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.

Hidehiko Matsumoto - The First By Sleepy

Year : 1977
Label : Pro Use Series/Toshiba
Serie : Direct Cutting
Genre : Jazz, Latin
Style : Contempory Jazz, Cool Jazz

"The First By Sleepy" recorded by legendary japanese saxophonist 'Sleepy' Matsumoto from the Big 4, keeping with the previous "The Big 4" album of George Kawaguchi (featuring Matsumoto), in which he composed most of the songs. Hidehiko plays in quintet including pianist Norio Kotani, bassist Yasuhisa Akutsu and drummer Takaaki Nishikawa who performs Cool Jazz (My Funny Valentine, Satin Doll), Bossa Nova (Tuesday Samba), Hard Bop and others jazz standards (Take Five, St. Thomas, Someone To Watch Over Me). "Tuesday Samba" is a variation of the "Monday Samba", both composed by Hidehiko Matsumoto and released on the previous Kawaguchi's album.

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Hidehiko Matsumoto & His Quintet - This is Blues

Year : 1968
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Rhythm & Blues

Although the title suggests 'blues' album, it's mostly a Soul-Jazz record featuring saxophonist Hidehiko Matsumoto supported by Ushio Sakai (org), Akio Mitsui (tp), Ikuo Shiosaki (g), Kimio Koizumi (b) and Masatsuka Nagashiba (ds). Hidehiko 'Sleepy' Matsumoto was one of the most greatest jazzmen from Japan, an iconic legend who was the first japanese musician invited to the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1963. He was an original member of the legendary japanese jazz quartet "The Big Four" formed by drummer George Kawaguchi, recording in particular "George And Sleepy" in 1969 and "The Big 4" in 1976. At the end of the seventies, he played within the "Inner Galaxy Orchestra" of japanese conductor, Bingo Miki. Titles include in particular jazz standard "St. Louis Blues", the Dixieland "Basin Street Blues", "The Touch" extracted from original soundtrack of 1954 French film "Touchez Pas Au Grisbi", and several original compositions by Matsumoto.

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Bingo Miki And Inner Galaxy Orchestra - Back To The Sea

 

Year : 1978

Label : Three Blind Mice

Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Funk, Contempory Jazz

"Back To The Sea" is a project to the cinematographic concept including Jazz Funk & Contempory Jazz created by band leader, arranger and composer Bingo Miki. Recorded on the iconic label TBM (Three Blind Mice), the japanese counterpart of CTI records, the tracks are performed by an extended big band based on 28 musicians together in three sections : brass, reeds & rhythm. It features Hidehiko Matsumoto (fl, ts), Masao Suzuki (as, ts, cl), Masaru Imada (p), Mitsuaki Furuno (eb), Yoshiyuki Nakamura (ds) and jazz songstress Mari Nakamoto who lends her voice on "Back To The Sea (Epilogue)". All arranged, composed and conducted by Bingo Miki.