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New Arrivals

Opa! Brasil
*Limited Edition* Dive into the groovy sounds of pianist Kunihiko Sugano with this album, where he skillfully maneuvers the Fender Rhodes to produce a blend of sharpness reminiscent of an acoustic piano. The bossa nova flavor promised in the title is delivered with a post-bossa twist, akin to the bossa jazz trio style of the 60s but updated. Think of it as a 70s take on the genre, akin to the works of Tamba Trio and Milton Banana but arguably even better. Sugano's dynamic approach is complemente…
Black Orpheus: Date In Daté
*Limited Edition* Album released in 1977 by Japanese jazz pianist Kunihiko Sugano, who started playing in a trio with Isao Suzuki and George Otsuka in the early 1960s and recorded the classic album Blow Up with the aforementioned two and Takashi Mizuhashi on Three Blind Mice in 1973. Recorded live in Date City, Hokkaido in 1976 as a trio with Osamu Kawakami and Hiroshi Murakami. The air from the venue was recorded to give a realistic impression, and standard numbers such as Luiz Bomfa's A1, whic…
Live!
*Limited Edition* Immerse yourself in the charm of a Japanese piano trio session, elevated by the rhythmic enchantment of conga player Yohichi Ogawa. The trio, featuring Kunihiko Sugano on piano, Eizoh Honda on bass, and Teruhiko Takada on drums, takes on a sweet and dynamic quality. Ogawa's conga rhythms add a distinctive flair, injecting energy into Sugano's music—a blend of lyrical imagination, gentle swing, and freewheeling vitality. With extended tracks this session is a delightful explorat…
Solo
*Limited Edition* Pianist Kunihiko Sugano unveils a collection of solo pieces, featuring shorter tracks than his trio albums of the time but brimming with emotion. Sugano's gentle and expansive piano touch, reminiscent of Bill Evans, is complemented by a unique phrasing that suggests an approach to the acoustic instrument akin to an electric one. The notes unfold with a measured attack and a lingering sustain. Sugano's distinctive style shines here offering a beautiful and individual musical jou…
The Days Of Wine And Roses
*Limited Edition* Pianist Kunihiko Sugano shines in this early album, captured in a relaxed live setting at a small Japanese club. With a conga added to his usual trio, Sugano introduces each number with introspective lyricism before the trio kicks in, showcasing majestic and soulful solos. A classic in the 70s Japanese piano style, the ensemble includes Izao Suzuki on bass, Shinji Mori on drums, and Yoichi Ogawa on congas.
Good Nature
*Limited Edition* Koichi Matsukaze is a versatile saxophone/flute player active in the Life Improvement Committee and Takeo Moriyama's group, fully demonstrates his unique flavor on this, his third leader album, including the sharp and fast "Under Construction" an understated mix of modern moments and lyrical touches, done with some especially nice vibes from Hiroshi Hatsuyama! The group's just a quartet with bass and drums, so there's lots of interplay between Matsukaze and Hatsuyama the vibes …
Totsugeki Kamikaze Tokkotai
*Limited Edition* Delve into the intensity of saxophonist Kazumi Odagiri's rare trio session on Aketa's Disk label. Odagiri's fiery solos, accompanied by bassist Koichi Yamazaki and drummer Kenichi Kaneyama, create a dynamic interplay. Tracks include a vibrant take on Freddie Hubbard's "Intrepid Fox," as well as interpretations of "Invitation," "Striped Slacks," and "When Sunny Gets Blue." This searing session epitomizes the label's rare and freewheeling spirit.
Shirasagi
*Limited Edition* Trumpeter Itaru Oki leads, but Takashi Tokuhiro's mesmerizing bass solo on "Shirasagi" steals the show. Side two transforms "You Don't Know What Love Is" into an unrecognizable, free-flowing improvisation leading to "October Revolution." Bass and trumpet, supported by percussionists Joe Mizuki and Tatsuya Nakamura, shine in this album, where standout moments redefine musical boundaries.
Mirage
*Limited Edition* Oki Itaru went to France in 1974, and recorded this album in 1977 when he temporarily returned to Japan. The group consisted of Keiki Midorikawa and Masahiko Togashi, with whom Oki had collaborated since the early days of his career, and Takashi Kako, who had befriended him in Paris. The matured musicality of the group finally reached its climax with this reunion and encounter. This is one of Oki's masterpieces, and at the same time a masterpiece that conveys the maturity of Ja…
Atmos
In 2022 we journeyed to the center of the earth with Agartha, Lasha Chkhaidze's first album. This time we go the opposite direction, and fly towards the outer edge of the atmosphere. Atmos, the latest offering of the young and talented Georgian artist, sees him explore the ether. Subtle and intricate layers are weaved together on the course of six tracks. This ambient album offers a completely different artistic direction compared to his previous work. Where melancholia and piano dominated Agart…
Iris
Following their 2021 debut album, ‘Brama’, One Million Eyes return with their highly anticipated second album, ‘Iris’, set to captivate us once more through a kaleidoscope of analog and instrumental fragments. The inspiration behind the album was born from a powerful symbol—the iris of the eye. Controlling the inflow of light, the iris mirrors the duo's mission for the album, “letting light in, even in the darkest of times”. Representing an attempt to shed new insight on their sometimes indescri…
The First Cause
Drifting, hanging, holding. Hoping, seeking, searching. And then finding. Mark Van Hoen's ninth album as Locust is a cosmic whisper, a tender touch, where candid songwriting commingles with the afterimage of trip-hop and jungle. Across eight tracks, spectral melodies dance between languid breakbeats, and a formless murmur drifts through the ether, seeking a common thread. Layered in strata, "The First Cause" reveals itself anew with each listen. Delicate tones share space with bass weight. Drums…
Mo – Water Weed
Immerse yourself in the musical brilliance of percussionist Yoshisaburo "Sabu" Toyozumi's trio, featuring Mototeru Takagi on reeds and Takashi Tokuhiro on bass. The two extended improvisations on this album unfold with a delicate and quiet start, with each musician exploring small, almost private sonic spaces. Gradually, the trio builds into full interaction, leading the improvisations into fantastic directions. The careful and quiet beginnings create ample room for the music to blossom and take…
Syokugyo
Japanese nostalgia stimulates the heartstrings! The third reprint of Johnny's disc, a treasure of Japanese jazz masterpieces! The impact left by legendary folk singer Hiroshi Mikami from Aomori and pulsating jazz drummer Ryojiro Furusawa. The legendary punk rock duo's live recording is now on CD for the first time! Recorded: June 9, 1979 Rikuzentakata Civic Hall.
Smile
*Limited Edition* Hiroshi Hatsuyama's presence is invaluable in Japan's jazz vibraphone scene. His ability is evident in his achievements alone, as he has brilliantly colored the works of musicians such as Shoyuki Akutagawa, Koichi Matsukaze, Yoriyuki Harada, and Fumio Itabashi, all of whom have been difficult to dislodge from the scene. This is his first album. This is his first album, and it is a delightful work, sometimes bluesy, sometimes swingy, and filled with beautiful sounds. The "melanc…
Live: First Flight
Delight in Hiroshi Fukumura's live brilliance, where his unusual approach to the instrument shines. This quartet, featuring Hiroshi Tamura on piano, Tsutomu Okada on bass, and Shinji Mori on drums, delivers open, flowing tracks reminiscent of Japanese piano trios. Fukumura's solos, crafted like trumpet lines, boast a gritty yet lyrical power, this live session captures the essence of Fukumura's unique artistry and musical strides.
Lueur
Univers Zero's new album (since 10 years) follows the lineage of 'Phosphorescent Dreams', originally released only on CD in Japan in 2014, and reissued as an LP on the Sub Rosa label in 2019. Lueur is the fruit of two years' work and reflection, the foundations of which were laid by Daniel Denis (keyboards, drums, percussion...), then enriched by the contributions of Nicolas Dechêne (guitars), Kurt Budé (clarinet / bass clarinet) and Nicolas Denis (bass, percussion, vocals), all three present on…
Miragique
This second project released on Sub Rosa by the Japanese artist Kaoru Tashiro, manages to create a subtle dialogue between four composers, and four musical pieces, mixing a delicate blend of Japanese and European sensibilities. Those different approaches convergence thanks to the highly recognizable sensibility of Kaoru Tashiro's way to play. After "drifting" through unpublished pieces from Toshi Ichiyanagi (Fluxus) and Claude Ledoux on the album Cloud Atlas, Kaoru Tashiro is now highlighting th…
Musik Für Animierten Tonspurfilm
‘Musik für animierte Tonspurfilm’, the twelfth album by Die Anarchistische Abendunterhaltung (or DAAU, as they are commonly known), is the soundtrack to a series of short, abstract animation films by Rudy Trouvé, who also acted as a creative director during the recording process.  The music originates from acoustic improvisation sessions by accordionist Roel Van Camp, clarinetist Han  Stubbe, double bass player Hannes d'Hoine and percussionist Jeroen Stevens. These took place according to concep…
Demain Des L'Aube
Barely a week seems to go by without us hearing from zake, the US ambient producer who is hugely prolific and also unwaveringly creative with each new project. For this latest in a long line of many essential albums on his own Past Inside The Present label he links with From Overseas for the sublime sounds of Demain Des L'aube. This is a 160-gram audiophile vinyl version that sinks you deep into his widescreen and sweeping crepuscular synth work. It is delicate and spare but hugely impactful and…