Ace 7 - Latin Rhapsody

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Year : 1968 

Label : RCA 

Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz 

Style : Easy Listening, Afro Cuban Jazz

"Ace 7" was formed by the japanese jazz giant pianist, Hachidai Nakamura, former member in the late fifties of the first incarnation of legendary jazz quartet led by drummer George Kawaguchi, "The Big 4", featuring Hidehiko Matsumoto & Mitsuru Ono. The Ace 7 are among legends of japanese jazz musicians including "Sleepy" Matsumoto (sax), Isao "Jazz Godfather" Suzuki (b), Shungo Sawada/Sadanori Nakamure (g), Akira "Count Buffalo" Ishikawa (ds), Akira Nakano (tp), Takashi Onodera (per) & Seiji Hiraoka (vibes). Their singularity is to produce showcase albums highlithing cinema ("Ciné Jazz", "Memories Of American Movie Themes") or jazz standards ("Modern Jazz Best"). "Latin Rhapsody" is a tribute to Latin music and its own declinations like Bolero (Quizas, Quizas, Quizas, Besame Mucho), Tango (El Choclo), Rumba (Rumba Rhapsody), including classics from Cuba, Mexico passing by Argentina & Spain. All tracks arranged by Hachidai Nakamura.

Shungo Sawada Quintet - Mood In Vossa Nova

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Year : 1968
Label : RCA
Genre : Latin Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova

The classics of Bossa Nova including some pop standards performed by Shungo Sawada, the japanese boss of guitar, You Tokuyama (p), Hironori Takiya (b) and percussionist Takeshi Onodera. Titles include the greatest songs that made the fame of bossa nova from Antonio Carlos Jobim (One Note Samba, The Girl From Ipanema...), Jorge Ben (Mas Que Nada, Constant Rain), Luiz Bonfa (Manhã De Carnaval), jazz standard "Fly Me To The Moon", "Going Out Of My Head", and two Beatles covers "A Little Help From My Friends" & "Day Tripper" played in samba mode.

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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