Masayuki Takayanagi, New Direction For The Arts

Classic Japanese free jazz monster, originally released in 1972. Recorded live at Aoi Studio, Tokyo on 19 May 1972. The late 60s and early 70s was the time that Japanese free jazz began to lift off (see We Now Create LP of Togashi Masahiko with Takayanagi, Motoharu and other heavyweights releasing the 1st free jazz LP in Japan) and blossom into a fierce musical power to be reckoned with. Legendary combos such as Masayuki Takayanagi New Direction were soon responsible to be the originators of this new scene of sonic terrorists. Each of them released that year groundbreaking albums, colored by their own approach to jazz methodology and Free Form Suite's fully made a mark for Takayanagi with this first album centered around him as a leader of the New Direction For The Arts. The record eventually ended up receiving a jazz magazine's award and is since then regarded as a classic disc in Japan's free jazz pantheon.

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! (Dustygroove)