Nippon Jazz Meets The Beatles Vol. 3

Volume 3 of the compilation series dedicated to the classics and most popular songs of The Beatles performed in jazz by iconic japanese Big Band & All-Stars musicians featuring Terumasa Hino, George Otsuka, Jiro Inagaki, Toshiyuki Miyama, Sadao Watanabe and others, including Soul Jazz, Hard Bop, Modal & Jazz Rock styles. All tracks recorded between 1968-1971, compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

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).

Nippon Jazz Meets The Beatles Vol. 2

Volume 2 of the compilation series dedicated to the classics and most popular songs of The Beatles performed in jazz by iconic japanese Big Band & All-Stars musicians featuring Hiroshi Suzuki, Terumasa Hino, Hiroshi Suzuki, Akira Ishikawa, Takeshi Inomata, Kiyoshi Sugimoto and others, including Soul Jazz, Hard Bop, Modal & Jazz Rock styles. All tracks recorded between 1968-1971, compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Tadao Sawai, Hozan Yamamoto - Jazz Rock Koto / Japanese Folk Song

Year : 2020/1973

Label : Mr Bongo/RCA

Genre : Jazz, Folk

Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Rock, Min'yo

Originally released in 1973 on RCA, "Jazz Rock Koto" is actually the meeting between spiritual jazz with iconic japanese folk songs called "Min'yō", including funk elements, traditional japanese instruments use the shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and koto (national instrument of Japan). It features renowed koto players Tadao Sawai, Kazue Sawai on koto and the "Living National Treasure of Japan", Hozan Yamamoto on shakuhachi. They are supported by Norio Maeda (p) and his rhythm section with Takeshi Inomata (ds), Tatsuro Takimoto (b) and Sadanori Nakamure (g) plus Jake H Concepcion on saxophone. Titles include popular folk songs in Japan among "Soran Bushi", "Sado Okesa", "Hokkai Bonuta", "Kuroda Bushi", "Kiso Bushi" and many more.

Tadaaki Misago & His Tokyo Cuban Boys - This Is Cuban Rock Sounds

Year : 1974
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Master Sonic Series
Genre : Jazz, Latin
Style : Afro-Cuban Jazz, Jazz Rock

The kings of japanese mambo honored by the Cuba state, explore the world of rock 'n' roll, including psychedelia, mixing it with Latin Jazz. Formed and conducted by Tadaaki Misago, The Tokyo Cuban Boys is the oldest japanese jazz big band actives since 1949, which took advantage of the mambo's whirlwind that swept Japan in the 50s, to become a major big band in Latin Music in which emerged the famous japanese latin percussionnist, Yoshinori Nohmi. Indeed, Tadaaki Misago & His Tokyo Cuban Boys have contributed to the expansion of  latin music in Japan, recording over 200 albums between 1949 and 1980, the year of their dissolution. They have associated acts alongside Sharps & Flats, collaborated with various artists from Jazz such as Norio Maeda, Jiro Inagaki & Minoru Muraoka, to japanese folk and pop music as backing band for Michiya Mihashi, the "King of Enka" or actress Eri Chiemi. Titles include the great standards of Latin Music including Boléro (Bésame Mucho, Historia De Un Amor, Perfidia), Mambo (Siboney, Quién Será) or Bossa Nova styles (La Cancion De Orfe). All tracks arranged by Takeshi Koizumi.

I Marc 4 ‎- Nelson Psychout

Year : 2017
Label : Vampi Soul
Genre : Jazz, Stage&Screen
Style : Jazz Rock, Easy Listening, Psychedelic Rock

The Vampi Soul's compilation of "original library music from the vaults of Nelson Records", an italian music library label actives during the seventies and primarily issuing records from I Marc 4, one of the most famous italian studio session group. I Marc 4 is a jazz quartet formed by Maurizio Majorana (eb), Antonello Vannucci (p, org), Roberto Podio (ds) and Carlo Pes (eg) whose the name comes from the initials of the four members. Maurizio Majorana & Roberto Podio, both from the Modern Jazz Gang, have played with Lionel Hampton, and Carlo Pes with Barney Kessel. I Marc 4 also played for famous Italian international composers such as Ennio Morricone or Piero Umiliani and recorded most of the Armando Travaioli's compositions. All tracks recorded between 1970-1976, extracted from Nelson GLP catalogue including serie 1000 (1001 to 1007 & 1010), compiled by Alessandro Casella.

 

Norio Maeda & All Stars - Rock Communication "Yagi Bushi"

Year : 2017/1970
Label : Deep Jazz Reality/Teichiku Records

Serie : HMV Project Re:Vinyl

Genre : Jazz, Folk

Style : Fusion, Jazz Rock

"Rock Communication" is a concept fusion album by the piano master of japanese avant-garde (check his album "Revolution") featuring Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Kaoru Iiyoshi & Takeshi Inomata. As similar projects of drummer Akira Ishikawa, "Drum Yagibushi Drum" or saxophonist Kosuke Ichihara's "Now Sound '75" albums Norio Maeda revisits some popular standards of the japanese folk repertoire in the psychedelic rock style. During the late sixties and the early seventies, Norio Maeda collaborated as well as arranger and pianist to various jazz rock albums for eminent japanese jazz musicians among others the saxophonist Jiro Inagaki (This Is Jazz Rock), Akira Ishikawa (Bakishinba - Memories Of Africa) and Takeshi Inomata (Drum Method). 

MUSICIANS : Norio Maeda - piano - Kiyoshi Sugimoto - electric guitar - Mitsuo Murakami - rhythm guitar - Kaoru Iiyoshi - electric piano, Hammond organ - Mihiro Arai & Masahiro Arashi - bass - Koichi Uchida - vibes - Takeshi Inomata & Takahiro Suzuki - drums - Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet - Shigeo Suzuki - flute, piccolo, clarinet, alto sax

Susumu Arima And New Creators - Eleanor Rigby/Rock & Drums

Year : 1972
Label : JVC
Serie : CD-4
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock

Susumu Arima is a japanese arranger and pianist who worked for famous japanese folk rock band "Garo" and played alongside Kunihiko Sugano on "The More I See You" in 1972. During the 1972 year, he recorded various pop/rock cover albums for the Victor 4 Channel Serie (also called CD-4), including "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "The Dock Of The Bay" and "Eleanor Rigby" albums. Later, he recorded the contemporary jazz albums "Good Life" in 1976 and his piano solo project "Super Touch" in 1977. Supported by drummers Sadakazu Tabata & Chito Kikuchi, titles include the big western rock hits such as "Eleanor Rigby", "Hitchin' A Ride", "As The Years Go By" and the Motown's Soul classic "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me".

Betty Davis - The Columbia Years 1968-1969

Year : 2016
Label : Light In The Attic
Genre : Jazz, Rock, Soul
Style : Jazz Rock, Funk/Soul

Betty "Davis" Marbry presents her recordings sessions for Columbia, during the 1968-1969 period featuring Miles Davis as arranger and Teo Macero as producer. The first six songs were recorded in 1969 at Columbia Studios, New York with the famous Jimi Hendrix musicians Billy Cox from Band of Gypsys) & Mitch Mitchell from Jimi Hendrix Experience, Harvey Brooks from Super Session and the giants of Jazz : Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin, Larry Young and Wayne Shorter. The last three tracks were recorded in 1968 at Columbia Studios, Hollywood, with Hugh Masekela and featuring The Crusaders. Titles include unrealeased tracks, demos and alternate takes, written by Betty Davis except "Born On The Bayou" by John Forgety and  "Politician Man" by Jack Bruce.

MUSICIANS : Betty Davis - vocal - Billy Cox - drums - Mitch Mitchell & Harvey Brooks - bass - Herbie Hancock - keyboard - Larry Young - organ - John McLaughlin - guitar - Wayne Shorter & Wilton Felder - saxophone - Joe Sample - piano - Wayne Henderson - trombone

TRACKLIST : Hangin' Out (demo) - Politician Man (demo) - Down Home Girl (take 4) - Born On The Bayou (demo) - I'm Ready, Willing & Able (take 1) - I'm Ready, Willing & Able (take 9) - It's My Life (take 8) - Live, Love, Learn (take 12) - My Soul Is Tired - (take 9)

Isao Etoh & His Pick-Up Seven - Exciting Electric Bass

Year : 1969
Label : Victor
Serie : Perfect Sound 6
Genre : Jazz, Pop
Style : Jazz Rock

"Exciting Electric Bass" is a jazz rock and covers album recorded by Isao Etoh & His Pick-Up Seven with japanese pop arranger Kunihiko Suzuki. It focuses on western pop hits & Soul Music including The Supremes (You Keep Me Hangin' On), The Tempations (I'm Gonna Make You Love Me) The Beatles (Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Back In The U.S.S.R), passing by The Jackson 5 (Maybe Tomorrow). Isao Etoh is a japanese session musician in demand who contributed as bassist to the success of the GS japanese rock genre during the sixties, recruited by Jackie Yoshikawa and his Blue Comets, The Jaguars, The Wild Ones or Terry and his Blue Jeans (Takeshi Terauchi). He collaborated to over 5000 recordings of pop songs, supporting various famous japanese pop icons (Linda Yamamoto, Yukari Ito, Jun Mayuzumi or Mieko Hirota). In the late sixties, he joined alongside the jazz drummer Akira Ishikawa, the backing band formed for the Japanese version of Broadway musical "Hair". Thereafter, he became a regular bassist in the Count Buffalos band of Akira Ishikawa. From the late sixties, Isao recorded a pop covers albums serie (like "Golden Electric Bass" with the Black Panthers) and joined several prestigious japanese jazz formations such as Toshiyuki Miyama's New Herd (Exciting Rock Beat, 1969), Kiyoshi Sugimoto Quartet (Playboy Sound - Get Back, 1969). At last, during the seventies, Isao played for Masabumi Kikuchi ("Masabumi Kikuchi + Gil Evans Orchestra" in 1972), Kimiko Kasai, Jiro Inagaki & Motohiko Hino.

Masahiko Sato - Kanashimi No Belladonna (Original Soundtrack)

Year : 2015/1975
Label : Finders Keepers/Cinevox
Genre : Soundtrack, Stage & Screen, Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Prog Rock

Kanashimi No Belladonna (Belladonna Of Sadness) is the final act in the Animerama trilogy, a kind of "pink" film serie conceived by Osamu Tezuka which includes Senya Ichiya Monogatari (A Thousand And One Nights - 1969) & Kureopatora (Cleopatra - 1970). Produced by the Japanese animation studio Mushi Production, directed by Eiichi Yamamoto, Belladona is based on the book "La Sorcière" (The Witch), a story written in 1862 by French historian Jules Michelet. The music was entirely composed by the most-avant garde japanese jazz pianist, Masahiko Sato, recorded at Aoi studio in 1972 with probably a part of Toshiyuki Miyama's New Herd ensemble, featuring his wife Chinatsu Nakayama on vocals. Only one EP was released in Japan in 1973 (including singles "Kanashimi No Belladonna" & "Jeanne No Namida", performed by japanese songtress, Mayumi Tachibana), but two years later, the soundtrack finally comes in Europe thanks to Italian label Cinevox, and now reissued by Finders Keepers Records. Sato created for Belladona, an atmosphere of certain deep melancholy, a free jazz/progressive rock score in the same wayof his "Amalgamation" 1971 project mixing psychedelic jazz with orchestral music incorporating experimental sounds, suspense & action music elements. Titles includes all Sato's compositions for the film, except "Belladonna (Reprise)", "Jeanne No Namida" & the main love theme written by Asei Kobayashi and sung by Mayumi Tachibana.

The Fine Machine - Habitat

Year : 2016/1972
Label : Cinedelic Records/CAM
Genre : Jazz, Music Library, Stage & Screen
Style : Pop, Funk/Soul, Psychedelic, Jazz Rock

Masterpiece from Italian music library, first quality reissue stricly limited to 500 copies by Cinedelic records, originally released under the CAM (Creazioni Artistiche Musicali) files in 1972. "The Fine Machine" is formed by three italian composers/arrangers, pianist Giacomo Dell'Orso aka Oscar Lindok, Nico Fidenco (Donimak), and Gianni Dell'Orso (Proluton)."Habitat" is a crossover record including progressive rock, jazz & funk including psychedelic elements ("Obsessing Promenade", "Hand Shake" or "Crazy Eel"), latin beats ("Racing Beat", the bossa "Snobbery"), and oriental expressions on "The Eastern Question". All tracks arranged by Oscar Lindok.

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.

Giuliano Sorgini E I Visconti - Under Pompelmo

Year : 2015/1971
Label : Cinedelic Records/Dischi Montecarlo
Genre : Jazz, Prog Rock, Funk/Soul, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Rock, Music Library, Psychedelic

Legendary Milanese killer groove album, reminiscent of the swinging London from the late sixties, reissued by italian label Cinedelic and originally released in 1973 on Montecarlo. Giuliano Sorgini is an italian composer and pianist in music for TV programs (Scappo Per Cantare), B-movies (Non Si Deve Profanare Il Sonno Dei Morti) and various documentaries produced for RAI (Gli Animali...Che Simpatia ; Pauline, Il Cavallo Sapiente). "Under Pompelmo" contains some elements from a typical soundscape and background music for films, including acid organ & fuzz guitar with pop overtones (Echos From Canyon, To Rebound), Funk/Soul (Wandering Man), psychedelic rock (When I See You) and the hypnotic title track, a jam session approaching 17 minutes. All tracks conducted & arranged by Giuliano Sorgini (p, org) featuring Marcello Caruti Atonelli (eb), Luigi Massari & Massimo Tonson Latour (eg), Franco Romagniello (ds).

Maki Asakawa - Asakawa Maki No Sekai (Maki)

Year : 1970
Label : Express
Genre : Jazz, Folk Rock, Latin Jazz
Style : Pop, Bossa Nova, Avant-Garde

Maki Asakawa was an iconic japanese jazz and blues songstress, lyricist and composer, cantor of japanese counter culture, who recorded over 30 albums between 1970-2010, her first decade being marked by american psychedelia & folk rock music. "Asakawa Maki No Sekai" (The World Of Maki), is an approach of various musical genres mastered by this versatile artist, as well Pop, Jazz, Latin, as Folk & Rock 'N' Roll music. Supported by experienced musicians such as Masaru Imada, Jiro Inagaki & Yokouchi Shoji, she associates compositions of the Jazz arranger  Kozaburo Yamaki to the lyrics of the iconic avant-garde poet, Shuji Terayama. This first Maki's testimony consists in studio & live recordings ranging from Jazz to Bossa Nova, by Acid Folk & Psychedelic Rock, including also some japanese modern folk vocal overtones (Enka). All tracks composed & arranged by Kozaburo Yamaki except "Kamome" by Osamu Kitayama, the New Orleans traditional "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child" and "Tombe La Neige" by Adamo.

MUSICIANS : Maki Asakawa - vocal - Masaru Imada - organ, piano - Masanaga Harada - bass - Kohsuke Ichihara - flute, saxophone - Jiro Inagaki - saxophone, flute - Yokouchi Shoji & Kozaburo Yamaki - guitar - Chico Kikuchi - drums

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Toshiaki Yokota, Primitive Community ~ Primitive Community

 

Year : 2013/1971

Label : Think! Records/Toshiba
Genre : Jazz, Folk
Style : Jazz Rock  

"Primitive Community" (Genshi Kyodotai) is a collective especially formed for a mystical project out from the Yoshiaki Yokota's mind. In the same way of his previous project "Flute Adventure" by The Beat Generation, ranging from Free Jazz to Rock by Folk, it consists of a sophisticated avant-garde fusion, a kind of theatrical play speaking in ethnic music with African inspirations including psychedelia, hypnotic tribal percussions, fuzz guitar & acid organ. Titles include only originals compositions arranged by Yokota plus one cover of The Beatles ("Flying"). It features Toshiaki Yokota (indian, alto & bass flute), Shunzo Ohno (trumpet), Yusuke Hoguchi (Hammond organ), Kimio Koizumi (eb), Kimio Mizutani (eg), Chito Kawachi (ds), Tadaomi Anai, Larry Sunaga & Yoshinori Nohmi on percussions.

Giovanni Tommaso - Vivere A : Tokio Città Del Paradiso

Year : 2015/1972
Label : SONOR/RCA
Serie : Original Cast
Genre : Jazz, Funk/Soul
Style : Music Library, Stage & Screen, Jazz Rock

Giovanni Tommaso is an italian studio bass player, Jazz composer & arranger, who professionaly started in 1957. During the seventies, he was prolific in music library, collaborating to the Sandro Brugnolini & Stefano Torrossi productions and composing several background music for films and TV soundscapes. Giovanni Tommaso also played for various prestigious Jazz Masters such as Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon, Art Farmer or also Sonny Rollins for the Studio Uno show, broadcasted on RAI TV from 1961 to 1966. This rare iconic Italian library file from 1972 (finally reissued by SONOR), was entirely composed by Giovanni Tommaso for an italian documentary focused on the capital city of Japan, where it features uncredited musicians among pianist Antonello Vannucchi, drummer Gegè Munari & guitarist Silvano Chimenti. It includes some typical elements of folk music from Far East, mixed with psychedelic accents and played in the Jazz Rock style. It foreshadows the future sound of the Italian Progressive/Jazz Rock group '70, Perigeo, whose Giovanni was a main member.

Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media, Tokyo Cuban Boys - Quad Dimension/Rock'N Latin

Year : 1971
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Master Sonic Series
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Latin Rock

An umpteenth recording jazz rock session performed by Jiro inagaki & His Soul Media featuring Ryo Kawasaki, Takeshi Inomata, backed themselves by the most famous japanese Latin Big Band, the Tokyo Cuban Boys conducted by Tadaaki Misago. Arranged by famous jazz producer Takeo Ogawa, although less interesting than the "Head Rock" album, "Rock'N Latin" leaves however its mark by its originality, and remains a well-made jazz fusion album mixing rock 'n' roll with latin beats including acid organ and guitar distortion. Titles include killer variation of Latin jazz standard "Watermelon Man" by Herbie Hancock and various international pop/rock hits from The Beatles (Hey Jude) to Blood, Sweet And Tears (Spinning Wheel) by Fleetwood Mac (Black Magic Woman) & The Creedence (Proud Mary).

MUSICIANS : Tadaaki Misago - conductor - Jiro Inagaki - tenor saxophone - Ryo Kawasaki - guitar - Yasuo Arakawa - bass - Masaru Imada - organ - Takeshi Inomata - drums - Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet - Tadayuki Harada - baritone saxophone - Shigeo Suzuki - alto saxophone - Takehisa Suzuki & Shunzo Ohno - trumpet - Takashi Imai & Shigemichi Domoto - trombone

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Jiro Inagaki & Soul Media - Wandering Birds

Year : 1971

Label : Nippon Columbia

Serie : Master Sonic Series

Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Rock

The Soul Media led by saxophonist Jiro Inagaki featuring rock songstress Sammy and special guest pianist Masahiko Sato, supported by a heavy horn section, in another japanese Jazz Rock act, including progressive rock and pyschedelic music. "Wandering Birds" expands the group with the introduction of new members, iconic actors of the japanese progessive and experimental rock scene from the seventies, guitarists Kimio Mizutani (in groups Sound Limited, The Beat Generation) & organist Hiro Yanagida (Shinki Chen & His Friends, April Fool). Titles include "Wandering Birds" feat. Sammy, the psychedelic trip "Parajika" & the funky track "On The Grass" both feat. Masahiko Sato.

MUSICIANS : Sammy & Sawada Yasushi - vocal - Jiro Inagaki - tenor & soprano saxophone, flute - Tsunehide Matsuki & Kimio Mizutani - guitar - Masahiko Sato - moog synthesizer - Hiro Yanagida - organ - Hideaki Takebe - bass - Kiyoshi Tanaka - drums

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