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).

Kosuke Ichihara & 3 L - Now Sound '75

Year : 2017/1975
Label : Deep Jazz Reality/Victor
Serie : HMV Project Re:Vinyl
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Fusion, Folk

Last testimony of Love Live Life (also known as 3L), japanese psychedelic jazz rock band born in full expansion of the japanese new rock era initiated by the Flower Travellin' Band (himself influenced by the Woodstock generation). Love Live Life's frontman Kosuke Ichihara is a japanese saxophonist, composer and arranger who evolved in famous Toshiyuki Miyama's New Herd big band, in groups Tokyo Ensemble Academy, Takayuki Inoue Band, Masami Kawahara & The Exotic Sounds, was sideman for japanese jazz songstress Maki Asakawa, Mari Nakamoto and played alongside pianist Masahiko Satoh or drummer Jimmy Takeuchi. Among  japanese works mixing Jazz, Rock with popular folk songs from different parts of Japan (Okinawa to Hokkaido), "Now Sound '75" is one of the finest production of the genre, including deep grooves, catchy bass line, synthesizer sounds floating, soundscapes with cinematographic atmosphere and oriental melodies, all played in a psychedelic mood. 

LOVE LIVE LIFE : Kosuke Ichihara - tenor saxophone, flute - Toshiaki Yokota - flute, saxophone - HiroYanagida - piano, organ - Masaoki Terakawa - bass - Kimio Mizutani, Takao Naoi - guitar - Chito Kawachi - drums - Naomi Kawahara - percussion

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.

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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Takeshi Inomata & Sound Limited - Innocent Cannon

Year : 1971
Label : King Records
Genre : Jazz
Serie : New Emotional Series
Style : Jazz Rock, Free Rock, Art-Rock

Concept art-rock album by Takeshi Inomata & his progressive jazz rock group, The Sound Limited featuring trumpeter Shunzo Ohno, guitarist Kimio Mizutani, flutist Toshiaki Yokota from The Beat Generation and special guest, the mystical narrator, japanese photographer Noriaki 'Tenmei' Kannoh. Titles include tribute to Janis Joplin "The Death of Janis", free forms of Rock, experimental sounds and Psychedelia. All tracks composed & arranged by Takeshi Inomata.

MUSICIANS : Tenmei Kano - narrator - Takeshi Inomata - drums - Jun Suzuki - bass - Kimio Mizutani - guitar, sitar - Shigehito Ohara - keyboards - Osamu Nakajima - percussion - Toshiaki Yokota - flutes - Jake H. Concepcion - soprano, alto & tenor saxophone, flute - Shunzo Ohno - trumpet, flugelhorn - Takehisa Suzuki - trumpet, flugelhorn - Shigemichi Domoto - trombone, vibraphone

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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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Takeshi Inomata & Sound Limited - Drum Battle : Rock Now

Year : 1972
Label : RCA
Serie : DYNAGROOVE
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Funk/Soul

Rock cover album taken from the "DYNAGROOVE" serie, performed by Takeshi Inomata & his progresssive jazz rock band, The Sound Limited featuring guitarist Kimio Mizutani, bassist Makoto 'Jun' Suzuki, organist Yusuke Hoguchi, all conducted by Norio Maeda. Takeshi Inomata is involved in a drums battle including three others japanese drummers, Masao Suzuki (not to be confused with the saxophonist), Seiji Tanaka & Chito Kawachi. Titles include as well as classics of rock 'n' roll from Deep Purple (Black Night), Chase (Get It On), The Rolling Stones (Tumbling Dice), Soul music ("Theme From Shaft" by Isaac Hayes) and Latin Rock with the "Black Magic Woman" (Peter Green). All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda.

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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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Mr Drum & The Sound Machine - Mr Drum Lowdown

Year : 1971

Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Pop

Under the pseudonym of "Mr. Drum & The Sound Machine", hides the famous japanese drummer Takeshi Inomata and his Sound Limited featuring Norio Maeda, Kimio Mizutani & Shunzo Ohno. "Mr Drum Lowdown" is a progressive jazz rock album including covers following the previous Inomata's works recorded during the early seventies. Titles includes several timeless classics of Pop & Soul Music among "Brown Sugar" (The Rolling Stones), "It's Don't Come Easy" (Ringo Starr), "Rainy Days & Mondays" (The Carpenters), "Never Can Say Goodbye" (The Jackson 5), "Want Ads" (Honey Cone). All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda.

MUSICIANS : Takeshi Inomata - drums - Norio Maeda - organ, piano - Yasuo Arakawa & Jun Suzuki - bass - Sadanori Nakamure & Kimio Mizutani - guitar - Jake H Concepcion - alto saxophone - Shunzo Ohno & Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet - Osamu Nakajima - percussion

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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".

Takeshi Inomata & Sound L.T.D. - Drum Method

Year : 1972
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Method Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock

Another amazing album of Takeshi Inomata in the Chicago band's style recorded for the "Method Series" including progressive rock, insane drum breaks ("Drum Concert I" & "II") and Funk/Soul expressions. Always supported by his supergroup "Sound Limited" featuring pianist/arranger Norio Maeda, Takeshi Inomata takes over some incredelible rock songs including terrific variations on the "Runaway Child" of Buddy Miles, "Smack Water Jack" (composed by Quincy Jones for Carole King) and "Child Of Storm"/"Fibonacci's Number" of British band "IF". Titles include also others jazz standards and covers from Michel Colombier (Pourquoi Pas ?), Herbie Hancock (Maiden Voyage) & Dave Brubeck (Blue Rondo A La Turk), two original compositions of Norio Maeda (Sleeper, Seven). All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda.

MUSICIANS : Takeshi Inomata - drums - Norio Maeda - piano, electric piano - Yusuke Hoguchi - organ - Jun Suzuki - electric bass - Kimio Mizutani - electric guitar - Toshiaki Yokota - flute - Shunzo Ohno - trumpet - Jake H. Concepcion - saxophone

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Love Live Life + One - Love Will Make A Better You

Year : 1971
Label : King Records
Serie : New Emotional Work Series
Genre : Jazz, Rock
Style : Jazz Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Blues Rock

"Love Live Life + One" was a japanese progressive rock band including Jazz, Funk & Soul elements, lead by the saxophonist Kosuke Ichihara featuring the frontman Akira Fusé, an iconic japanese actor and singer. "Love Live Life" (also known as "3L") is formed by prestigious members of various famous jazz rock groups as The Beat Generation, The Sound Limited or Count Buffalos among Toshiaki Yokota (fl), Masaoki Terakawa (eb), Takao Naoi (eg), rock avant-garde musicians Kimio Mizutani (eg), Hiro Yanagida (org), supported by Chito Kawachi (ds) & Naomi Kawahara (perc). Between 1971 and 1975, the band released four others albums between 1971 and 1975, whose the last act is "Now Sound '75" dedicated to the Min'yō, the japanese folk music genre. "Love Will Make A Better You" includes experimental art-rock suite "The Question Mark", the insane hard rock piece with the Fusé's evil screams "Love Will Make A Better You", the psychedelic groove "Running Free", "Shadow Of The Mind" and the heavy blues rock "Facts About It All". All tracks composed & arranged by Kosuke Ichihara