Kentaro Haneda, The Mystery Kindaichi Band - The Adventure Of Kohsuke Kindaichi

 

Year : 2020/1977

Label : We Want Sounds/King Records

Genre : Jazz, Soundtrack

Style : Jazz Funk

The sought-after fictional soundtrack based on the adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi, an iconic japanese investigator character created in the mid-1940s for a novel serie by Seichi Yokomizo. This cult album for all worlwide DJs and japanese's lovers reminds the original score of "The Inugamy Family" movie composed by Yuji Ohno. Especially composed by Kentaro Haneda (the man behinds the "Space Adventure Cobra" ost), with Hiroshi Takada's contribution, the album includes the hottest musicians of the japanese jazz fusion '70 scene featuring Kimio Mitzuhani (eg), Takeru Muraoka (sax), Koji Hadori (tp), Eiji Arai (tb), Hideo Ichikawa (keys) and Kayoko Ishu (vo) from the Singers Three. "The adventure of Kohsuke Kindaichi" prefigures the Yellow Magic Orchestra's sound, an infectious grooves collection including eastern flavor (Yatsuhakamura, Honjin Murder), space funk with crazy ghost voice (Theme of Kohsuke Kindaichi), mighty disco-funk songs (Gokumonto) and even classical (Inugamy family).

Toshiaki Yokota & The Beat Generation - Elévation

 

Year : 2019/1970

Label : Deep Jazz Reality/Express
Serie : Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Rock, Soul Jazz, Psychedelic Rock

The first master stroke of The Beat Generation, lead by the iconic japanese flutist Toshiaki Yokota from the Takeshi Inomata's  Sound Limited and Love Live Life. Arranged by the japanese jazz master Masahiko Satoh, it features Takeshi Inomata (ds), Hideo Ichikawa (keys), Jun Suzuki (eb), Sadanori Nakamure (eg) & Larry Sunaga (perc), all supported by strings ensemble. Unlike their following album, the experimental "Flute Adventure" released the next year, "Elévation" is more a mainstream record to the baroque pop occured by the Ichikawa's harpsichord play and chamber music (Easy To Be Hard), soul jazz (What'd I Say) and psychedelic pop styles (And When I Die). Titles include also compositions by Toshiaki Yokota (Elevation pt1&2, On The Road), Takeshi Inomata (Curved Navel) & Hideo Ichikawa (How Long Have I Been Waiting For You).

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

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Joe Henderson - In Japan

Year : 1973/1971
Label : Milestone Records/Victor

Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz

Style : Hard Bop, Post Bop, Bossa Nova

Originally released as "Henderson's Habiliment" on Victor in 1971, "In Japan" is a live recording performed at the Junk Club, Tokyo, by american saxophonist Joe Henderson featuring pianist Hideo Ichikawa, bassist Kunimitsu Inaba & drummer Motohiko Hino. Titles include jazz standards from Thelonious Monk (Round Midnight) & Kenny Dorham (Blue Bossa), Henderson's original compositions "Junk Blues" and the variation of his "In 'N' Out" song called "Out 'N' In" that replaces "Black Narcissus" on the original release.

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George Otsuka Trio - Last Summer (Page 3)

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

Final chapter for drummer George Otsuka in the "Page" trilogy, released under the "New Stream In Jazz" category of the "Takt Jazz Series". "Last Summer (Page 3)" is the last album of this formation featuring pianist Hideo Ichikawa and bassist Masaoki Terakawa who introduce for the first time, electric materials (bass & organ) to bring a touch of Soul Jazz & Rock style. Titles include Jazz standards (Things We Did Last Summer, Over The Rainbow) and three originals songs composed by Hideo Ichikawa among others the two Soul-Jazz-Rock tunes "Sea View" & "Breeze Brook And Birds". All tracks arranged by Hideo Ichikawa & George Otsuka.

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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".

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Masabumi Kikuchi - Poo-Sun

Year : 1970
Label : Philips
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Contemporary Jazz

One of the finest Japanese Jazz Fusion album ever recorded by jazz pianist. Influenced by Mc Coy Tyner, Masabumi Kikuchi started as professional in the late 50's, was sideman for Sadao Watanabe during the sixties, and played alongside Terumasa Hino, Toshiko Akiyoshi, the jazz giants Elvin Jones, Gil Evans, Sonny Rollins or Miles Davis on stage. As the Terumasa Hino's Hi-Nology, "Poo-Sun" adopts the "Electric Miles" approach, the beginnings of electrification in jazz from "Miles In The Sky" (1968). Kikuchi formed a great sextet-combo based Kohsuke Mine, Motohiko Hino & Yoshio Ikeda. Titles include the representative Kikuchi style "Dancing Mist", the tribute to Elvin Jones (E.J.), the iconci jazz ballad "Yellow Carcass In The Blue" and the jazz rock "Puzzle Ring" followed by the short piano piece, "My Companion". All tracks composed and arranged by Masabumi Kikuchi excepted "Puzzle Ring" by Masahiro Kikuchi.

MUSICIANS : Masabumi Kikuchi - piano, electric piano - Hideo Ichikawa - organ, electric piano - Kohsuke Mine - soprano, alto saxophone - Yoshio Ikeda - bass - Motohiko Hino & Hiroshi Murakami - drums  Keiji Kishida - percussion

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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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Toshiaki Yokota & The Beat Generation - Flute Adventure

Year : 1971

Label : King Records
Serie : New Emotional Work Series
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz,
Style : Jazz Rock, Free Jazz, Bossa Nova, Psychedelic Rock

"Flute Adventure" is a concept album including latin jazz, progressive rock & free jazz, recorded by The Beat Generation lead by Toshiaki Yokota (indian, alto & bass flute) featuring Kimio Mizutani (eg), Larry Sunaga (perc), Sadanori Nakamure (g), Masaoki Terakawa (eb) & Hideo Ishikawa (keys). The Beat Generation is a japanese avant-garde jazz collective influenced by French symbolism, american counterculture and psychedelic rock. Toshiaki Yokota is part of these japanese pioneers who introduced some traditional flutes in modern music with Minoru Muraoka & Hozan Yamamoto, and was member others iconic jazz rock formations in Japan such as the Takeshi Inomata's The Sound Limited or the progressive rock band, Love Live Life. The first side is a tribute to the Arthur Rimbaud's poetry, called "Le Soleil Etait Encore chaud" including four tracks within a Jazz Rock suite including african rhythms, psychedelia and free improvisations. The side B takes us on board in a Brazilian journey from Bossa to Samba including original Yokota's composition "Ofélia", "Samba De Orfeu" (played in a Samba-Rock fusion), "Orfeu Negro (Manhã De Carnaval)", both composed by Luiz Bonfa, and a rock variation of "Reza" coupled with his "Ending Samba".

Yoshiaki Masuo - 24

Year : 1970

Label : CBS
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Psychedelic Rock

The masterpiece of Yoshiaki Masuo is an essential album of japanese progressive jazz featuring Sadao Watanabe, Yoshio Suzuki, Hideo Ichikawa & Motohiko Hino. "24" is the exact age of Masuo in 1970, who explores the music of the Woodstock generation, following the Jimmy Hendrix steps. The album is an incursion in the Rock 'N' Roll genre from Blues Rock (Dirty Mashy Toe) to Folk Rock (Shirley), including original songs by Masuo, the jazz rock anthem "Round Trip : Coming" composed with Sadao, "Uptight" to the free expressions, the jazz ballad "Soft Sadness" and "Corvallis" with Sadao on flute. All tracks arranged by Yoshiaki Masuo.

MUSICIANS : Yoshiaki Masuo - guitar - Hideo Ichikawa - keyboards - Yoshio Suzuki - bass - Motohiko Hino - drums - Hiro Tsunoda - drums, percussions - Sadao Watanabe - flute, percussions - Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet - Takashi Imai - trombone - Shigemichi Domoto - trombone

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Kiyoshi Sugimoto Quintet - Babylonia Wind

Year : 1971
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : The Essence Of Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock

"Babylonia Wind" is an essential of the japanese jazz albums, masterpiece of jazz guitar performed by the Kiyoshi Sugimoto Quintet featuring Kiyoshi Sugimoto at the top of his game. The quintet is based on the same rhythm trio as on his previous album (Country Dream), including bassist Yoshio Ikeda & drummer Motohiko Hino, while Hideo Ichikawa replaces Hiromasa Suzuki on electric piano with Takao Uematsu on tenor saxophone in addition. Titles include deep grooves with free improvisations (Rosetta Stone, Colsabard Hill), modal expressions (Hieroglyph) or jazz tinged with psychedelic rock (Babylonia Wind, Mr Darius). All tracks composed and arranged by Kiyoshi Sugimoto.

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Akira Ishikawa & His Count Buffalos - Get Up!

Year : 1975
Label : RCA
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Fusion

The Jazz Funk masterpiece of Akira Ishikawa, a joint project with his fellow arranger Hiromasa 'Colgen' Suzuki, featuring his Count Buffalos backing band. With "Get Up!", Akira Ishikawa left Jazz Rock to dive in Jazz Funk enrolling new members among guitarist Takao Naoi, trombonist Eji Arai and trumpeter Koji Hatori. Composed and arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki, the album includes the two heavy funk "The Heated Point" & "Painted Paradise", originally recorded in 1974 for the "Electro Keyboard Orchestra" project & "Funky Stuff" album of saxophonist Jiro Inagaki, the cosmic Soul ballads "Discharge" & "Stone River", the up-tempo "Get Up!" and "Minor Jump".

MUSICIANS : Akira Ishikawa - drums - Hiromasa Suzuki - electric piano, syntheziser - Hideo Ichikawa - electric piano - Takeru Muraoka - tenor & soprano saxophone, flute - Masao Suzuki - alto & soprano saxophone, flute - Takao Naoi - electric guitar - Masaoki Terakawa - electric bass - Eji Arai - trombone - Koji Hatori - trumpet - Larry Sunaga - percussion

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Electro Keyboard Orchestra - Electro Keyboard Orchestra

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

"Electro Keyboard Orchestra" is a concept album of  "Space Age" Jazz based on the KORG synthesizer 700S & 800DV keyboards, highlighting electronic overtones (as evindenced "The African Dawn" composed by Masahiko Sato), featuring eight renowned japanese, supported by a rhythm section including guitarist Ken Yajima, bassist Akira Okazawa and drummer Shuichi 'Ponta' Murakami. The eight keyboardists consist of Yuji Ohno from the original Terumasa Hino Quartet (best known for the "Captain Future" & "Lupin The 3rd" soundtracks), the arranger Hiromasa Suzuki (member of Akira Ishikawa's Count Buffalo Rock Band), Kentaro Haneda ("Space Adventure Cobra" OST), Masahiko Sato (in groups The Soundbreakers, Toshiyuki Miyama's New Herd), Hideo Ichikawa (The Beat Generation, George Kawaguchi's The Big 4, Kosuke Mine Quintet and George Otsuka Trio), but also Masao Yagi, Shigeto O'Hara and Sadayasu Fujii. The whole album reminds the Herbie Hancock's jazz funk style (in particular "The Heated Point" composed by Hiromasa Suzuki) including variations on "Ritual Fire Dance" (composition of Manuel De Falla, arranged by Masao Yagi), "The Iron Side" of Quincy Jones (arr. Hiromasa Suzuki), "Mother of Future" composed by Carlos Garnett (arr. Masahiko Sato). Titles include also others compositions by Yuji Ohno (The Soaring Seagull, Mayflower) and Masao Yagi (Farewell, Onoda).

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