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).

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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Minoru Muraoka - Bamboo

Year : 2014/1970
Label : Superfly Records/King Records
Serie : New Emotional Work Series
Genre : Jazz, Folk
Style : Folk, Jazz Rock, Min'yō

Minoru Muraoka was probably the best known shakuhachi player (traditional bamboo flute), with Hozan Yamamoto & Toshiaki Yokota (Sound Limited, The Beat Generation). He was among the first to mix Japanese folk with popular music, playing in particular with Herbie Mann ("Surprises" & "Gagaku And Beyond" in 1976). "Bamboo" is a crossbreeding between jazz, pop and Japanese folk music, recorded with a large ensemble of traditional instruments among shakuhachi, koto, biwa, shamisen and taiko, all performed by the New Dimension Group, featuring percussionists  Hiromitsu & Kisaku Katada (Original Soundtrack From Lupin The 3rd), Masako Hirayama on biwa, Kimiko Yamanouchi on koto. The album is divided in two parts with  first side that showcases the traditional Japanese instruments (in particular the percussions), while the other side opens on Pop/Rock orientation including an other rhythm section, The New Emotions, featuring Akira Ishikawa (ds), Yusuke Higuchi (org), Sadanori Nakamure (eg) & Jun Suzuki (eb). Titles include jazz standard "Take Five" (Paul Desmond), three original compositions with the folk song "Nogamigawa Funauta", his masterpiece "The Positive And Negative" (most sampled Minoru Muraoka's song), the iconic "Soul Bamboo", and various pop cover songs from The Beatles to The Animals by Simon & Gartfunkel.

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".

Toshiyuki Honda - Burnin' Waves

Year : 1978
Label : King Records
Serie : Electric Bird
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

Toshiyuki Honda is a jazz saxophonist, best known as composer & arranger of various japanese animated movies soundtracks such as "Metropolis" directed by Rin Taro in 2001 or "Nasu : Summer in Andalusia" in 2003. He started as a leader, in the middle of the seventies, recording under the "Toshiyuki Honda & The Burning Waves" name, a five albums serie released on japanese fusion jazz label "Electric Bird" whose "Burnin' Waves" was the first. The Burning Waves band is based on the core of the american fusion group, "Seawind", featuring Pauline Wilson, Larry Williams, Jerry Hey & Bud Nuanez. Titles include various styles from Jazz Funk (Burnin' Waves & Thunder Kiss) to Samba fusion (You Blow My Heart Away, São Paulo, 747 Wind Flight), passing by Afro-Cuban Jazz ("Havana Candy" feat. Pauline Wilson). All tracks arranged & conducted by Chikara Ueda.

MUSICIANS : Toshiyuki Honda - alto & soprano saxophone, flute - Eiji Arai - trombone - Tadaomi 'Pepe' Anai - percussion - Bob Wilson - drums, percussion - Larry Williams - keyboards, percussion - Jerry Hey - trumpet, fluegelhorn, percussion - Gary Herbig - alto, tenor saxophone, alto flute - Ken Wild - bass - Bud Nuanez - guitar

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Mikio "Mickey" Masuda - Corazón

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Year : 1978
Label : King Records
Serie : Electric Bird
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Smooth Jazz, Jazz Funk

"Corazon" is a Jazz Funk album including Latin music by keyboardist Mikio Masuda featuring top amercican jazz musicians among the bassist Anthony Jackson, drummer Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie, percussionist Sammy Figueroa & arranger David Matthews. Released on the japanese fusion jazz label Electric Bird, it was the first Masuda's album recorded outside Japan at the famous Electric Lady studios in New York. Titles include the latin funk "Corazón", Sadao Watanabe's tune "Samba Em Praia", the caribbean vibe "Ride On The Donkey", "Another Rainy Day In New York City"/"Love Talkin" played in the pure Bob James style, and a variation of the Masuda's classic "Let's Get Together" on a disco beat. All tracks arranged & conducted by David Matthews.

Shunzo Ohno - Antares

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Year : 1980
Label : King Records

Serie : Electric Bird
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Afro-Cuban Jazz

Second album by japanese trumpeter Shunzo Ohno released for the japanese fusion jazz label "Electric Bird", recorded at the famous Electric Lady studio, New York, featuring iconic Miles Davis' bassist, Marcus Miller. Antares is a typical jazz-funk album to the Afro-Cuban accents with amazing heavy funk grooves including explosive slapping bass (Low East Side, Rum Raisin) and dynamic Latin bongo-drums breaks (Bright Side, Antares). All tracks composed by Shunzo Ohno except "Rainbow Lovers" composed by Kazuko Ohno.

Shunzo Ohno - Quater Moon

Year : 1979
Label : King Records
Serie : Electric Bird
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Fusion, Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

"Quater Moon" was recorded at the famous Electric Lady studios in New York featuring american musicians including Marcus Miller, Carter Jefferson and Kenny Kirkland. Shunzo Ohno is a japanese trumpeter who played, recorded and toured with various renowned jazz figures such as Gil Evans, Herbie Hancock or Wayne Shorter. In the late sixties, Shunzo was enrolled by drummer Takeshi Inomata in his Jazz Rock band, The Sound Limited, he has only 19 years old. In the early seventies, Shunzo evolved in various groups like the Soul Media of saxophonist Jiro Inagaki, was sideman for drummer George Otsuka, and formed in 1972, his first jazz quartet featuring pianist Mikio Masuda. Settled in New York since 1974, after a tour throughout the US with Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, he regularly played alongside others american musicians among drummer Roy Haynes, bassist Reggie Lucas, and within the Machito & His Afro Cuban Orchestra on stage. Shunzo recorded his first US leader album "Something's Coming" in 1975, and gains visibility from the Jazz Funk album "Bubbles" in 1976. Titles include only compositions arranged by Shunzo Ohno.

MUSICIANS : Shunzo Ohno - trumpet, flugelhorn & mini moog - Carter Jefferson - trumpet & saxophone - Kenny Kirkland & Onaje Allan Gumbs - keyboards - Marcus Miller - electric bass - Jeff Laton - guitar - Sue Evans - congas, percussion -  Victor Louis - drums

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Kimiko Kasai - Just Friends (Kimiko Kasai Concert)

Year : 1970
Label : King Records
Serie : New Emotional Work Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contempory Jazz, Vocal

Recording live from performance at the Yamaha Hall, Tokyo, considered as the debut album of best known japanese jazz songstress Kimiko Kasai featuring the Yuji Ohno Trio including pinaist Yuji Ohno, bassist Takeshi Mizuhashi and drummer Tetsujiro Ohara. Nicknamed the "Marlena Shaw of Japan", Kimiko Kasai was spotted by pianist Yuzuru Sera in 1964, and introduced her on the japanese jazz scene, joining up his group "The Modern Playing Mate" and recording the "Yuzuru Sera Trio Introducing Kimiko Kasai" album in 1968. In her fruitful career, she sung supported by prestigious musicians of the international jazz field, such as Mal Waldron (One For Lady - 1971), Gil Evans (Satin Doll, 1972), Stan Getz, Oliver Nelson (In Person, 1974), Kohsuke Mine (Yellow Carcass In Blue, 1975), Cedar Walton (Kimiko Is Here, 1977) or Herbie Hancock (Butterfly, 1979). Titles include the great standards of vocal Jazz (By The Time I Get To Phoenix, There Will Never Be Another You) and cover songs (Sunny).

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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