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.

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

Ryo Kawasaki Orchestra - Easy Listening Jazz Guitar

Year : 1970
Label : Polydor
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Contemporary Jazz, Bossa Nova

Debut album of the best known jazz guitarist outside Japan, recorded with a quartet formed by pianist Yuji Ohno, bassist Yoshio Suzuki & drummer Hiroshi Murakami, supported by arranger Norio Maeda. Ryo Kawasaki started young in the late sixties as member in the first incarnation of the Jiro Inagaki's Soul Media (1970-1971) and in the Takeshi Inomata's Sound Limited, two prominent prolific Jazz Rock formations in Japan during the early seventies. Settled in New York from 1973, he recorded several fusion albums to the eclectic styles exploring Rock 'N' Roll as well as Funk & Soul, Latin, Spanish folk (Flamenco) and even Indian music. He gained an international recognition when he joined the Gil Evans Orchestra from "Plays The Music Of Jimi Hendrix" album in 1974, originally planned with the legendary rock guitarist. Following, he become a sideman in demand for many jazz giants including Elvin Jones, Chico Hamilton or Cedar Walton. In the mid-80s, he turns to the electronic music in conceiving software musical for computers. As the title suggests "Easy Listening Jazz Guitar" consists of mainstream jazz orientation from Bossa to Pop Music including various pop cover songs of Burt Bacharach, The Beatles or The Mamas & The Papas and jazz standards by Henri Mancini, Jimmy Webb or Cole Porter. 

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Helen Merrill - Bossa Nova In Tokyo

Year : 1967
Label : Victor
Genre : Latin Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova

The third album recorded in Japan by Helen Merrill with the Sadao Watanabe Quintet featuring Masabumi Kikuchi (p), Isao Suzuki (b), Masahiko Togashi (ds),  Sadanori Nakamure (g) & Hideo Miyata (per), conducted and arranged Norio Maeda. Helen Merrill revisits the greatest hits of Bossa Nova among others, original compositions from the forerunner Antonio Carlos Jobim ("So Danço Samba", "How Insensitive", "Agua Di Beber"), just as some Japanese popular Pop songs ("Yume Wa Yoru Hiraku", "Shinjite Itai") & Jazz standards ("Fly Me To The Moon", "The Shadow Of Your Smile"). 

New Herd - Perspective

Year : 1969
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Modern Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style :  Big Band, Modal, Jazz-Rock, Avant-garde

Also presented as Masahiko Sato's work in co-leading alongside saxophonist Toshiyuki Miyama, "Perspective" is an essential album to the forefront of Japanese music, a masterpiece representative of the best japanese jazz productions recorded during the late sixties. The title-track is an original avant-garde composition including free improvisations, written and arranged by Masahiko Sato. "Lazy Lazy" is composed & arranged by pianist Norio Maeda on the modal form with Jazz Rock. Yamaki Kozaburo has composed, meanwhile, the "Furisode Girl", based on far east folklore played also in modal. Titles include also iconic Charlie Mingus' piece "Pithecanthropus Erectus", cover song of The Beatles, "Tomorrows Never Knows" played in the jazz rock style and "Africa" by John Coltrane.

MUSICIANS : Toshiyuki Miyama - leading, alto & soprano saxophone - Hiroshi Takami - alto saxophone - Kosuke Ichihara - tenor saxophone - Shunzo Sunahara - baritone saxophone - Kōji Hatori - trumpet - Seiichi Tokura - trombone - Masahiko Sato & Norio Maeda - piano - Kōzaburō Yamaki - guitar - Masao Kunisada - bass - Sadaichi Tabata - drums

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Takeshi Inomata - Drum Shot

Year : 1968
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Hard Bop, Modal

Recorded in the late 1967, the modern jazz album, "Drum Shot" of Takeshi "Mr. Drum" Inomata was produced & arranged by Norio Maeda (p), featuring jazz legend Konosuke Saijo (ts), Sadanori Nakamure (eg) from the West Liners, Tatsuro Takimoto (b) from Norio Maeda Trio and Hiroshi Suzuki (tb) in addition. In "Drum Shot", all structures of jazz drums are explored, passing by a variety of rhythms including free expressions and insane syncopated beats, in particular on the two drum sessions "Drum Shot" & "Hole Out". Titles include also the Maeda-Inomata duo "Birdie", "Singing On A Cab", "Unlucky Seven" & the soul jazz track "Go Go A Go Go" feat. Hiroshi Suzuki composed by Maeda. All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda.

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Norio Maeda Trio - Alpha Ray

Year : 1969
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contempory Jazz, Post Bop, Modal

The Norio Maeda's jazz masterpiece, among the best "Takt Jazz Series" albums ever recorded featuring bassist Tatsuro Takimoto & drummer Takeshi Inomata from The West Liners. "Alpha Ray" is played in up-tempo mode including Hard Bop, Modal (Fifth Column) & Avant-Garde Jazz (Infinite). Titles include four original compositions by Maeda, the jazz standards from Ray Henderson (Bye Bye Blackbird), Gene DePaul (Star Eyes), "Maria" taken from West Side Story played in the samba mode and the explosive opening track "Alpha Ray", which was included in the Shibuya Jazz Classics (Sleep Walker Collection - Columbia Issue), compilation gathering the influences of the japanese avant-garde Nu-Jazz band, Sleep Walker. All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda.

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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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Tadayuki Harada And His Group - Playboy's Theme

Year : 1968
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova, Pop

Debut album as a leader by saxophonist Tadayuki Harada featuring the complete formation of the West Liners lead by drummer Takeshi Inomata including Hiroshi Okazaki, Norio Maeda and Masaru Imada. Former member of several prestigious japanese jazz formations such as "Sharps & Flats" of Nobuo Hara and The West Liners (from 1957 to 1966), Tadayuki Harada was a session musician in demand, playing for the greatest among pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi, Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich, Helen Merrill, Sammy Davis Jr. or Salina Jones. In the late seventies, he was in groups "Wind Breakers" lead by pianist Norio Maeda and Takeshi Inomata & The Third. Titles include classics of Bossa Nova from Jorge Ben (Chove Chuva), Edu Lobo (For Me), pop covers from Bobby Hebb (Sunny), Burt Bacharach (The Look Of Love), and Jazz standard by Joe Zawinul (Mercy, Mercy, Mercy). All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda.

MUSICIANS : Tadayuki Harada - baritone saxophone - Shigeo Suzuki - alto saxophone - Hiroshi Okazaki - alto saxophone, flute - Ichiro Mimori & Yoichi Kanai - tenor saxophone - Tetsuo Fushimi & Kazutoshi Okubo - trumpet - Tatsuro Takimoto - bass - Sadanori Nakamure_- guitar - Norio Maeda & Masaru Imada - piano - Takeshi Inomata - drums - Yonosuke Segami - percussion

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Norio Maeda - Revolution

Year : 1972
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Master Sonic
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Experimental, Avant-Garde

The meeting between avant-garde jazz and baroque music that showcases the use of pipe organ. As the French pianist Jacques Loussier who brings together Jazz and Classical music in his famous "Play Bach" serie, Norio Maeda was also inspired by the work of Johann Sebastian Bach. As the title suggests, "Revolution" it's a experimental project based on the repertoire of the great composer, in addition to various soundcapes like urban traffic, race car noises or organic sound samples extracted from natural environment (like birds). Titles include six interpretations of famous original Bach's compositions (Fugues I, XII, XXII & Preludes I, II, XXIV), but also the latin jazz track "Bossa Bossa Nova", the soul jazz "Cool Drive" & "In A State Of Nature" and the final "Unchikipar", an experimental scat including onomatopoeia performance by Maeda & his stooges. All tracks arranged and conducted by Norio Maeda.

MUSICIANS : Norio Maeda - piano, organ, pipe organ, vocal - Teruyuki Fukushima - trumpet, flugelhorn - Makoto 'Jun' Suzuki - bass - Sadanori Nakamure - guitar - Takeshi Inomata - drums

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Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media - In The Groove

 

Year : 1973
Label : Nippon Columbia

Serie : Master Sonic

Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Funk

Since "Rough & Elegance" album released in 1972, Jiro Inagaki left the Jazz Rock to focus on Funk/Soul music featuring bassist Akira Okazawa, guitarist Tsunehide Matsuki & Norio Maeda in charge of arrangements & composition. As the "Funky Stuff" album released the next year, "In The Groove" is a careful blend of Jazz, Funk, Soul music and latin beats, all arranged in the same sound engineering approach of the Creed Taylor's CTI recordings. "In The Groove" was recorded such as an album that The Crusaders could have produce, moreover, two of their songs are included : "That's How I Feel" by Wilton Felder and "Put It Where You Want It" by Joe Sample. All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda.

MUSICIANS : Jiro Inagaki - alto & tenor saxophone - Tsunehide Matsuki - guitar - Takeshi Kamachi - electric piano - Akira Okazawa - bass - Takashi Imai - trombone - Hajime Ishimatsu - drums, percussion

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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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Nobuo Hara & His Sharps & Flats, Hozan Yamamoto - Sharps & Flats In Newport

Year : 1967
Label : CBS
Genre : Jazz
Style : Modal, World, Traditional, Big Band

Sharps & Flats lead by saxophonist Nobuo Hara meet Hozan Yamamoto, featuring Hiroshi Suzuki (tb), Koji Suzuki (as), Teruyuki Fukushima (tp), Toshihiko Ogawa (p) Hiroshi Takeuchi (b) among others. Hozan Yamamoto was the most famous shakuhachi musician (japanese bamboo flute), internationally renowned as pioneer for the traditional instruments introduction into modern music, in particular in Jazz. All tracks were extracted from recording sessions in studio under a replay form of their first live performance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1967. "Sharps & Flats In Newport" is the meeting between Jazz and the japanese folk music, including the bamboo flute on various tracks inspired by japanese traditional music and composed by Nobuo Hara (Hakone Mago Uta, Midare, Geisha Girl). Titles include also japanese jazz standard "Sakura Sakura", songs in the Buddy Rich Big Band style (Sohran-Bushi, Awa Dance) and the Bobby Timmons' classic "So Tired" played in the Bossa Nova mode. All tracks conducted by Nobuo Hara, arranged by Norio Maeda & Kiyoshi Yamaya.

Norio Maeda Trio - We Three Jazz

Year : 1978
Label : ADAM
Genre : Jazz
Style : Modal, Contempory Jazz

  
The Norio Maeda Trio is among the finest japanese jazz formation actives during the seventies, including Takeshi Inomata on drums (regular sideman for Maeda), Yasuo Arakawa on bass and featuring american shakuhachi player (bamboo flute), John 'Kaizan' Neptune as guest on "Bamboo Blues". Titles include only Jazz standards among Victor Young's "Stella By Starlight", John Lewis' "Django", Duke Ellington's "In The Sentimental Mood" and the original "竹 Blues" (Bamboo Blues) composed by Neptune Kaizan. All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda.

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Toshiyuki Miyama & His New Herd - Your Best Pops 12

Year : 1969
Label : Crown
Genre : Jazz
Style : Pop, Jazz Rock, Big Band

Toshiyuki Miyama revisists the greatest hits of western pop music in big band mode including The Beatles (Get Back), Creedence Clearwater Revival (Proud Mary), Marie Laforêt (Manchester Et Liverpool), The Zombies (Time of the Season) or The Doors (Touch Me). Toshiyuki Miyama is one of the greatest japanese jazz saxophonist/clarinetist, arranger, bandleader, who recorded over 70 albums, composed and produced various music materials for radio, cinema and television. In 1958, he formed his first "New Herd", one of the most prominent big band in the Japanese Jazz history, a talent nursery where were formed many iconic young musicians (including saxophonist Kosuke Ichihara or pianists Norio Maeda, Masahiko Sato), and which known an international recognition. Among his musical feats, The New Herd played for Charlie Mingus (Charles Mingus With Orchestra - 1971), took part to the Monterey Jazz festival in 1974 and supported Nancy Wilson on stage in Japan. All tracks conducted & arranged by Toshiyuki Miyama.

MUSICIANS : Toshiyuki Miyama - alto & soprano saxophone - Hiroshi Takami - alto saxophone - Kosuke Ichihara - tenor saxophone - Shunzo Sunahara - baritone saxophone - Koji Hatori - trumpet - Seiichi Tokura - trombone - Masahiko Sato & Norio Maeda - piano - Kozaburo Yamaki - guitar - Masao Kunisada - bass - Sadaichi Tabata - drums

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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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S.Sawada = T.Muraoka & The All-Stars - Hit And Hit In Bossa Nova

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Year : 1968
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz, Pop
Style : Bossa Nova, Easy Listening

Twelve nice tracks to the latin mood recorded by one of japanese jazz greats, the guitarist Shungo Sawada featuring saxophonist Takeru Muraoka. They are supported by the Nippon Columbia All-Stars formed by Norio Maeda (p), Hiroshi Suzuki from Freedom Unity (tr), Yo Tokuyama (vb), Yoshio Ikeda (eb) and Nishikawa Takaaki (ds). It's not only talking about Bossa Nova but rather of a subtle blend of Pop, Easy Listening & Latin tunes including japanese classic pop songs of the 1968 year, revisited by Shungo Sawada and arranged by Norio Maeda. Titles include "Angel Love" (Jun Mayuzumi) and covers from various GS bands (for Group Sounds, a japanese rock genre) from The Tigers (Flower Necklace) to The Tempters (The Legend Of Emerald) by the Folk Crusaders (Kanashikute Yarikirenai).

Shungo Sawada And All Stars - Fool On The Hill

Year : 1969

Label : Victor

Genre : Jazz

Style : Contemporary Jazz

Influenced by the Wes Montgomery style, Shungo Sawada was one of the main actors of the japanese Bossa Nova Boom and who contributed also to the modern jazz guitar expansion in Japan. "Fool On The Hill" is an essential japanese jazz album and a masterpiece of jazz guitar including Modal, Soul Jazz (Chattanooga Choo Choo) and some Free improvistions (Fool On The Hill). Formed in quintet featuring Norio Maeda (p, org), Masahiko Sato (p), Yasuo Arakawa (b) & Takeshi Inomata (ds), the All Stars are supported by a big band as on the great Wes Montgomery's albums released in the sixties. Titles include the great jazz standards, "The Look Of Love", "Satin Doll", "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise", "You And The Night And The Music". All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda & Masahiko Sato.

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N.Maeda = J.Inagaki And The All-Stars - This Is Jazz Rock

Year : 1968

Label : Nippon Columbia

Genre : Jazz

Style : Soul Jazz

Norio Maeda (org) in joint project with Jiro Inagaki (ts) and the Columbia All-Stars featuring Kiyoshi Sugimoto (eg), Tatsuro Takimoto (eb), Tetsuo Fushimi (tp), Takeshi Inomata (ds) and Osamu Nakajima (per). Despite the fact that album is titled "Jazz-Rock", is rather a Soul Jazz album, in which Norio Maeda revisits various classics from Jazz to Pop by R&B, including cover songs of The Beatles (Day Tripper, Here, There & Everywhere), The Barkays (Soul Finger), The Temptations (My Girl), John Lee Hooker (Boom Boom) or Herbie Hancock (Watermelon Man). Titles include also two original compositions by Maeda (Snap Shot, Go Go A Go Go), Inagaki (Barock) and the killer track "Pata Pata" by Miriam Makeba. Norio Maeda was a pianist in charge of various experimental jazz projects (Super-Tri-Piano, Revolution), composer of background music for TV shows, films and animated series (Crusher Joe). He was also a sought-after arranger collaborating in particular with Helen Merrill, Takeshi Inomata, Akira Miyazawa, Martha Miyake, the Tokyo-Cuban Boys, Toshiyuki Miyama & His New Herd or Akira Ishikawa's Count Buffalos. He evolved within several jazz formations in groups The West Liners, The Third or with his Wind-Breakers.

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Takeshi Inomata And His Friends - Get Happy

Year : 1975

Label : Audio Lab. Record

Genre : Jazz, Ltin Jazz

Style : Hard Bop, Post Bop

Amazing record, among the best in the Takeshi Inomata's discography including swing, hard bop &  latin jazz with dynamic beats and insane drum breaks. Arranged by Norio Maeda,  mixed by Mr. "Jazz" sound engineer Okihiko Sugano, "Get Happy" brings together some of the best japanese jazz musicians featuring legends Tadayuki Harada & Kohnosuke Saijoh. Titles include Jazz standards "Here's That Rainy Day" by Jimmy Van Heusen, "Witch Doctor" by Lee Morgan, "I've Got You Under My Skin" by Cole Porter, and killer up-tempo variations on the Duke Ellington's "Caravan" and Stevie Wonder's "Uptight (Everything's Alright)". 

MUSICIANS : Takeshi Inomata - drums - Norio Maeda - piano - Yasuo Arakawa - bass - Fujio Saitoh & Pepe Anai - percussion - Jake H. Concepcion - alto saxophone - Kohnosuke Saijoh - tenor saxophone - Tadayuki Harada - baritone saxophone - Tadataka Nakazawa - trombone

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