Showing posts with label Sadao Watanabe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sadao Watanabe. Show all posts

Monday, October 19, 2020

Sadao Watanabe - Swing Journal Jazz Workshop 2 ~ Dedicated To Charlie Parker


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

Recorded at Yamaha Hall, Tokyo, "Swing Journal Workshop 2" follows the first volume devoted to Terumasa Hino, previously released the same year from an idea by the most famous japanese jazz magazine. Performed by the legendary saxophonist, the tracks were caught during live session from 1969, played in quartet formation including Kazuo Yashiro (p), Masanaga Harada (b), Fumio Watanabe (ds) and in quintet featuring the great trumpeter Terumasa Hino. The album is tribute to Charlie Parker which contains the bop classics regurlarly performed by the jazz genius, in a modal variation including "Song For Bird", "Parker's Mood", Sadao's solo performance "I Can't Get Started", "If I Should Lose You" and "Au privave" feat. Terumasa Hino. "Swing Journal" was the most long-standing jazz magazine from the land of the rising sun and leader in the jazz culture diffusion in Japan since 1947. Indeed, the magazine played a key role in the jazz expansion in the country, contibuting to the popularity of renowned american musicians such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker, Art Blakey or natives musicians like Sadao Watanabe, Terumasa Hino and Yosuke Yamashita. Similar to other famous jazz magazines as "Down Beat", "Swing Journal" was a reference in order to know japanese jazz essential albums, awarding best jazz albums every years in various cathegory.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Sadao Watanabe & His Group - Music Break

 

Year : 1969
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Latin Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova

Recording of the live performance at Kosei-Nenkin Kaikan in Tokyo, Jul.4, 1967, spread over two discs of the "Takt Jazz Series", the first being the "Bossa Nova Concert". "Music Break" is making part of the japanese sixties phenomenon, the big Bossa Nova Boom, which was introduced by Sadao Watanabe and also contributed to do Brazilian Music, a popular music genre in Japan. Sadao (as, fl) plays with his regular rhythm section from 1966 to 1968, featuring Jazz legends pianist Masabumi Kikuchi & drummer Masahiko Togashi, guitarist Sadanori Nakamure, bassist Masanaga Harada, percussionist Hideo Miyata (on cabasa). Titles include the Bossa Nova classics like "Mas Que Nada", "Meditation", "Samba De Orfeu" and the jazz standard "It Might As Well Be Spring" played in samba mode.

Friday, August 14, 2015

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"). 

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Sadao Watanabe - Live At The Junk


Year : 1970
Label : CBS
Genre : Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova, Jazz Rock

Amazing recording live performed in concert by the Sadao Watanabe Quartet at the Jazz Club "Junk", Ginza, Tokyo, 26 & 27th december, 1969. Sadao plays with his regular rhythm section from 1968 to 1970 featuring guitarist Yoshiaki Masuo, bassist Yoshio Suzuki & his brother, the drummer Fumio Watanabe. "Live At The Junk" is the synthesis of Sadao's career, started as a leader in 1961, including various recordings ranging from Bossa Nova to Jazz Rock by Modal. Titles include jazz standards from Charlie Parker (Cheryl) & Jimmy Van Heusen (Here's That Rainy Day), Bossa Nova compositions from Antonio Carlos Jobim (No More Blues, Granny's Samba~Ending Felicidade), two famous cover pop songs (Georgia On My Mind, This Guy's In Love With You) and the original Sadao's Jazz Rock composition, "If I Said The Sky Was Fallin" taken from the japanese TV drama "Matte Masu Wa" broadcasted on TBS from 1969.


Sunday, December 28, 2014

Sadao Watanabe - Sadao Plays Bacharach & Beatles


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

As title suggests, "Sadao Plays Bacharach & Beatles" is a compilation album of their best known songs. It brings together three studio recordings and six live recordings from the Sadao Watanabe's 1968 performance at Sankei-Hall, Tokyo, featuring Terumasa Hino, Kazuo Yashiro, Yoshiaki Masuo, Hiroshi Suzuki & Yoshio Ikeda. Titles include some famous Burt Bacharach's pop songs (Look Of Love, Walk On By) and from The Beatles, including three tracks from their "Magical Mystery Tour" album, all played in the Soul Jazz/Rock styles. All tracks of the side B are studio recordings whose a over 14 min variation of George Harrison's "Blue Jay Way" including free rock expressions.

MUSICIANS : Sadao Watanabe - alto saxophone, sopranino - Yoshiaki Masuo - guitar- Yoshio Ikeda - bass - Isao Eto - electric bass - Fumio Watanabe - drums - Yuji Imamura - percussion- Kazuo Yashiro - organ, electric piano, hapsicord -  Terumasa Hino & Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet - Hiroshi Suzuki - trombone - Yasushi Ichihara - baritone trombone


Sadao Watanabe & Brazilian 8 - Sadao Meets Brazilian Friends

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

"Sadao Meets Brazilian Friends" is the first studio recording outside Japan for the main actor of the japanese Bossa Nova 'boom' during the sixties decade. Recorded in 1968 at Sao Paulo, it features the Brazilian 8 aka "Brazilian Octopus", in which evolved a famous brazilian latin jazz pianist, Hermeto Pascoal. Titles include the standards of Bossa Nova composed by its masters João Gilberto (Bim Bom), Djamel Ferreira (E Nada Mais), João Donato (Muito A Vontade), Chico Buarque De Hollanda (Carolina) and three original compositions of Sadao Watanabe whose the two samba "Ritmo". All tracks arranged by Sadao Watanabe.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Takehiro Honda - T. Honda Meets Rhythm Section Featuring S. Watanabe


Year : 1970
Label : Trio Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Modal

Debut album of jazz pianist Takehiro Honda, recorded in Yamaha Hall in 1969, the first of eight albums serie recorded for Trio Electronics. The Takehiro Honda's rhythm section is based on the Sadao Watanabe Quartet featuring saxophonist Sadao Watanabe, guitarist Yoshiaki Masuo, bassist Yoshio Suzuki and Sadao's brother, the drummer Fumio Watanabe. This first experience with the Sadao Watanabe Quartet, will bring Honda to enroll Yoshio Suzuki & Fumio Watanabe for his new jazz trio and later join the Sadao formation from 1973 to 1978. Titles include popular Jazz standards (By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Stella By Starlight), a variation on "Hey Jude" from The Beatles and his own compositions (Minton Blues, Ain't Tell You A Good Way But, Quiet Sea). All tracks arranged by Takehiro Honda.


Saturday, February 11, 2012

Sadao Watanabe - California Shower


Year : 1978
Label : Flying Disk
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Fusion

Recorded at the famous Record Plant studios in Los Angeles, "California Shower" is the best Sadao's album from his Jazz Funk period including Smooth Jazz, African & Caribbean music. It's the second of four discs serie from 1977 to 1981, arranged by keyboardist Dave Grusin featuring american top fusion musicians among Lee Ritenour, Chuck Rainey, Harvey Mason or George Bohanon. Titles include the original reggae tune "California Shower", "Duo-Creatics" composed by Dave Grusin and the Afro-Jazz-Funk "Ngoma Party". All tracks arranged by Dave Grusin. 

MUSICIANS : Sadao Watanabe - alto saxophone, sopranino, flute - Ernie Watts - tenor saxophone - Oscar Brashear - trumpet - George Bohanon - trombone - Dave Grusin - keyboards - Lee Ritenour - guitar - Chuck Rainey - bass - Harvey Mason - drums - Paulinho Da Costa - percussion, congas 

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

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


Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Sadao Watanabe Sextet - Bossa Nova '67


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

"Bossa Nova '67" is the second bossa nova album recorded by the Sadao Watanabe Sextet featuring Sadao Watanabe (as, fl), Masabumi Kikuchi (p), Isao Suzuki (b), Masahiko Togashi (ds), Sadanori Nakamure (g) & Hideo Miyata (cabasa), supported by a strings ensemble. Sadao Watanabe is the most famous japanese jazz musician and was the main actor of the Bossa Nova boom in Japan from 1966 with the "Jazz & Bossa" album. The album consists of a collection bringing together all the big hits which made the fame of Bossa Nova from Antonio Carlos Jobim (The Girl From Ipanema, Meditation) to Luiz Bonfa (Black Orpheus) by Jorge Ben (Mas Que Nada), including also Jazz standards (Fly Me To the Moon, The Shadow Of Your Smile) and "A Man And A Woman" extracted from the musical score of the eponymus film composed by Francis Lai. 

Monday, September 27, 2010

Sadao Watanabe - Sadao Watanabe


Year : 1972
Label : CBS
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, World, Modal

"Sadao watanabe '72" is an essential japanese jazz album mixed by famous jazz engineer Kunihiko Sugano featuring saxophonist Sadao Watanabe, trombonist Hiroshi Fukumura, pianist Fumio Itabashi, guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi, bassist Mitsuaki Furuno and drummer Arihide Kurata. The iconic album which introduces the African period of Sadao Watanabe and desmonstrates, one more time, that he's always to the forefont of japanese jazz. Recorded after a trip in East Africa, in particular Kenya, Sadao leaves the Bossa Nova to explore the roots of African music including its rhythms and modes, mixing to modal and jazz rock. Each track can be seen as a theatrical representation of the East African culture. 

Monday, May 18, 2009

Sadao Watanabe - Round Trip


Year : 1970
Label : CBS
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contempory Jazz

The saxophonist Sadao Watanabe is the most famous jazz musician outside Japan, always active nowadays, he's best known as the man who introduced Bossa Nova in Japan. During his fruitful career, he recorded a numerous of masterpieces whose "Round Trip", introduced here, featuring jazz giants Chick Corea (p,el-p), Miroslav Vitous (b) and Jack DeJohnette (ds). In 1962, Sadao moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music and later played alongside Charlie Mariano (including three duet albums in the late sixties), Chico Hamilton, Gary McFarland, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin or Hank Jones. Always in the forefront, he explored worldwide musical cultures, reflecting his Brazilian, African & Indian expressions on several albums, and will become the japanese representative of Bossa Nova & World Music like Joe Zawinul. Titles include "Round Trip : Going & Coming" with free improvisations, the short track "Nostargia", the modal "Pastoral" and the Jazz Samba "Sao Paulo". All tracks composed, arranged by Sadao & produced by Kiyoshi Itoh.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Sonia Rosa - Sensitive Sound Of Sonia Rosa ~ Bossa Nova Greatest Hits

 
Year : 1970
Label : Express
Genre : Latin Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova

The first recording of brazilian songstress and guitarist Sonia Rosa in Japan, featuring renowned japanese jazz musicians within the Sadao Watanabe Quartet featuring Sadao Watanabe (ts), Yoshiaki Masuo (g), Yoshio Suzuki (b) & Hiro Tsunoda (ds). "Sensitive Sound Of Sonia Rosa" is a Bossa Nova album including the songs which made its fame from Antonio Carlos Jobim (The Girl From Ipanema, Desafinado, Meditation...), jazz standards (Fly Me To The Moon, The Shadow Of Your Smile), cover songs of Bacharach (The look Of Love, I'll Never Fall In Love Again), variation on "Corcovado" with english lyrics called "Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars" and "La Chanson D'Orphée" taken from Marcel Camus' film "Orfeu Negro".

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Hiroshi Fukumura With Sadao Watanabe - Hunt Up Wind


Year : 1978
Label : Flying Disk
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Disco, Caribbean

"Hunt Up Wind" is a jazz funk album to the Latin & Caribbean expressions recorded by one of most famous Japanese jazz trombonist, Hiroshi Fukumura featuring saxophonist Sadao Watanabe. The duo is supported by a killer rhythm section including some of the best american musicians from the Jazz Fusion scene, drummer Harvey Mason from The Herbie Hancock Group, bassist Chuck Rainey, James Brown's guitarist Cornell Dupree, pianist Don Grusin (brother of Dave) and percussionist Paulinho Da Costa from Sergio Mendes & Brasil '77. Titles include Latin Funk (Hunt Up Wind, That's Enough For Me), Caribbean rhythms (Jongo, Mr. Blue), Smooth Jazz (White Clouds, Pra Dizer Adeus) and disco beats (Pogo, Captain Caribe). All tracks arranged by Hiromasa 'Colgen' Suzuki except "Pogo" by Sadao Watanabe.

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