different guitarists in the lineup, each of whom get a different channel in the mix! Haruto Kawabe is on one channel, and Motoki Ichizaki is in the other – both soloing strongly at points, but stepping aside to allow plenty of room for the lead vocals of Masako Takasaki – who sings throughout the record, in a warm voice that works perfectly with the electric instrumentation! Shinnoichi Shimizu plays keyboards on the set too – and titles include "Jump", "Usou", "AM 4:00", "Goodbye Again", "Crystal Magic", and "One Night Affair". LP, Vinyl record album

Featuring Bill Laswell, Wayne Shorter, William S Burroughs, Bootsy Collins, Sly Dunbar, Zakir Hussain, Bernie Worrell, and others. CD

One of the deepest records we've ever heard from Nicole Mitchell – and that's saying a lot, given all her other fantastic albums! This richly-textured piece was first commissioned in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the AACM – that legendary jazz organization of which Mitchell is a part – and as a whole, it really demonstrates both the strong legacy of the group, and the farther territory it's reached over its decades-long span – music that has pushed past the initial moment of improvisation, through the AACM's standard of "great black music" as a replacement for classical – to the sorts of spiritual, cosmic sounds that Mitchell does so well. In addition to Nicole on flute and electronics, the group also features Avery R Young on vocals, Kojiro Umezaki on shakuhachi, Renee Baker on violin, Tatsu Aoki on bass and shamisen, Jovia Armstrong on percussion, Tomeka Reid on cello and banjo, and Alex Wing on electric guitar, oud, and theremin – a mix of instruments that is global in scope, electric and acoustic, and really used to effortlessly express the spiritual vision of Mitchell. The notes go into great detail about the thoughts and inspiration behind the music – and titles include "Egoes War", "The Chalice", "Dance Of Many Hands", "Listening Embrace", "Forestwall Timewalk", "Staircase Struggle", "Shiny Divider", "Timewrap", and "Mandorla Island". CD

With pieces by Miyagi, Minezaki, Yatsuhashi, Hirai, and Sondheim. LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A compelling new group from Japan – one who work in a mix of jazzy styles and gentler modes that reminds us a bit of the earliest grooves from Jazztronik! Hotel New Tokyo share a similar love of space and sensitive sounds with Jazztronik mainman Ryo Nozaki, but also know how to kick up a groove when they want – and the album balances sparer, more soundscapey tracks with fuller tunes that are awash in rhythm and have a playful mix of sound samples, voice snippets, and instrumentation. Titles include "Dun Dun", "Trip In Jazz", "PM 7:42", and others with Japanese titles! CD

Jazztronik are sounding really wonderful here – maybe even with more jazz than in the early days, thanks to the increasing piano and keyboard skills of leader Ryota Nozaki! In fact, even the structure of the record is more jazz-based than before – really just a trio lineup, with bass and drums next to Nozaki's keys – at a level that's like some of the more dynamic Japanese trios of the younger generation, but with all the depth that Ryota's been bringing to his music since the 90s – a quality that really sets this one apart from more facile records of the same nature. And if you still dig the groove side of Jazztronik, you'll find plenty to love here – just delivered with more live instrumentation and less samples and programs – on cuts that include "1976", "Don't Miss That Rain", "The Hare & The Tortoise", "Move", "In The Forest", and "Evening Shower". LP, Vinyl record album

The group here definitely earns the "new direction" in their name – as they work at a level that's quite compelling – kind of their own variant of free jazz, but with a spaciousness that's definitely spiritual – and which also seems to reflect some elements of more traditional Japanese music too! The tracks are all quite long – and have a really different flavor, even as they each progress – no surprise given that the instrumentation is quite varied, even amidst the quintet of musicians – with Masayuki Takayanagi on electric guitar and gut guitar; Kenji Mori on alto, floute, clarinet, and shinobue; Akira Iijima on electric guitar and gut guitar; Nobuyoshi Ino on cello, and Yasuhiro Yamazaki on drums and a variety of percussion. Titles include "Bohimei", "Resistance", "Mass Hysterism", and a compelling take on "Subconscious Lee". CD

A really fantastic entry in this really great series – one that shows just how strongly the spirit of invention continued in the world of Japanese music as it moved into the 80s! As with previous volumes, the work here is a unique hybrid of influences from American and Japanese sources – partly based in jazz, but also with a fair bit of funk and soul too – modes that are used more directly here than on some of the more polished city pop work of the time – which means that if you like the sweet sound of American electric jazz funk of the late 70s, you'll find plenty to love here too! All cuts are from very rare albums issued by Columbia and Victor back in the day – and titles include "Kare Niwa Kanawanai" by Mizuki Kyama, "Sweet Soul Music" by Hitomi Tohyama, "Ame" by Yumi Sato, "Ojosan Ote Yawaraka Ni" by Kiyohiko Ozaki, "Kimono" by Tetsuo Sakurai, "Friday Night (ext dance mix)" by Jadoes, "Rainy Driver" by Hitomi Tohyama, and "Hello Suisei" by Sentimental City Romance. LP, Vinyl record album