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)


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