Jazz /
A Day Of The Sun
** Coloured Vinyl edition ** A spiritual jazz masterpiece full of poetry by two geniuses of the Japanese musical scene. Masahiko Togashi and Isao Suzuki, pivotal figures in jazz with a unique talent and sensitivity that transcends conventional jazz forms and styles. In addition to being skilled performers they demonstrate extraordinary compositional talent that transcends their sensibilities and wisdom of more conventional jazz.
They are together a wonderful combination of techniques, but witho…
Baritone Saxophone Solo "Sakai"
The baritone sax solo performance that Ryuichi Yoshida has been working on as his life's work is finally released on CD as "SAKAI-Sakai" from doubtmusic. It is based on his approach to the regular live "Sakai" that he has been performing since the summer of 2019 as part of his tea party, and is the culmination of many years of solo performances. "Singing with baritone saxophone" music. Enjoy a live performance to commemorate it.
African Rock
Back in print ! Fully licensed and remastered from the original tapes. Akira Ishikawa runs through the land of Africa with both jazz and rock. "Prayer", "dawn", "hunting", "love" drawn with beautiful and exciting sounds. Akira Ishikawa's three pillars of musicality, jazz, rock and African music, are fused in the best balance, and it is a masterpiece that rushes one after another with thrilling songs. A solemn "prayer" reminiscent of the eternal earth, a clear and psychedelic scent "dawn", a quie…
Clay
This is a 2023 reissue vinyl LP pressing of Clay by Yosuke Yamashita Trio. The Japanese jazz composer and pianist originally released his live album in 1974, via Enja Records. Produced by Horst Weber, and Matthias Winckelmann, the album features live performances at the open-air III New Jazz Festival in Moers, Germany
Journey To Air
*Limited Edition* Terumasa Hino ventures into a new realm with a spiritual approach in this New York recording, featuring an extended track that balances improvisation and structure. Collaborating with notable musicians like Steve Grossman, Dave Liebman, and Dave Holland, Hino explores unbridled expression within the framework of a finely crafted spiritual jazz session.
Peace And Love
*Limited Edition* Experience the musical journey of Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino in this 1970 recording from his early New York trip. With a sextet, including Reggie Workman on bass, Hino explores two expansive tracks, "Gongen" and "Peace & Love," revealing a post-Coltrane spiritual exploration. Taking more musical risks than before, Hino showcases a shift towards a future-oriented jazz approach for the 70s.
Ecstasy of the Angels
*Limited Edition* Soundtrack to Koji Wakamatsu's 1972 pink film "Ecstasy of the Angels". Japanese pianist Yosuke Yamashita formed a bass-less trio in 1969 with drummer Takeo Moriyama and tenorist Seiichi Nakamura. Yamashita's Bill Evans-influenced style expanded to include free jazz, a rather radical step given the conservatism of the Japanese jazz scene at the time. Beginning in the '70s, his trio (山下洋輔トリオ) toured widely and played many major European events, including the Berlin and Montreux …
Love Nature
*Limited Edition* Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino delivers an exceptional moment in this early '70s session recorded in America, featuring the brilliant contributions of Gary Bartz on alto saxophone and Reggie Workman on bass. Unlike Hino's later fusion-based American dates, this album embodies a sublimely spiritual style with extended tracks that echo the energy of Bartz's early works. The music, much like Bartz's, stretches out without veering too far into avant-garde territory, maintaining a…
Jodo
*2023 stock* Takehiro Honda joins forces with Reggie Workman on bass and Motohiko Hino on drums in this outstanding trio session. The album showcases a freer side of Honda, exploring open and lyrical modes that were gaining prominence in Japan during that period. Despite the freedom, a strong rhythmic sense prevails. While one track features Honda on electric piano, the acoustic numbers stand out with a proud and righteous energy.
Legend Of The Sea-Myself
*Limited Edition* Pianist Takashi Kako brings a uniquely subtle and poetic approach to his instrument in this improvised music setting. Supported by a talented quartet featuring Keiki Midorikawa, Masahiko Togashi, and Masami Nakagawa, Kako paints in space and color with a wonderfully abstract style.
Paris Days
*Limited Edition* In the early 1970s, while studying contemporary music composition in Paris, Takashi Kako discovered and fell in love with free jazz, and soon became active as a pianist there. He performed with Bob Reed, Noah Howard, Motoki Takagi, and Yoshisaburo Toyozumi, and his name quickly spread around the world. This work was recorded in Paris together with his allies. The unparalleled sound of reason and passion depicts his days in Paris. Originally released in 1977. Supervision and com…
Straight Ahead
*Limited Edition* Immerse yourself in a delightful offering of Japanese jazz from the 70s, featuring a straight-ahead approach complemented by captivating fusion elements, courtesy of keyboardist Mikio Masuda, whose electrifying presence enhances most tracks. Tenor saxophonist Takao Uematsu leads the ensemble, with the added brilliance of trumpeter Hitoshi Okano, whose bold lines infuse the record with a touch reminiscent of Freddie Hubbard's CTI-era sensibility. While certain tracks exude a fun…
Shudan Seikatsu
*Limited Edition* Shoyuki Akedagawa is not only a pianist, but also an ocarina player, guitarist, and eventually a vocalist. Comical yet emotional. Melancholy in his humor. This is a masterpiece that explodes with Akutagawa's talent. Nakamura Masco gradually reveals his true nature, Umezu Kazutoki bursts out with his unique phrases without pause, and Miyasaka Takashi and Saito Makoto create dynamism like a big wave. All blend together to form a vortex that opens the door to the incomparable worl…
Aketa's Erotical Piano Solo & Grotesque Piano Trio
*Limited Edition* Pianist Shoji Aketagawa, the creative force behind the consistently unconventional Aketa's Disc label, presents an album with an unusual title that aligns with the label's distinctiveness. The material, while not explicitly erotic or grotesque, showcases Shoji's beautiful and robust notes on several solo tracks. The album takes a unique turn as Shoji collaborates with the trio on the final tune, offering a quality unlike any other artist we can think of. The piano, possessing t…
Matrix
Esteemed pianist Masabumi Kikuchi enjoyed a long and illustrious career in jazz that encompassed many forms. After playing in Lionel Hampton’s Japanese touring band, he played on five Sadao Watanabe albums in mid-1960s and backed Sonny Rollins before studying at the Berklee College of Music. Matrix was the first of five albums recorded with his Sextet and is rightly rated one of the greatest of his entire career, the album mixing well-executed covers of songs by Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Watanab…
Tryangle
*2023 stock* From 1960 era, Hiroshi Yamazaki played with Masayuki Takayanagi, Kaoru Abe, Masabumi Kikuchi, and so on. He plays from standard Jazz to Freeform Improvisation by his original drum sounds and now he put the focus on this unit called Tryangle. Also bassist Nobuyoshi Ino played with Masayuki Takayanagi and Yamazaki from 60 era. Tryangle is the unsettled unit that drummer Yamazaki and bassist Ino invite unique guest musician. For example, Takayuki Kato (g), Masayo Koketsu (as), Sachi Ha…
Root
*2023 stock* Japanese prog. irregular time signature drum master, Tatsuya Yoshida and crazy beautiful jazz pianist, Dairo Suga met and improvised first time at the venue “7th Floor”, Tokyo on 2021. This CD is the all recorded memorable live performance then. The duo playing has a passion, a sense of speed, number of voices and mugginess ! Yoshida uses brushes ( unbelievable ! ) and singing by falsetto voice, and Suga send out a prog-rock-like phrase. They are getting closer to each other but don…
HMT
*2023 stock* "A critical point of explosive hardcore improv! A relentless mass of sound! The long-awaited first album of this hardcore trio, which has been steadily increasing its fan base by always running at full speed and radiating sound to the limits of their physical and mental strength, has finally made its debut! This group was formed based on Hirose's concept of packing condensed sounds to the limit, and there are no gaps between sounds, no interplay, and no formulaic improvisational ele…
What's Going On
*2023 stock* The impossibly cool 1973 album What's Going On from Late, Great Japanese Funk & Jazz Don Takehiro Honda which swings through jazz orchestral renditions of American R&B and Funk Classics like Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On, "Otis Redding's "Sitting On The Dock of the Bay," and James Brown's "Ain't It Funky Now" turning them into the most Down Home, Grits 'N' Gravy Grooviest Versions and sounding like they were recorded at the studio of the band that taught the Memphis Rhythm Sections…
The Impossible Dream
Delve into the groovy sounds of a Japanese harp jazz trio led by Tadao Hayashi. Similar to Dorothy Ashby's small combo records, the trio, with Takao Kusagaya on bass and Koichi Suzaki on drums, maintains a lean approach. Hayashi's harp work, given ample space, weaves mesmerizing note combinations with a gentle groove, especially enhanced by skillful bass. Familiar tunes take on a fresh perspective, resonating strongly in this recording.