Mieko Hirota - My Funny Valentine

Year : 1976
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Best Vocal Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

"My Funny Valentine" is a cover album of western jazz & soul music by the most famous japanese songtress outside Japan, Mieko Hirota. "The Queen of Pop" in Japan, also nicknamed "MICO", started her professional career at 14, making her debut with cover song "Don't Treat Me Like A Child" released in 1961, but it's with the hit single "Vacation" that she really gained recognition in Japan from 1962. In July 1965, she was the first Japanese singer to perform at the american Newport Jazz Festival, and at the end of the sixties, she was also among the first japanese songstress to turn to the Soul and R&B music. During the seventies, she recorded several jazz funk albums with the Colgen Band led by arranger & pianist Hiromasa Suzuki, including some of the Akira Ishikawa's Count Buffalos group featuring Takeru Muraoka, Akira Okazawa or Takao Naoi. In the late seventies, she settled in New York city and recorded "Mieko Hirota in New York" featuring the Billy Taylor Trio and "Step Across" featuring Terumasa Hino, Joe Farrell, Stanley Cowell, Billy Cobham & Richard Davis. Tiles include the Soul classics of Marvin Gaye "What's Going On" & Aretha Franklin "Day Dreaming", the killer funk "Easy Evil", the Jazz standards "My Funny Valentine" & "There Will Never Be Another You" played in a samba fusion variation.

MUSICIANS : Mieko Hirota - vocal - Hiromasa Suzuki - synthesizer, piano - Takeru Muraoka - saxophones, flute - Takao Naoi & Tsunehide Matsuki - guitar - Akira Okazawa & Isao Eto - bass - Yasushi Ichihara - drums - Akira Ishikawa - drums, percussion

Akira Ishikawa by Be Hard Bop - The Count Buffalo ~ Memories Of A Drummer

This volume pays tribute to the legendary japanese drummer, Akira Ishikawa (1934-2002) & his Count Buffalos band who were prolific on the japanese Jazz scene from the late sixties to the end of the seventies. This compilation brings together various tracks recorded by Akira Ishikawa during this emblematic period, precisely between 1968-1975. Best known as bandleader for the Japanese version of rock musical ‘Hair’ from Broadway, Akira Ishikawa started in the mid-fifties when he joined the Akira Miyazawa's Modern All Stars and later the New Herd big band conducted by the saxophonist Toshiyuki Miyama. Akira was also an active member of various japanese Jazz formations such as Ace 7 or the famous 'Freedom Unity' quintet, formed with his friend pianist, Hiromasa Suzuki. After a trip in eastern Africa, Akira introduced several traditional African percussions in his music, in order to create a kind of Afro-Jazz fusion including Rock, Funk/Soul & Psychedelia as evidenced the "Bakishinba" and "Uganda" albums. Compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Akira Ishikawa & Count Buffalo - Rock And Roll Revival

Year : 1970
Label : Teichiku
Genre : Jazz, Rock
Style : Jazz Rock

How many record have been released by Akira Ishikawa during the 70s decade ? I don't know but it's sure that the prolific career of Ishikawa, with his legendary Count Buffalo band, contains a significant number of rare groove records. No exception to the rule with "Rock And Roll Revival", an umpteenth cover album based on western rock hits including psychedelic nuggets, fuzz guitar & exciting drumming beats. Tiltes include rock classics from Bill Haley (Rock Around The Clock), Gene Vincent (Be Bop A Lula), Elvis Presley (Jailhouse Rock) or Little Richard (Lucille) and others variations on titles already recorded by Akira Ishikawa, previously released on "Rock, Rock '70" & "Drum Elvis Presley Drum" albums.

Akira Ishikawa & The Gentures - Beat Pops / Drum Hits

Year : 1970
Label : Denon
Genre : Jazz, Rock
Style : Jazz Rock, Pop

Originally recorded in 1969, "Beat Pops / Drum Hits" is a cover album of international pop hits from the late sixties, performed by the first incarnation of the Count Buffalos conducted by jazz drummer Akira Ishikawa. Titles include various western popular songs such as "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies, "Come Together" by The Beatles, "Green River" by The Creedance, "Love Me Tonight" by Tom Jones, "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley or the Rolling Stones' classic "Honky Tonk Women". Among others titles include a french song, "Aime Ceux Qui T'aiment" by Danièle Vidal, best known in Japan than in France under "Tenshi No Rakugaki" name. All tracks arranged by Masahiko Aoi.

MUSICIANS : Akira Ishikawa - drums - Takeshi Onodera - percussion - Hiromasa Suzuki - keyboards - Kiyoshi Sugimoto - guitar - Masaoki Terakawa & Isao Eto - bass - Takeru Muraoka - soprano saxophone - Hiroshi Suzuki - trombone - Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet

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The Freedom Unity - Down By The Naked City

Year : 1971
Label : Victor
Genre : Jazz
Style : Free Jazz, Post Bop, Modal

Iconic avant-garde masterpiece from the legendary jazz supergroup featuring keyboardist Hiromasa "Colgen" Suzuki, saxophonist Takeru Muraoka, bassist Kunimitsu Inaba, trombonist Hiroshi Suzuki and drummer Akira Ishikawa. The group was formed by all-stars japanese jazz musicians, members of Terumasa Hino Quintet, Count Buffalos & The Soul Media, starting with "Something" in 1970 (highlighting saxophonist Takeru Muraoka), recorded "Salute To Soul" & "Dynamic Rock" featuring japanese rock songstress Masami Chino (Sammy) in 1971, and Hiroshi Suzuki's album "Cat" released in 1975. The album opens on the title-track, an extended modal suite over 23 minutes played in two parts ("The Doors Of Perception" & "The Dancing Protoplasm"), composed by Hiroshi Suzuki, follow by "The Equator", "The Old Castle" & the Muraoka's original composition, "Light Up". All tracks arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki.

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Akira Ishikawa & Count Buffalo - Uganda (Dawn Of African Rock)

Year : 1972
Label : Toshiba Records
Genre : Jazz, Rock
Style : Jazz Rock, Afrobeat

No need to introduce the best known and most iconic record of Akira Ishikawa & his progressive Jazz Rock Band, the Count Buffalos, in quartet formation featuring avant-garde guitarist Kimio Mizutani, bassist Hideaki Chihara &percussionist Larry Sunaga. The hypnotic "Uganda" was composed by saxophonist Takeru Muraoka (also in charge of arrangements), is a kind of stage play in four acts (Wanyamana Mapambazuko, Na Tu Penda Sana, Vita & Pigmy) that could have been produced in East Africa including Afrobeat, Progressive Rock and free forms of drum beats. All drums & percussions sounds arranged & composed by Akira Ishikawa.

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Ace 7 - Latin Rhapsody

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Year : 1968 

Label : RCA 

Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz 

Style : Easy Listening, Afro Cuban Jazz

"Ace 7" was formed by the japanese jazz giant pianist, Hachidai Nakamura, former member in the late fifties of the first incarnation of legendary jazz quartet led by drummer George Kawaguchi, "The Big 4", featuring Hidehiko Matsumoto & Mitsuru Ono. The Ace 7 are among legends of japanese jazz musicians including "Sleepy" Matsumoto (sax), Isao "Jazz Godfather" Suzuki (b), Shungo Sawada/Sadanori Nakamure (g), Akira "Count Buffalo" Ishikawa (ds), Akira Nakano (tp), Takashi Onodera (per) & Seiji Hiraoka (vibes). Their singularity is to produce showcase albums highlithing cinema ("Ciné Jazz", "Memories Of American Movie Themes") or jazz standards ("Modern Jazz Best"). "Latin Rhapsody" is a tribute to Latin music and its own declinations like Bolero (Quizas, Quizas, Quizas, Besame Mucho), Tango (El Choclo), Rumba (Rumba Rhapsody), including classics from Cuba, Mexico passing by Argentina & Spain. All tracks arranged by Hachidai Nakamura.

Minoru Muraoka - Bamboo

Year : 2014/1970
Label : Superfly Records/King Records
Serie : New Emotional Work Series
Genre : Jazz, Folk
Style : Folk, Jazz Rock, Min'yō

Minoru Muraoka was probably the best known shakuhachi player (traditional bamboo flute), with Hozan Yamamoto & Toshiaki Yokota (Sound Limited, The Beat Generation). He was among the first to mix Japanese folk with popular music, playing in particular with Herbie Mann ("Surprises" & "Gagaku And Beyond" in 1976). "Bamboo" is a crossbreeding between jazz, pop and Japanese folk music, recorded with a large ensemble of traditional instruments among shakuhachi, koto, biwa, shamisen and taiko, all performed by the New Dimension Group, featuring percussionists  Hiromitsu & Kisaku Katada (Original Soundtrack From Lupin The 3rd), Masako Hirayama on biwa, Kimiko Yamanouchi on koto. The album is divided in two parts with  first side that showcases the traditional Japanese instruments (in particular the percussions), while the other side opens on Pop/Rock orientation including an other rhythm section, The New Emotions, featuring Akira Ishikawa (ds), Yusuke Higuchi (org), Sadanori Nakamure (eg) & Jun Suzuki (eb). Titles include jazz standard "Take Five" (Paul Desmond), three original compositions with the folk song "Nogamigawa Funauta", his masterpiece "The Positive And Negative" (most sampled Minoru Muraoka's song), the iconic "Soul Bamboo", and various pop cover songs from The Beatles to The Animals by Simon & Gartfunkel.

Count Buffalo & The Jazz Rock Band - Soul & Rock

Year : 1969
Label : Denon
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Modal

Free Jazz Rock album including cover songs and original compositions recorded by the Count Buffalo band, pioneer of the Japanese Jazz Rock style featuring jazz giant pianist/arranger Masahiko Satō. The second album of Akira Ishikawa under the Count Buffalo nickname, who was actives since the mid-fifties as prolific percussionist and most famous jazz drummer with Motohiko Hino, Takeshi Inomata & George Kawaguchi. Titles include free forms of Jazz & psychedelic rock from The Beatles (Michelle, Hey Jude), the Motown's iconic song "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" which was performed by The Supremes, The Temptations & Stevie Wonder, the negro spiritual "Deep River", two compositions of Masahiko Satō "The Cougar" & "No More Than A Drop". All tracks arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki & Masahiko Satō.

MUSICIANS : Akira Ishikawa - drums - Masaoki Terakawa - bass - Masahiko Satō - piano - Hiromasa Suzuki - electric piano - Kiyoshi Sugimoto - guitar - Takeru Muraoka - saxophone

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Count Buffalos - Emergency

Year : 1976
Label : Toshiba
Serie : Pro-Use Direct Cutting Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Fusion

"Emergency" is a jazz funk album recorded by drummer Akira Ishikawa featuring his Count Buffalos band and the japanese Funk/Soul songstress Tan-Tan. As on "Get Up!", his previous album, "Emergency" was arranged by pianist Hiromasa 'Colgen' Suzuki & guitarist Takao Naoi, incorporating some disco-beats and including the same line-up with saxophonist Takeru Muraoka and keyboardist Hideo Ichikawa, among others. Hiromasa Suzuki composed the opening disco-funk "Yama-To-Mizu", while others titles include the "Drum Solo" performed by Akira Ishikawa, cover songs featuring Tan-Tan ("Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" by James Taylor, "I've Never Found A Man" in the pure disco style by Esther Phillips) and the Galper Hal's "Phases".

MUSICIANS : Akira Ishikawa - drums - Hiromasa Suzuki & Hideo Ichikawa - keyboards - Masaoki Terakawa - bass - Takao Naoi - guitar - Larry Sunaga - percussion - Takeru Muraoka & Masao Suzuki - saxophones - Koji Hatori - trumpet - Eji Arai - trombone

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Sammy, Freedom Unity - Salute To Soul

Year : 1971
Label : Nippon Columbia

Serie : Master Sonic

Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Rock, Blues Rock

"Salute To Soul" is a duet album by the jazz quintet "Freedom Unity" introducing Sammy featuring Hiromasa Suzuki (keys), Kunimitsu Inaba (b), Takeru Muraoka (sax), Akira Ishikawa (ds) & Hiroshi Suzuki (tb). Sammy is the pseudonym of Masami Chino, a versatile soul-rock songstress, the japanese counterpart of Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane and Janis Joplin. Mostly actives during the seventies, Sammy recorded another album with the group, "Dynamic Rock" feat. the Singers Three, collaborated with saxophonist Jiro Inagaki & his Soul Media on two albums ("Wandering Birds", "Woman Robinson Crusoe-Rock Steady") and with the Akira Ishikawa's Count Buffalos on "Soul & Soul". From Jazz to Soul passing by psychedelic rock, Sammy revisits the classics of british and american rock (Nobody's Fault But Mine, See See Rider) including jazz standards (St. James Infirmary, Willow Weep For Me, Summertime). All songs arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki.

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Akira Ishikawa & The Gentures - Rock, Rock '70

Year : 1970

Label : Denon

Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Rock, Funk/Soul

Rock cover album dedicated to the first classics which made the fame of Rock 'N' Roll, recorded by the predecessor band of the Akira Ishikawa's Count Buffalos featuring Shigeru Namuro, Takeru Muraoka, Hiromasa Suzuki, Isao Eto & Masaoki Terakawa. "Rock, Rock '70" is an acid rock variation of the Rock 'N' Roll standards from the late fifties, using reverberation, distortion & others psychedelic effects. Titles include mostly iconic songs from the Elvis Presley's repertoire such as "Heartbreak Hotel", "Don't Be Cruel", "Blue Suede Shoes" or the killer tune "Hound Dog", but also others classics like "Lucille" by Little Richard "Be Bop A Lula", by Gene Vincent or "Sittin' In The Balcony" by Eddie Cochran. All tracks arranged by Masahiko Aoi.

MUSICIANS : Akira Ishikawa - drums - Hiromasa Suzuki - keyboards - Shigeru Namuro - guitar - Masaoki Terakawa & Isao Eto - bass - Takeru Muraoka - soprano saxophone - Hiroshi Suzuki - trombone - Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet

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Count Buffalo & His Rock Band - Exciting Drums ~ African Rock Party

Year : 1969
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Exciting Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Latin Rock

Debut album introducing the Count Buffalo's name, behind which hide Akira Ishikawa & his rock band featuring pianist/arranger Hiromasa Suzuki, Kiyoshi Sugimoto (eg), Takeru Muraoka (ts) and Masaoki Terakawa (eb). "African Rock Party" opens the african period of the legendary jazz drummer, including twelve jazz rock tracks to the african & latin beats with psychedelic grooves & funky horns, all arranged by Kozaburo Yamaki & Hiroshi Takami from the Toshiyuki Miyama's New Herd. Titles include only covers & jazz standards (The Sidewinder, The Cat) from Soul to Rock among The Supremes (You Keep Me Hangin' On),The Doors (Touch Me) or Booker T. & The MG's (Soul Limbo).

Akira Ishikawa All Stars - Drums Method

Year : 1972

Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Method Series
Genre : Jazz, Progressive Rock
Style : Jazz Rock, Pop

Crossover jazz album taken from the "Method Series" of the Nippon Columbia catalogue, recorded by Akira Ishikawa (drums) and arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki (electric piano). Surrounded by All-Stars big band conducted by Hiromasa Suzuki, Akira Ishikawa revisits the classics of western Pop music and the Rock 'N' Roll standards, all played in the jazz rock style from Soft Rock to Heavy Metal including psychedelic grooves & insane drum breaks. Titles include only pop/rock hits released from the late sixties of Chicago (Lowdown), Deep Purple (Black Night), Elton John (It's Me That You Need), Simon & Garfunkel (Bridge Over Trouble Water), Fleetwood Mac (Black Magic Woman), The Beatles (Come Together, Let It Be) or french songstress Nicoletta (Mamy Blue). All Tracks arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki.

Akira Ishikawa & His Group - Drum Yagibushi Drum

Year : 1971
Label : Crown
Genre : Jazz, Folk
Style : Jazz Rock, Psychedelic, Minyo

Volume 4 of five discs from the "DRUM DRUM DRUM" serie devoted to the iconic instrument, released on the japanese label "Crown Records", and recorded by Akira Ishikawa & His Group. Akira revisits the popular folk songs of Japanese culture from the best-known genres "Bushi" or the "Ondo". These two traditional japanese folk music genres are associated to various dances forms, by the using a set of traditional japanese drums and percussions such as the taiko. The group plays a clever fusion mixing world music, jazz & psychedelic rock including heavy drum solos with modern and traditional instruments.

Hiromasa Suzuki - Rock Joint Biwa ~ Kumikyoku Fulukotofumi

Year : 1972
Label : RCA
Serie : DYNAGROOVE
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, World Music, Psychedelic Rock

"Rock Joint Biwa", is the first part of experimental musical project, the unfinished trilogy of pianist Hiromasa Suzuki called "Rock Joint", mixing Jazz Rock with Oriental music featuring Akira Ishikawa, Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Kunimitsu Inaba and Takeru Muraoka. The album is a psychedelic work based on the "Kojiki" (also called Fulukotofumi), a compilation of myths, legends and oral traditions from the ancient Japan. Recorded during the same session as the "Rock Joint - Cither", the album showcases japanese traditional instruments including wadaiko and biwa played by Akira Ishikawa & Kuifumi Miyake. Titles include the musical piece for biwa, "Yamatoshi Uruwashi", "Hi No Kawa" featuring the Tamaki Quartet, from heavy-metal (Ananiyashiewotomewo) to smooth-jazz (Watatsumi No Irokonomiya). All tracks arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki.

MUSICIANS : Hiromasa Suzuki - piano, electric piano - Kunimitsu Inaba - bass - Hideo Sekine - drums - Kuifumi Miyake - biwa - Akira Ishikawa - wadaiko - Kiyoshi Sugimoto - guitar - Takehisa Suzuki - trumpet - Takeru Muraoka - tenor saxophone - Tadataka Nakazawa - trombone - Tamaki Quartet - strings

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Akira Ishikawa & His Group - Drum Elvis Presley Drum

 

Year : 1971
Label : Crown
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock

Tribute album dedicated to the rock legend Elvis Presley, from the DRUM DRUM DRUM serie of the japanese Crown label. Japanese jazz drummer Akira Ishikawa revisits the iconic songs which made the Elvis fame, taking over the best known songs who he recorded in the fifties, all future classics of Rock 'N' Roll, "Jailhouse Rock", "Hound Dog", "Heartbreak Hotel" or "Don't Be Cruel", including insane drum breaks & evil solos guitar.

TRACKLIST : Jailhouse Rock - I've Lost You - Hound Dog - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - Heartbreak Hotel - Polk Salad Annie - Love Me Tender - G.I. Blues - Don't Be Cruel - Return To Sender - You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - I Really Don't Want To Know

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Akira Ishikawa Trio & R&B All Stars - Soul Session Jazz Goes R&B

Year : 1969

Label : Philips
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

"Soul Session" is a crossover jazz album recorded by the Akira Ishikawa Trio featuring bassist Masaoki Terakawa and pianist Masahiko Sato, themselves supported by the R&B All Stars including Kiyoshi Sugimoto and Hiromasa Suzuki. Akira Ishikawa takes over some famous massive hits of the western pop music (I Say A Little Prayer, Day Tripper), Funk and R&B standards coming from the kings & queens of Soul such as Otis Redding (...The Dock Of The Bay), Eddie Floyd (Knock On Wood), Sam&Dave (Hold On, I'm Comin') or Aretha Franklin (Chain Of Fools). "Day Tripper", "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" & "Sunny" are exclusively performed by the Akira Ishikawa Trio. All tracks arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki, Masahiko Sato & Kunihiko Murai.

   

MUSICIANS : Akira Ishikawa - drums - Masaoki Terakawa - bass - Masahiko Sato - piano, electric piano - Hiromasa Suzuki - electric piano - Kiyoshi Sugimoto - guitar - Hiroshi Suzuki - trombone - Tetsuo Fushimi & Koji Hatori - trumpet

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Akira Ishikawa & His Group - Drum Classic Drum

Year : 1971
Label : Crown
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Fusion

Akira Ishikawa revisits the great works of classical music in a jazz-rock symphony with orchestral music from the XIXth century including ten popular compositions. Titles include symphonies composed by Beethoven (Symphony N°5, Symphony N°6 'Pastoral', Symphony N°9 'The Choral'), Schubert (Symphony N°8 'Unvollendete'), Dvorak (Symphony N°9 'From The New World'), concertos by Tchaikovsky (Concerto N°1 For Piano, Concerto For Violin OP. 35), Mendelson (Concerto For Violin OP. 64), Beethoven (Concerto For Piano 'Emperor') and the "Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs), OP. 20" composed by Sarasate.

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Hiroshi Suzuki - Cat

Year : 1975
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Fusion

The masterpiece by japanese jazz trombonist Hiroshi Suzuki within the jazz supergroup "Freedom Unity" featuring drummer Akira Ishikawa, keyboardist Hiromasa Suzuki, saxophonist Takeru Muraoka & bassist Kunimitsu Inaba. With Hiroshi Fukumura and Shigeharu Mukai, Hiroshi Suzuki is the best known japanese trombonist who appeared in the front of the japanese jazz scene, when he joined the Sharps & Flats big band conducted by saxophonist Nobuo Hara. In 1969, he recorded his debut album, the Free Jazz/Modal masterpiece "Variation", a joint project with the Masahiko Togashi Quintet released on the famous Takt Jazz Series (the japanese 'Blue Note'), and the same year the big band album "Up Up And Away". From the late sixties Hiroshi becomes a sought-after musician playing as sideman for various japanese jazz artists such as Sadao Watanabe, Takeshi Inomata, Yuji Ohno or Shungo Sawada, joining up thereafter the top Jazz combo "Freedom Unity". Titles include the popular Jazz standard "Walk Tall" composed by Joe Zawinul, the jazz funk "Cat" by Takeru Muraoka, the ballad "Romance" by Hiromasa Suzuki and two original compositions by Hiroshi Suzuki, "Shrimp Dance" & "Kuro To Shiro" with the Kunimitsu Inaba's solo.

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