Friday, October 15, 2010

The Soul Medium - Woodstock Generation


Year : 1970
Label : Union
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Funk/Soul

Behind "The Soul Medium" name hides saxophonist Jiro Inagaki, an iconic figure of the japanese Jazz Rock scene during the late sixties to the early seventies. Jiro is supported by his legendary quintet "Soul Media" under its first incarnation featuring Ryo Kawasaki (g) Yasuo Arakawa (b), Masaru Imada (org), Sadakazu Tabata (ds), with Tetsuo Fushimi & Shunzo Ohno on trumpet in addition. "Woodstock Generation" is a tribute album to the Woodstock Festival including songs performed on the stage by Sly & Family Stone (I Want To Take You Higher), The Who (Summertime Blues) or Ten Years After (Spoonful). Titles include also variations on the "Head Rock" theme, "The Ground For Peace" taken from his first album and original composition of Masahiko Sato "Knick Knack". All tracks arranged by Jiro Inagaki.


Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Uyama Hiroto - A Son Of The Sun



Year : 2008
Label : Hyde Out Recordings
Genre : Electronic, Hip-Hop, Jazz
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Downtempo

Debut album from japanese saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist & producer, Uyama Hiroto, who has regularly collaborated on various Nujabes productions. Uyama Hiroto performs mostly Hip-Hop music ranked as well as in Downtempo and Nu-Jazz styles including smooth/cool jazz influences. Titles include singles "81Summer/Color Of Jade", "One Dream/Carbon Rose", "Waltz For Life Will Reborn" (previously released on "Hydeout Productions - 2nd Collection" compilation), and featurings with Nujabes on "Ribbon In The Sea", Pase Rock from Five Deez on "Fly Love Song", Golden Boy from Specifics on "Vision Eyes". All tracks produced, mixed by Nujabes & Uyama Hiroto.


Friday, October 1, 2010

S.Sawada = T.Muraoka & The All-Stars - Hit And Hit In Bossa Nova


Year : 1968
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz, Pop
Style : Bossa Nova, Easy Listening

Twelve nice tracks to the latin mood recorded by one of japanese jazz greats, the guitarist Shungo Sawada featuring saxophonist Takeru Muraoka. They are supported by the Nippon Columbia All-Stars formed by Norio Maeda (p), Hiroshi Suzuki from Freedom Unity (tr), Yo Tokuyama (vb), Yoshio Ikeda (eb) and Nishikawa Takaaki (ds). It's not only talking about Bossa Nova but rather of a subtle blend of Pop, Easy Listening & Latin tunes including japanese classic pop songs of the 1968 year, revisited by Shungo Sawada and arranged by Norio Maeda. Titles include "Angel Love" (Jun Mayuzumi) and covers from various GS bands (for Group Sounds, a japanese rock genre) from The Tigers (Flower Necklace) to The Tempters (The Legend Of Emerald) by the Folk Crusaders (Kanashikute Yarikirenai).

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Shungo Sawada And All Stars - Fool On The Hill


Year : 1969
Label : Victor
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contemporary Jazz

Influenced by the Wes Montgomery style, Shungo Sawada was one of the main actors of the japanese Bossa Nova Boom and who contributed also to the modern jazz guitar expansion in Japan. "Fool On The Hill" is an essential japanese jazz album and a masterpiece of jazz guitar including Modal, Soul Jazz (Chattanooga Choo Choo) and some Free improvistions (Fool On The Hill). Formed in quintet featuring Norio Maeda (p, org), Masahiko Sato (p), Yasuo Arakawa (b) & Takeshi Inomata (ds), the All Stars are supported by a big band as on the great Wes Montgomery's albums released in the sixties. Titles include the great jazz standards, "The Look Of Love", "Satin Doll", "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise", "You And The Night And The Music". All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda & Masahiko Sato.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Sadao Watanabe - Sadao Watanabe


Year : 1972
Label : CBS
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, World, Modal

"Sadao watanabe '72" is an essential japanese jazz album mixed by famous jazz engineer Kunihiko Sugano featuring saxophonist Sadao Watanabe, trombonist Hiroshi Fukumura, pianist Fumio Itabashi, guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi, bassist Mitsuaki Furuno and drummer Arihide Kurata. The iconic album which introduces the African period of Sadao Watanabe and desmonstrates, one more time, that he's always to the forefont of japanese jazz. Recorded after a trip in East Africa, in particular Kenya, Sadao leaves the Bossa Nova to explore the roots of African music including its rhythms and modes, mixing to modal and jazz rock. Each track can be seen as a theatrical representation of the East African culture. 

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Reuben Wilson - Blue Mode


Year : 1969
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

Jazz organist Reuben Wilson's & the famous Hammond B-3 organ in probably his best album. Influenced by Richard 'Groove' Holmes and Jimmy Smith, Reuben worked with Grant Green, Sam Rivers or Roy Haynes formed his first group The Wildare Express in 1966 with Tommy Derrick who are also present on this record. The line-up consists of John Manning, Melvin Sparks and Tommy Derrick of course. Titles include huge groove Melvin' tune, Bamboo, Soul cover by Eddie Flyod (Knock On Wood). All tracks composed by Reuben Wilson except those mentionned. Produced by Francis Wolf and recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.
  
Reuben Wilson_organ
Melvin Sparks_guitar
Tommy Derrick_drums
John Manning_tenor saxophone

01. Bambu
02. Knock On Wood
03. Bus Ride
04. Orange Peel
05. Twenty-Five Miles
06. Blue Mode

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media - Head Rock


Year : 1970
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock

"Head Rock" is an essential japanese jazz album, an iconic masterpiece recorded by the saxophonist Jiro Inagaki, introducing his legendary first jazz quintet, the "Soul Media" featuring guitarist Ryo Kawasaki (his first professional appearance), Masaru Imada (org), Yasuo Arakawa (eb), Tetsuo Fushimi (tp) and Sadakazu Tabata (ds). Recorded in 1969 for the famous Takt Jazz Series (the japanese 'Blue Note'), "Head Rock" includes all elements of psychedelic music (guitar fuzz effects, reverb, rock drum breaks and acid organ), cover songs from Hal Galper (The Vamp), Willie Dixon (amazing version of blues standard "Spoonful"), originals composed by Ryo Kawasaki (Twenty One), Masaru Imada (High Jack), Yasuo Arakawa (The Ground For Peace) and Jiro (Head Rock). Jiro Inagaki started in 1963, recruited by american jazz songstress Helen Merrill alongside the Takeshi Inomata's West Liners formation for the album "Helen Merrill In Tokyo". From the late sixties to the early seventies, he was one of the main actor of the Japanese Jazz Rock scene, before turn to Jazz Funk music.  

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Terumasa Hino Quartet - Alone, Alone And Alone


Year : 1970/1967
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Hard Bop,  Modal, Cool Jazz

"Alone, Alone And Alone" is the debut album of Terumasa Hino, considered as the japanese counterpart of Freddie Hubbard, the most famous Jazz trumpeter outside Japan, and one of Japan's finest jazzman influenced by Miles Davis and Fumio 'Satchmo' Nanri. Hino gained experience in the US military camp dance band, then within the Hideo Shiraki Quintet, and contributed to the Hard Bop expansion in Japan in the sixties. As sideman, he played with Sadao Watanabe and others Jazz giants such as Joe Henderson, Elvin Jones, Gil Evans or Jackie McLean. "Alone, Alone And Alone" introduces his first quartet featuring bassist Kunimitsu Inaba, pianist Yuji Ohno and his young brother, drummer Motohiko. After an interlude in 1968 with Masabumi Kikuchi (Hino=Kikuchi Quintet), the group change into quintet including pianist Hiromasa Suzuki (who replaces Yuji Ohno) and saxophonist Takeru Muraoka in addition, opening a fruitful collaboration with "Hi-Nology" in 1969 & "Into The Heaven" in 1970. All tracks are  composed & arranged by Terumasa Hino except "Summertime" by George Gershwin.


Shin-Ski Of Martiangang - Re-Shinstruction


Year : 2008
Label : Soul Believer
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop

"Re-Shinstruction" is a hip-hop remixes compilation by the japanese beatmaker & DJ, Shin-Ski, in groups ShinSight Trio, Levitatorz and Martiangang, including various songs written by André Todman (Insight, Soloplexus, ShinSight Trio). Titles include also others remixes based on songs from rappers CL Smooth, Funky DL and hip-hop bands Time Machine, ArtOfficial or Zimbabwe Legit, plus four original compositions by Shin-Ski Of Martiangang ("Shintro", "Do It 4 The Children", "Trying", & "R U 4 Real??"). All cuts & beats by Shin-Ski, additionals scratches by Mista Donut from Levitatorz.

TRACKLIST : Shin-Ski - Shintro - CL Smooth - I Can’t Help It - Time Machine - The Wiggle - Soloplexus - Red Handed - Shin-Ski - Do It 4 The Children - Fine Artz - Ultrasonic - ShinSight Trio - Heart - ArtOffical - Big City Bright Lights - Funky DL - Not The 1 4 Me - Shin-Ski - Trying - Insight - Bother Me - Soloplexus - When Things Go Right Something Goes Wrong - Zimbabwe Legit Feat. Mike G - Where I'm At - Verses - Ms. O’Ginny - ShinSight Trio - Heart - Shin-Ski - R U 4 Real?? - Moon Baker - ABC Of Romance

LISTEN SAMPLE

Sonia Rosa - A Bossa Rosa De Sônia

 
Year : 1967
Label : Continental
Genre : Latin Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova

Debut album of Sonia Rosa recorded in Brazil when she was just eighteen with guitarist Chiquinho De Moraes who was arranger for Brazilian singers Gilberto Gil and Gal Costa. Sonia sings and plays guitar featuring great orchestra with groovy horns & mellow strings conducted by Chiquinho De Moraes. Titles include six original songs composed by Sonia, Chico Buarque's "Quem Te Viu, Quem Te Vé" and the Bossa Nova standard "Cheiro De Saudade" by Djalma Ferreira. Produced by Alfredo Borba and arranged by Chiquinho De Moraes.

Eric Burdon And War - The Black-Man's Burdon


Year : 1970
Label : MGM
Genre : Jazz, Rock, Soul
Style : Blues Rock, Funk/Soul

The Black-Man's Burdon is the last album by Eric Burdon with WAR featuring guest organist Shirley Scott. After this last album, Eric Burdon continued his solo career leaving WAR evolved alone. Since their first album, WAR transcends musical borders performing as well as jazz to rock including blues, Gospel, Funk with Latin Rhythms, and The Black-Man's Burdon don't derogate it. This double album includes new original compositions by WAR plus cover songs from The Rolling Stones ("Paint It Black", their second medley after "Tobacco Road") and The Moody Blues ("Night In White Satin"). Titles include also two songs featuring Shirley Scott & The Beautiful New Born Children Of Southern California : "Beautiful New Born Child" & "They Can’t Take Away Our Music".

MUSICIANS : Eric Burdon - lead vocal, cowbell - B. B. Dickerson - bass, vocals - Dee Allen - congas, percussion - Harold Brown - drums - Charles Miller - flute, tenor saxophone - Howard Scott - guitar, vocals - Lee Oskar - harmonica - Lonnie Jordan - organ & piano - Shirley Scott - organ (guest)

LISTEN SAMPLE

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Akira Ishikawa And His Group - Drum Screen Drum


Year : 1971
Label : Crown
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Rock, Pop

Between november 1970 and august 1971, Akira Ishikawa has recorded five albums for the "DRUM DRUM DRUM" series released by the CROWN label (not to be confused with the same serie released by Toshiba). Each volume contains a theme such as Christmas songs, classical music, Elvis Presley's standards or traditional folk music (Yagi Bushi). This volume is devoted to the iconic movie themes including "Sounds Of Silence"(Simon & Garfunkel), "Un Homme Et Une Femme" (Francis Lai), "Mélodie En Sous-Sol" (Michel Magne), all broadcasted on japanese screens.

TRACKLIST : Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head from Butch Cassidy And the Sundance Kid (1969) - Melodie En Sous-Sol (1963) - Un Homme Et Une Femme (1966) - Le Voyou (1970) - The Circle Game from The Strawberry Statement (1970) - Stand By Your Man from Five Easy Pieces (1970) - Theme From Love Story (1970) - Jenny Take A Ride (1966) - Theme De La Leçon Particulière (1968) - Che Vuole Questa Musica Stasera from Plagio (1969) - Melody Fair from Melody (1971) - Sounds Of Silence from The Graduate (1967) - 13 Jours En France (1969) - Plein Soleil (1960)


Saturday, June 12, 2010

Shin-Ski - Planetarium


Year : 2009
Label : Octave
Genre : Electronic, Hip-Hop
Style : Downtempo, Future Jazz

Second album from the prolific japanese beatmaker, DJ & producer Shin-Ski, member of ShinSight Trio featuring Insight and DJ RYOW, in groups Martiangang with DJ Real, Designed People with Koji Taninaka and the production team "Levitatorz" alongside DJ RYOW and Mista Donut. "Planetarium" is an instrumental album to the interstellar theme including Future Jazz, Bossa Breakbeat, Downtempo with Cool and Mellow atmosphere. Titles includes tracks bearing a star name among "Fomalhaut", "Southern Cross", "Procyon", "Aldebaran", "Rigel", "Mirfak", "Spica" featuring DJ Fula, "Sirius" feat. Mattan on guitar. All beats & cuts by Shin-Ski.


Thursday, June 10, 2010

Substantial - To This Union A Sun Was Born


Year : 2001
Label : Hyde Out Recordings
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Funk/Soul, Conscious

Stan Robinson known as Substantial, is a rapper from Brooklyn, member of "Extented Famm" and more recently "Bop Alloy" collectives. His debut album was produced, mixed and released by Nujabes for his own label, "Hyde Out Recordings" including instruments use and various samples as well as from Jazz to Soul by Funk and Latin beats. Titles include collaborations with Monorisick & DJ Kiyo (cuts & scratches) and Hana (chorus on "Love Song"), "Home Sweet Home" released on "Hyde Out Productions First Collection" works compilation by Nujabes, singles "Kalitwutchawon2", "Remembering Dave" and the heavy funk "Be People". All songs written by Substantial, produced by Nujabes & Monorisick, recorded, mixed by Nujabes.


Thursday, June 3, 2010

DJ Mitsu The Beats - Blue Impressions (Blue Note Mix)

 
LISTEN SAMPLE AT The Count Buffalo   

Year : 2004
Label : Blue Note/Fabulous Records
Genre : Mixtape, Jazz, Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk


As the "Shades Of Blue" album of Madlib released previously, "Blue Impressions" pays tribute to the Blue Note recordings in an amazing mixtape that attempts to retrace the history of this legendary label. Most of the tracks have been selected for the "Rare Groove Series" of reissues created in 1995 which brings together Soul Jazz and Jazz Funk recordings of Blue Note from the late sixties to the early seventies. Titles include remixes by The Roots (Montara), Madlib (Distant Land), DJ Spinna (New York Times), "Clap!" by Soulive trio feat. Black Thought from The Roots and original songs by Bobby Hutcherson, Donald Byrd, Lou Donaldson, John Patton, Gene Harris. Compiled, mixed & edited by DJ Mitsu The Beats.

TRACKLIST : Bobby Hutcherson - Montara - The Roots - Montara (Remix) - Madlib - Distant Land - Donald Byrd - Distant Land - Bobbi Humphrey - Uno Esta - Ronnie Foster - Tuesday Heartbreak - Bobbi Humphrey - New York Times - DJ Spinna - New York Times (Remix) - Soulive Feat. Black Thought - Clap! - Gene Harris - Koko And Lee Roe - Chico Hamilton - Abdullah And Abraham - Donald Byrd - Think Twice - Ronnie Laws - Tidal Wave - Lou Donaldson - Ode To Billie Joe - Bobby Hutcherson - Rain Every Thursday - Brother Jack McDuff - Who Knows What - Alphonze Mouzon - Crying Angels - John Patton - Alfie's Theme - Booker Ervin - Sweet Pea - Bobby Hutcherson - Cirrus

Saturday, May 29, 2010

N.Maeda = J.Inagaki And The All-Stars - This Is Jazz Rock


Year : 1968
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

Norio Maeda (org) in joint project with Jiro Inagaki (ts) and the Columbia All-Stars featuring Kiyoshi Sugimoto (eg), Tatsuro Takimoto (eb), Tetsuo Fushimi (tp), Takeshi Inomata (ds) and Osamu Nakajima (per). Despite the fact that album is titled "Jazz-Rock", is rather a Soul Jazz album, in which Norio Maeda revisits various classics from Jazz to Pop by R&B, including cover songs of The Beatles (Day Tripper, Here, There & Everywhere), The Barkays (Soul Finger), The Temptations (My Girl), John Lee Hooker (Boom Boom) or Herbie Hancock (Watermelon Man). Titles include also two original compositions by Maeda (Snap Shot, Go Go A Go Go), Inagaki (Barock) and the killer track "Pata Pata" by Miriam Makeba. Norio Maeda was a pianist in charge of various experimental jazz projects (Super-Tri-Piano, Revolution), composer of background music for TV shows, films and animated series (Crusher Joe). He was also a sought-after arranger collaborating in particular with Helen Merrill, Takeshi Inomata, Akira Miyazawa, Martha Miyake, the Tokyo-Cuban Boys, Toshiyuki Miyama & His New Herd or Akira Ishikawa's Count Buffalos. He evolved within several jazz formations in groups The West Liners, The Third or with his Wind-Breakers.


Friday, May 14, 2010

Lyn Collins - Think (About It)


Year : 1972
Label : People Records/Polydor
Genre : Soul
Style : Funk/Soul

Debut album by the "Female Preacher" who joined the James Brown revue in the early seventies. Produced by Mr. Brown, she's supported by the fabulous JB's, backing band of James Brown. Titles include four originals especially written for her by James Brown whose her massive hit "Think (About It)" (many times sampled), Soul & Pop covers from Bill Withers (Ain't No Sunshine), Burt Bacharach/Hal David (Reach Out For Me) and the jazz standard "Fly Me To The Moon". All tracks produced & arranged by Dave Matthews & James Brown.

LISTEN SAMPLE

Marlena Shaw - The Spice Of Life


Year : 1969
Label : Cadet
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Funk/Soul

One of the best Soul album ever recorded, "The Spice of Life" is the second studio album released by Marlena Shaw, his last for Cadet Records (division of Chess Records), before to sign for Blue Note. Titles include her iconic song "Woman Of The Ghetto", the killer groove "Liberation Conversation", the protest song "I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to Be Free)" popularized by Nina Simone and her hit single "California Soul" composed by famous Motown writers duo, Ashford & Simpson. The song "California Soul" was sampled by DJ Sadow for "Midnight In A Perfect World" extracted from "Endtroducing" in 1996. Produced & arranged by  Richard Evans and Charles Stepney.

LISTEN SAMPLE

Yuji Ohno & Lupintic Five - LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] - The 10th~New Flight


Year : 2006
Label :
VAP
Serie : LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ]
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style :
Jazz Funk, Bossa Nova

Yuji Ohno back to the sound which made his fame, the Jazz-Funk style from the seventies. Yuji Ohno (keys) introduces his new band, "The Lupintic Five", including Masayuki Tawarayama (b), Satoshi Izumi (g), Keiji Matsushima (tp), Hisatsugu Suzuki (ts), Yoshihito Eto (ds), and featuring guest musician, Masabumi Yamaguchi (on tenor saxophone in addition) from the Motohiko Hino Quartet, Yosuke Yamashita Trio and Hiromasa Suzuki's Colgen Band. "The 10th~New Flight" is part of the best productions than Yuji Ohno recorded in the 2000s, who revisits the classics from "Original Soundtrack From Lupin III" with an irrepressible verve and great creativity, an essential japanese jazz album of the XXIth century. Titles includes amazing deep grooves from Jazz Samba (Hot Samba, Love Squall) to Jazz Funk (Manhattan Joke, Zenigata March) by Cool Jazz (Isn't It Lupintic ?). All tracks composed & arranged by Yuji Ohno.

LISTEN SAMPLE

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Various - Modal Soul Classics By Nujabes

 
Year : 2008
Label : Hyde Out Recordings
Genre : Electronic, Hip Hop, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Downtempo, Future Jazz

"Modal Soul Classics" is a concept compilation planned by japanese beatmaker and Hip-Hop producer Nujabes, including his favorites songs recorded from 1974 to 2005 by various US, European & Japanese artists who influenced and inspired him. The compilation brings together various music genres as well as Pop (Todd Rundgren, DSK), Latin Jazz (Omar SosaHaki R Madhubuti), Hip-Hop (Unison, Specifics), Electro-Lounge (Goldfix), Future Jazz (Sleep Walker) and Downtempo (Heprcam) featuring also Scoot Matelic, Clammbon, LAVA, Takero Ogata and Blue Asia. Compiled & mastered by Nujabes for his own label "Hyde Out Recordings".

TRACKLIST : Scoot Matelic - To Impress The Empress (Primitive Pessimist, 2004) / Sleepwalker - Ai-No-Kawa - (same, 2004) / Goldfix - Atoll Moao (Atoll Moao 12", 2005) / Specifics - Under The Hood (Lonely City, 2004) / DSK - Winter Lane (CRUE-L, 2006) / Blue Asia - Mourn, Sob & Cry (Hotel Ibah, 2001) / Haki R Madhubuti - Children - (Medasi, 1984) / Unison - Sound Network (same EP, 2005) / Takero Ogata - Omnipresence (Quiet Will, 2003) / Todd Rundgren - A Dream Goes On Forever (Todd, 1974) / Heprcam - Dionna (Cohcox, 2004) / Clammbon - Folklore (Imagination, 2003) / LAVA - Vem Para Ficar (Aile Alegria, 2001) / Omar Sosa - Iyawo (Mulatos, 2004)

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Astrud Gilberto - Now

 
Year : 1972
Label : Perception Records
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Samba, Funk/Soul

The second album of Astrud Gilberto with brazilian pianist/arranger Eumir Deodato featuring wellknown session musicians from CTI among Ron Carter & Bob Cranshaw (b), Billy Cobham (ds), Airto Moreira (per). As on her previous album (Gilberto With Turrentine - 1971), Astrud leaves Bossa Nova recruiting R&B arranger Boo Frazier and Stax/Volt songwriter, David Louis Jordan, to give to "Now" the typical sound of southern Soul music. The album alternates jazz samba, funk songs and pure pop/soul ballads including earliest compositions of Astrud Gilberto like samba song "Gingele", Jordan's collaboration "Touching You", the brazilian classics "Baiao" & "Take It Easy, My Brother Charlie" (Jorge Ben). All tracks arranged by Eumir Deodato.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Kiyoshi Sugimoto Quartet - Country Dream


Year : 1969
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Hard Bop, Post Bop, Jazz Rock

Debut album and jazz masterpiece recorded for the Takt Jazz Series by one of the most finest japanese jazz guitarist Kiyoshi Sugimoto featuring pianist Hiromasa Suzuki, bassist Yoshio Ikeda & drummer Motohiko Hino, brother of Terumasa. "Country Dream" was entirely arranged and composed by Hiromasa Suzuki except the opening track "Country Dream" by Kiyoshi Sugimoto. Kiyoshi was a session musician and sideman in demand, playing alongside Motohiko Hino, Marcus Miller, pianist/arranger Norio Maeda or Yuji Ohno, former member of Akira Ishikawa's Count Buffalos, Terumasa Hino Sextet, Allan Praskin Quartet and Seiichi Nakamura Quintet. Titles include "Country Dream", "Step Ahead", "The Apple", "Limited Space" and "D-51".


Monday, May 3, 2010

Soul Strings & A Funky Horn


Year : 1968
Label :
Solid State
Genre :
Jazz
Style :
Funk/Soul

Solid State Records was a famous Jazz label founded in 1966 by producers Sonny Lester and Phil Ramone associated to arranger Manny Albam. The label released original recordings in the mid to late 1960s by Joe Williams, Chick Corea, Jimmy McGriff, Dizzy Gillespie, The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and many others before its jazz artists were consolidated under United Artists' Blue Note label. This album was performed by studio players from the label mixing Soul Jazz & Jazz Funk.

01. The Look Of Love
02. Do You Know The Way To San Jose?
03. Grazing In The Grass
04. Stoned Soul Picnic
05. What The World Needs Now Is Love
06. This Guy’s In Love With You
07. Baby You Come Rollin’ Across My Mind
08. Hang ‘Em High
09. Think
10. Bring A Little Lovin’
11. Yester Love
12. Mrs. Robinson

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Kimiko Kasai - Just Friends (Kimiko Kasai Concert)


Year : 1970
Label : King Records
Serie : New Emotional Work Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contempory Jazz, Vocal

Recording live from performance at the Yamaha Hall, Tokyo, considered as the debut album of best known japanese jazz songstress Kimiko Kasai featuring the Yuji Ohno Trio including pinaist Yuji Ohno, bassist Takeshi Mizuhashi and drummer Tetsujiro Ohara. Nicknamed the "Marlena Shaw of Japan", Kimiko Kasai was spotted by pianist Yuzuru Sera in 1964, and introduced her on the japanese jazz scene, joining up his group "The Modern Playing Mate" and recording the "Yuzuru Sera Trio Introducing Kimiko Kasai" album in 1968. In her fruitful career, she sung supported by prestigious musicians of the international jazz field, such as Mal Waldron (One For Lady - 1971), Gil Evans (Satin Doll, 1972), Stan GetzOliver Nelson (In Person, 1974), Kohsuke Mine (Yellow Carcass In Blue, 1975), Cedar Walton (Kimiko Is Here, 1977) or Herbie Hancock (Butterfly, 1979). Titles include the great standards of vocal Jazz (By The Time I Get To Phoenix, There Will Never Be Another Youand cover songs (Sunny).


Friday, April 16, 2010

Jurassic 5 - Power In Numbers


Year : 2002
Label : Interscope Records
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Conscious, Funk/Soul

Jurassic 5 was an American alternative Hip-Hop band from Los Angeles, formed in 1993 by three MCs (Chali 2na, Akil, Zaakir, Mark 7even) and two DJs/producers (Cut Chemist & DJ Nu-Mark). The band are also known as one of the first Hip-Hop band to quote the origin of their samples. "Power In Numbers" is a highlight point in their career after "Quality Control" in 2000) and their debut album Jurassic 5 (Self-Titled) in 1998). Titles include featurings with Big Daddy Kane & Percy P (A Day At The Races), Nelly Furtado (Thin Line), Kool Keith (DDT), Boy Wonder (Hey) & JuJu (One Of Them), their hit singles "What's Golden"  & the jazzy tune "If You Only Knew".

Five Deez - Slow Children Playing


Year : 2005
Label :
Ample Soul
Genre :
Hip-Hop, Electronic
Style :
Jazzy Hip-Hop, Downtempo, Boom Bap, Conscious

Five Deez (for Fifth Dimension) was an american Hip-Hop Band from Cincinnati, formed in the nineties by the DJ John Marshall, best known as Fat Jon including rappers Patrick Johnson (Pase Rock), Kyle David (Chilly Most) & Corey Brown (Sonic). "Five Deez" has collaborated with various US & Japanese Hip-Hop artists such as J.Rawls, Blackstar, Mos Def, Nujabes or Shing02. The band released three albums between 2001-2006 before split-up, Pase Rock and Fat Jon going on their own career. Released on Fat Jon's own label "Ample Soul", this compilation brings together several downtempo and jazzy hip-hop songs among their early recordings and unreleased productions from 1993 to 1999, including "Cerebral Attax", "Gateway" featuring the Hip-Hop band "Mood" (also from Cincinnati), various interludes and remixes "What Happens", "Disgust (Ver.2.0)". All tracks arranged & composed by Fat Jon 'The Ample Soul'.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Akira Ishikawa - Back To Rhythm


Year : 1975
Label : Columbia
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Afrobeat

"Back To Rhythm" is a covers album of Pop & Soul music including heavy funk and afrobeat, which closes the african period of Akira Ishikawa, supported by his fabulous Count Buffalos group featuring Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Takeru Muraoka, Larry Sunaga and pianist/arranger Hiromasa Suzuki. Akira Ishikawa leaves the Afro-Rock to get into Boogie Funk, taking over some Funk/Soul classics of the genre from BT' Express (Do It Til You're Satisfied), Stevie Wonder (Boogie On Reggae Woman) or Average White Band (Pick Up The Pieces), and cover pop songs from The Beatles (Hey Jude) and Simon & Garfunkel (El Condor Pasa), "I Shot The Sheriff" from Eric Clapton's version, "Bongo Rock" (Incredible Bongo Band) and "Let's Start" (Fela Kuti). All tracks arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki.

MUSICIANS : Akira Ishikawa - drums, vocals, african percussions - Masaoki Terakawa - bass - Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Takao Naoi & Tsunehide Matsuki - guitar - Hiromasa Suzuki - synthetizer - Takeru Muraoka & Masao Suzuki - saxophones - Eiji Arai - trombone - Koji Hatori - trumpet - Larry Sunaga - percussions


Monday, January 18, 2010

Pat D - Take A Little Time


Year : 2008
Label : A Bridge Too Far Recordings
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Downtempo

"Take A Little Time" is the second Jazzy Hip-Hop self-produced album of Pat D featuring various MCs from UK, US & France including Melodiq, Elodie Rama, Fisto, Voice, Lady Paradox, Lauren Jade and Sene. Patrick Dooner aka Pat D is a british producer, multi-instrumentalist, beatmaker & DJ, owner of independant label "A Bridge Too Far Recordings", who also collaborated with french producers "The FakeHunters" in 2009. Influenced by Soul Jazz, Swing & Nu-Soul styles, Pat D mostly uses jazz samples such as on "Relax Your Mind" Feat. Melodiq, extracted from "Pure Imagination" recorded by pianist Bob James for "BJ4" in 1977. All tracks composed & produced by Pat D. All cuts, beats & scratches by Pat D.

TRACKLIST : Pat D - Intro / Melodiq - Relax Your MindFisto & Elodie Rama - Laisse Couler L'encereEfeks - RetrospectionLauren Jade - Need Me AroundMelodiq & Lady Paradox - In ControlVoice - Fly AwayLady Paradox & Lauren Jade - MomentsEva Lazarus - Good TimesMelodiq - Come AlongLady Paradox - Joint ThoughtsSene - PeaceLauren Jade - Silly HeadMelodiq - Rockin' With The Best


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