Showing posts with label Hard Bop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hard Bop. Show all posts

Monday, October 19, 2020

Sadao Watanabe - Swing Journal Jazz Workshop 2 ~ Dedicated To Charlie Parker


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

Recorded at Yamaha Hall, Tokyo, "Swing Journal Workshop 2" follows the first volume devoted to Terumasa Hino, previously released the same year from an idea by the most famous japanese jazz magazine. Performed by the legendary saxophonist, the tracks were caught during live session from 1969, played in quartet formation including Kazuo Yashiro (p), Masanaga Harada (b), Fumio Watanabe (ds) and in quintet featuring the great trumpeter Terumasa Hino. The album is tribute to Charlie Parker which contains the bop classics regurlarly performed by the jazz genius, in a modal variation including "Song For Bird", "Parker's Mood", Sadao's solo performance "I Can't Get Started", "If I Should Lose You" and "Au privave" feat. Terumasa Hino. "Swing Journal" was the most long-standing jazz magazine from the land of the rising sun and leader in the jazz culture diffusion in Japan since 1947. Indeed, the magazine played a key role in the jazz expansion in the country, contibuting to the popularity of renowned american musicians such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker, Art Blakey or natives musicians like Sadao Watanabe, Terumasa Hino and Yosuke Yamashita. Similar to other famous jazz magazines as "Down Beat", "Swing Journal" was a reference in order to know japanese jazz essential albums, awarding best jazz albums every years in various cathegory.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Albert Ayler - Free Jazz


Year : 1979/1964
Label : Vogue/Freedom Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Free Jazz, Hard Bop

Although he was recognized by John Coltrane, Albert Ayler (1936-1970) remained an accursed artist who divided critics, while he was a brilliant Avant-Garde saxophonist and a eminent actor of the Free Jazz movement during the early sixties. Originally released under "My Name Is Albert Ayler" on Debut Records (Jazz label founded by Charles Mingus & Max Roach), "Free Jazz" was recorded live in 1963 in Copenhagen for the Danish National Radio. The formation consists on two danish jazz musicians, the rookie Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (16 years old bassist), pianist Niels Brønsted and american drummer, Ronnie Gardiner. Titles are mostly played in the Hard Bop style including original composition "C.T." by Ayler, jazz standards (On Green Dolphin Street, Bye Bye Blackbird)and others cover songs from Charlie Parker (Billie's Bounce) to George Gershwin (Summertime), all with free improvisations.

Monday, December 28, 2015

Takehiro Honda Trio - The Trio


Year : 1970
Label : Trio Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Hard Bop, Modal

Recorded with sound engineer Okihiko Sugano, the second solo album of Takehiro Honda with his new jazz trio featuring drummer Fumio Watanabe & bassist Yoshio Suzuki. "Chin" Suzuki was his regular bassist from 1969 to 1972, recording no less of five albums whose his debut album and 1972 best japanese jazz recording award "This Is Honda". Titles include "This Guy's In Love With You" composed by Bacharach, the Jazz standard "Fall In Love Too Easily" and three original compositions by Honda : the modal "Hakai To Jojyo", "CMT & T" and "Emergency", probably inspired by the Tony Williams' song who later will play with Honda.


Wednesday, December 2, 2015

George Otsuka Quintet - Sea Breeze


Year : 1971
Label : Union/Teichiku Records
Serie : Young Generation Music
Genre : Jazz
Style : Hard Bop, Modal, Jazz Funk

Masterpiece of Hard Bop/Modal Jazz by George Otsuka Quintet featuring Hideo Ichikawa, Takashi Mizuhashi, Takao Uematsu. The young Shunzo Ohno completes the formation and demonstrates, at just 22 years, that he's one of best japanese jazz trumpeter from his generation. George plays with his regular pianist, since 1965, in charge of all compositions (except The Beatles' song), to the point of wondering whether "Sea Breeze" would not rather a Ichikawa's project. "Sea Breeze" includes various jazz styles, with cool & mellow atmosphere, centered around the Fender rhodes, associated to funk/soul rhythms (Potato Chips), Hard Bop (Jumping Cats), Modal (Fool On The Hill), gospel & spiritual  jazz (Cannibal). 

MUSICIANS : George Otsuka - drums - Hideo Ichikawa - electric piano -  Takashi Mizuhashi - bass - Takao Uematsu - tenor, soprano saxophone - Shunzo Ohno - trumpet, flugelhorn


Tuesday, July 28, 2015

New Stream In Jazz Vol. 6



Compilation series dedicated to the golden era of the japanese jazz scene through the years 60's-70's. This volume mixes Contemporary Jazz, Jazz Samba & Soul Jazz, featuring Terumasa Hino, Sadao Watanabe, Isao Suzuki, Kimiko Kasai & Gil Evans, Mieko Hirota with Billy Taylor Trio, Yoshio "Chin" Suzuki & many more... All tracks recorded between 1967-1973, compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Monday, July 6, 2015

New Stream In Jazz Vol. 5



Compilation series dedicated to the golden era of the japanese jazz scene through the years 60's-70's. Following the volume 1, the volume 5 bringing together other titles ranging from Soul Jazz to Hard Bop by Post Bop style, including various jazz standards and original compositions by Kazuo Yashiro, Yuji Ohno, Norio Maeda, Hiroshi Suzuki, Takehiro Honda, Shungo Sawada & Takeru Muraoka, Jake H. Conception, Nobuo Hara & His Sharps & Flats, Akira Ishikawa, Takeshi Inomata, Keitaro Miho, The Freedom Unity. All tracks released between 1969-1972. Compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

George Otsuka Trio - Page 2


Year : 1968
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Post Bop, Modal

Essential jazz record, volume 2 of three discs serie recorded between 1967-1969, by one of the most famous japanese jazz trio featuring pianist Hideo Ishikawa & bassist Masaoki Terakawa. The trio was actives from 1965 to 1969, recording the others jazz masterpieces that are "Page 1", "Last Summer - 3" and Akira Miyazawa's "Now's The Time". "Page 2" which received in 1969 the Grand Prix from the Japan Jazz Awards, is part of Sleep Walker's influences, a japanese Nu-Jazz quartet. Titles include the iconic dancing jazz tune "Hot Cha!" (Junior Walker) and the jazz standards "On Green Dolphin Street", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "Blues By Five" (based on a version recorded in 1956 by the Miles Davis Quintet), "Lament".


Monday, September 15, 2014

Norio Maeda Trio - Alpha Ray


Year : 1969
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contempory Jazz, Post Bop, Modal

The Norio Maeda's jazz masterpiece, among the best "Takt Jazz Series" albums ever recorded featuring bassist Tatsuro Takimoto & drummer Takeshi Inomata from The West Liners. "Alpha Ray" is played in up-tempo mode including Hard Bop, Modal (Fifth Column) & Avant-Garde Jazz (Infinite). Titles include four original compositions by Maeda, the jazz standards from Ray Henderson (Bye Bye Blackbird), Gene DePaul (Star Eyes), "Maria" taken from West Side Story played in the samba mode and the explosive opening track "Alpha Ray", which was included in the Shibuya Jazz Classics (Sleep Walker Collection - Columbia Issue), compilation gathering the influences of the japanese avant-garde Nu-Jazz band, Sleep Walker. All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda.

LISTEN SAMPLE

Saturday, August 30, 2014

George Otsuka Quintet - Go On


Year : 1972
Label : TBM
Genre : Jazz
Style : Hard Bop, Modal 

The first steps on the Three Blind Mice label by the great japanese drummer George Otsuka featuring Mabumi Yamaguchi, Takashi Mizuhashi, Toshiyuki Daitoku & the soulful expressions of Shunzo Ohno. After evolved in the Toshiko Akiyoshi's Cozy Quartet and the Hidehiko Matsumoto Quartet from 1961 to 1964, George Otsuka formed with Hideo Ichikawa & Masaoki Terakawa, his first legendary trio, actives from 1965 until 1969, with whom he recorded the famous trilogy "Page 1", "Page 2" & "Last Summer - Page 3", all released on the Columbia Takt Jazz Series. In 1968, he recorded "Groovin' With My Soul Brother" alongside Roy Haynes & Ichikawa, later evolved in the Mabumi Yamaguchi Quintet and was recruited by Isao Suzuki for his "Blow Up" in 1973, also on the TBM catalogue. During the seventies, George sharing stage with Elvin Jones or Nana Vasconcelos, and was sideman for various frontmen such as Hampton Hawes, Jack Dejohnette, Phil Wood or Miroslav Vitous. Titles include the jazz standard "Here's That Rainy Day" by Jimmy Van Heusen, the cover song "Isotope" from original composition of Joe Henderson, the title-track by Shunzo Ohno and two original compositions by Mabumi Yamaguchi.

MUSICIANS : Shunzo Ohno - trumpet & flugelhorn - Mabumi Yamaguchi - soprano & tenor saxophone - Toshiyuki Daitoku - piano - Takashi Mizuhashi - bass - George Otsuka - drums

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Harold Alexander - Sunshine Man


Year : 1971
Label : Flying Dutchman
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

Soul Jazz masterpiece including the two iconic "Mama Soul/Sunshine Man" tracks by saxophonist/flutist Harold 'Jazzbo' Alexander featuring pianist Neal Creque, drummer Bernard Purdie, percussionist Richard Landrum & bassist Richard Davis. Harold Alexander shared stage alongside Elvin Jones, Jimmy Davis or Eric Dolphy, session musician in groups Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers with Neal Creque & Richard Landrum, and was sideman for organist Big John Patton during the "Understanding" & "Boogaloo" sessions recordings. He released two others albums during this period, "Are You Ready ?" (live recording at the Montreux Jazz Festival) and the "Raw Root" in 1974, before leave the world of music. All tracks composed & arranged by Harold Alexander.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Hiroshi Suzuki=Masahiko Togashi Quintet - Variation


Year : 1969
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Modal, Free Jazz, Avant-Garde

Essential jazz album among the influences of the future-jazz quartet Sleep Walker by trombonist Hiroshi Suzuki. "Variation" is a joint project including the legendary jazz drummer Masahiko Togashi featuring pianist Yuji Ohno, saxophonist Jun Suzuki and trumpeter Tetsuo Fushimi. Masahiko Togashi was a major figure alongside Masahiko Sato, Masayuki Takayanagi and Yosuke Yamashita in the blooming of free jazz in Japan in the late sixties whose "Variation" is one of the iconic masterpiece. Masahiko Togashi started in 1957, when he joined the Sadao Watanabe Quartet, which will bring him to play for various legends of Jazz as pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi, Helen Merrill, Masayuki Takayanagi, Yosuke Yamashita or Charlie Mariano and also in jazz big bands such as the famous Toshiyuki Miyama's New Herd. He recorded various free jazz sessions in 1969, with the Masahiko Sato Trio, several solo projects (the first "We Now Create"), and the same year, formed his best known quintet, the J.J. Spirits. Titles include "Castle Cats" selected in the  "Shibuya Jazz Classics - Sleep Walker Collection", compilation released in 2003.

LISTEN SAMPLE

Monday, November 25, 2013

Terumasa Hino, Masabumi Kikuchi - Hino=Kikuchi Quintet


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

Essential japanese jazz masterpiece from Takt Jazz Series by the Masabumi Kikuchi Quintet featuring trumpeter Terumasa Hino in duet album including Takeru Muraoka on tenor saxophone, Kunimitsu Inaba on bass & Hino's brother, Motohiko on drums. "Hino=Kikuchi Quintet" introducing the future Hino's legendary quintet from 1969 to 1970, later joined by keyboardist Hiromasa Suzuki on "Hi-Nology", "Hakuchu No Shugeki Original Soundtrack"& "Into The Heaven". All tracks composed & arranged by Masabumi Kikuchi. Titles include "H.G. And Pretty" selected for the "Shibuya Jazz Classics - Sleep Walker Collection" compilation released in 2003. 


Jaki Byard - The Jaki Byard Experience


Year : 1969
Label : Prestige
Genre : Jazz
Style : Post Bop, Modal, Free Jazz

"The Jaki Byard Experience" featuring pianist Jaki Byard, saxophonist Roland Kirk, bassist Richard Davis & drummer Alan Dawson, was recorded in 1968 with sound engineer Rudy Van Gelder. All are bring together in an iconic classic of the Prestige label considered as a masterpiece of the history of Jazz. Jaki Byard & his combo explore various styles of Jazz including New Orleans (Shine On Me, Memories Of You), Spiritual (Hazy Eye), Free (Parisian Thoroughfare) & Modal styles (Evidence). 

Friday, November 8, 2013

George Benson - Beyond The Blue Horizon


Year : 1971
Label : CTI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Hard Bop

First album for the CTI label, the Soul Jazz album "Beyond The Blue Horizon" is a high point in the George Benson's career featuring two rising stars of Jazz, the drummer Jack DeJohnette (from John Coltrane Quintet) and Ron Carter (Miles Davis Quintet), supported by Clarence Palmer on Hammond B3 organ, Albert Nicholson & Michael Cameron on percussion. The album showcases incredible guitar skill variations of the George Benson's guitar playing including a funky version of the great Miles Davis' jazz standard "So What?", the Luiz Bonfa's Bossa Nova tune "The Gentle Rain" and Afro-Jazz track "Somewhere To The East". All tracks produced by Creed Taylor and recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Hiroshi Suzuki & His Happy Cats - Up Up And Away


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

Hiroshi Suzuki, the most famous japanese trombonist, member of legendary quintet "Freedom Unity", in first work as a leader featuring Takeshi Inomata, Tetsuo Fushimi & Shigeo Suzuki. As many young japanese jazz musicians, Hiroshi Suzuki started in Sharps & Flats (conducted by saxophonist Nobuo Hara) and evolved in others big bands like The Tokyo Cuban Boys. Later, he becomes a session trombonist in demand playing as a sideman for trumpeter Terumasa Hino, guitarist Shungo Sawada or pianist Yuji Ohno. From 1968, he stands out on the duet album "Variation" with the Masahiko Togashi Quintet and thereafter joins the super jazz group, The Freedom Unity featuring Akira Ishikawa, Hiromasa Suzuki, Kunimitsu Inaba & Takeru Muraoka. Titles include pop & jazz covers from The Bealtes (The Fool On The Hill, Eleanor Rigby), Burt Bacharach (The Look Of Love), Fifth Dimension (Up Up And Away), Oliver Nelson (125th St. & 7th Avenue). "125th St. & 7th Avenue" was selected by Yasuharu Konishi from Pizzicato Five for his compilation "Midgnight Tokyo").

MUSICIANS : Hiroshi Suzuki - trombone - Shigeo Suzuki - alto saxophone - Ichiro Mimori - tenor saxophone - Shiro Ohno - baritone saxophone - Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet - Tsuneo Shibata - bass - Shigeaki Ikeno - organ - Takeshi inomata - drums 


Monday, December 31, 2012

Terumasa Hino Quintet - Hi-Nology


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

The japanese jazz masterpiece recorded by the legendary Terumasa Hino Quintet featuring saxophonist Takeru Muraoka, bassist Kunimitsu Inaba, pianist Hiromasa Suzuki & drummer Motohiko Hino. "Hi-Nology" is an essential japanese jazz album released on the Takt Jazz Series, recorded under live conditions at the famous Yamaha Hall, Tokyo, with the full expressions of Terumasa Hino at the top of his game. "Hi-Nology" was inspired by "Miles In The Sky" album which contributed to the electrification in Jazz, and therefore, opening the fusion era. The album opens on the tribute to Miles Davis, "Like Miles", passing by Muraoka's tune "Electric Zoo" including free forms of jazz, the heavy funk "Hi-Nology" and the jazz avant-garde "Dupe".


Friday, December 14, 2012

Yoko Kanno - Kids On The Slope (Original Soundtrack)


Year : 2012
Label : Epic/Sony
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Hard Bop, J-Pop

Original soundtrack from "Sakamichi No Apollon" directed by Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo), based on a Yuki Kodama's manga, produced by pianist & iconic animation score composer Yoko Kanno. As on the "Cowboy Bebop" soundtrack, "Kids On The Slope" contains original compositions, some typical Yoko Kanno pop/rock songs and in particular, Hard Bop, Modal & Cool jazz tracks including the strandards from Milt Jackson (Bag’s Groove), Bobby Timmons (Moanin), Horace Silver (Blowin’ The Blues Away), George Gershwin (But Not For Me), George Shearing (Lullaby Of Birdland) or Duke Ellington (Satin Doll). All tracks arranged & recorded by Yoko Kanno featuring Masato Suzuki from Naruyoshi Kikuchi Dub Sextet, Yasuo Sano & Masayoshi Furukawa from The Seatbelts.

MUSICIANS : Yoko Kanno - keyboards - Yasuo Sano & Masayoshi Furukawa - guitar - Takashi Matsunaga - piano - Shun Ishikawa - drums - Shinpei Ruike - trumpet - Masato Suzuki & Keisuke Torigoe - bass  - Yuuka Nanri, Aoi Teshima & Manabu Yamaguchi - vocal

LISTEN SAMPLE

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Freddie Hubbard - Backlash


Year : 1967
Label : Atlantic
Genre : Jazz
Style : Hard Bop

His first of four Atlantic albums between Hard Bop, Avant-Garde and Soul Jazz featuring James Spauling and Ray Barretto. Titles include own compositions of Freddie Hubbard, Backlash by Don Pickett and popularized by Nina Simone, The Return of the Prodigal Son by Harold Ousley & Echoes of Blue  Robert Cunningham.

Freddie Hubbard_trumpet, flugelhorn 
James Spaulding_alto saxophone, flute 
Albert Dailey_piano 
Bob Cunningham_bass 
Ray Appleton_drums 
Ray Barretto_congas

01. Backlash
02. The Return of the Prodigal Son
03. Little Sunflower
04. On the Que-Tee
05. Up Jumped Spring
06. Echoes of Blue

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Yoshio Suzuki - Friends


Year : 1973
Label : CBS
Genre : Jazz
Style : Hard Bop, Modal

The debut album as a leader by Yoshio Suzuki featuring saxophonist Kohsuke Mine, pianist Takehiro Honda, drummer Hiroshi Murakami & special guest flutist Hideo Miyata. "Friends" is an essential japanese jazz masterpiece ranging from Hard Bop (The Past, K'S Waltz) to Modal jazz (Burning Point) passing by Bossa Nova (Samba De Chico), it includes only Suzuki's own compositions. Before to settle in New York in 1973, Yoshio was sideman for Sadao Watanabe, Takehiro Honda from 1969 to 1973, played for Masabumi Kikuchi, Yoshiaki Masuo (24 & Winds Of Barcelona) and Kimiko Kasai (What's New & Satin Doll). In US, he played alongside Stan Getz as his regular bassist, Sonny Rollins, Lee Konitz, Chet Baker and joined the famous Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers. During 1999 to 2001, he was member of the Yuji Ohno Trio on the first three albums from the LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] serie. 


Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Takeshi Inomata & His West Liners - Liner Note

 
Year : 1967
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Cool Jazz, Bossa Nova, Afro-Cuban Jazz

"Liner Note" recorded in 1966, is the first original album by Takeshi Inomata released under the Takt Jazz Series of Nippon Columbia label. The West Liners lead by the legendary japanese drummer was originally formed as a sextet in 1957 with pianist/arranger Norio Maeda featuring Masaru Imada (p), bassist Tatsuro Takimoto (b), Sadanori Nakamure (g),  Shigeo Suzuki (as), Ichiro Mimori (ts) and Tetsuo Fushimi (tp). They were recruited as backing band by american songstress Helen Merrill when she was settle in Japan, recording "Helen Merrill In Tokyo" & "Sings Screen Favorites". Among others albums released by the band feature "Modern Top Hits" in 1965, come thereafter, "Paint It Black" in 1966,  "Come Together!" in 1969 and "My Way" in 1971. "Liner Note" is a blend of Jazz & Latin music including jazz standards of Miles Davis, George Gershwin & Herbie Hancock from Cool Jazz (All Blues), Modal (Freddie Freeloader, Cantaloupe Island) to Afro-Cuban Jazz (Afro-Blue), by Samba (La Grita) & Bossa Nova (Meditation, Panteno). All tracks arranged by Takeshi Inomata.

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