George Otsuka Quintet - Sea Breeze

Year : 1971
Label : Union/Teichiku Records
Serie : Young Generation Music
Genre : Jazz
Style : Hard Bop, Modal, Jazz Funk

Masterpiece of Hard Bop/Modal Jazz by George Otsuka Quintet featuring Hideo Ichikawa, Takashi Mizuhashi, Takao Uematsu. The young Shunzo Ohno completes the formation and demonstrates, at just 22 years, that he's one of best japanese jazz trumpeter from his generation. George plays with his regular pianist, since 1965, in charge of all compositions (except The Beatles' song), to the point of wondering whether "Sea Breeze" would not rather a Ichikawa's project. "Sea Breeze" includes various jazz styles, with cool & mellow atmosphere, centered around the Fender rhodes, associated to funk/soul rhythms (Potato Chips), Hard Bop (Jumping Cats), Modal (Fool On The Hill), gospel & spiritual  jazz (Cannibal). 

MUSICIANS : George Otsuka - drums - Hideo Ichikawa - electric piano -  Takashi Mizuhashi - bass - Takao Uematsu - tenor, soprano saxophone - Shunzo Ohno - trumpet, flugelhorn

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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.

Shunzo Ohno - Something's Coming

Year : 1975
Label : EW
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Fusion

Miles Davis' most inspired album by trumpeter Shunzo Ohno, his first recording outside Japan featuring Masabumi Kikuchi & the giant jazz drummer Roy Haynes. Indeed, "Something's Coming" is one of the finest tribute to the Miles Davis's fusion era (as evidenced the title-track), occured between 1968-1974 (also called Electric Miles period) including iconic albums "Miles In The Sky" & "Get Up With It". So it is not surprising to see Ohno evolved alongside both Cedric Lawson & Reggie Lucas, both were sidemen for Miles during this emblematic period. Titles include only compositions by Shunzo Ohno, recorded at Basement recording studio, New York.

MUSICIANS : Shunzo Ohno - trumpet -  Masabumi Kikuchi - organ - Cedric Lawson - keyboards - Don Pate - bass - Reggie Lucas - guitar - Roy Haynes - drums

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Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media, Tokyo Cuban Boys - Quad Dimension/Rock'N Latin

Year : 1971
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Master Sonic Series
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Latin Rock

An umpteenth recording jazz rock session performed by Jiro inagaki & His Soul Media featuring Ryo Kawasaki, Takeshi Inomata, backed themselves by the most famous japanese Latin Big Band, the Tokyo Cuban Boys conducted by Tadaaki Misago. Arranged by famous jazz producer Takeo Ogawa, although less interesting than the "Head Rock" album, "Rock'N Latin" leaves however its mark by its originality, and remains a well-made jazz fusion album mixing rock 'n' roll with latin beats including acid organ and guitar distortion. Titles include killer variation of Latin jazz standard "Watermelon Man" by Herbie Hancock and various international pop/rock hits from The Beatles (Hey Jude) to Blood, Sweet And Tears (Spinning Wheel) by Fleetwood Mac (Black Magic Woman) & The Creedence (Proud Mary).

MUSICIANS : Tadaaki Misago - conductor - Jiro Inagaki - tenor saxophone - Ryo Kawasaki - guitar - Yasuo Arakawa - bass - Masaru Imada - organ - Takeshi Inomata - drums - Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet - Tadayuki Harada - baritone saxophone - Shigeo Suzuki - alto saxophone - Takehisa Suzuki & Shunzo Ohno - trumpet - Takashi Imai & Shigemichi Domoto - trombone

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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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M. Sato + J. Inagaki & His Big Soul Media - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Year : 1971
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Master Sonic Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Free Rock

Masahiko Sato started as professional musician in the sixties joining the Masaaki Fujita Quintet  and  the Toshiyuki Miyama's New Herd Big Band, before to enter in the Berklee College of Music in order to become arranger. From 1968 to 1971, he formed his most famous jazz combo, the Masahiko Sato Trio with the bassist Yasuo Arakawa & drummer Masahiko Togashi (the trio won the Japan Jazz Award in 1970, in the best debut album category for "Palladium"). Prolific pianist, Masahiko Sato has left his indelible mark on the japanese jazz history, with various experimental iconic projects ("Amalgamation", "Tri-Piano" with Norio Maeda), Free Jazz albums such as "Holography" or "Astorama" (with french violinist Jean-Luc Ponty) and soundtracks as "Belladonna" for Tezuka Productions. "Astorama", recorded in 1970, opens the way to his future international collaborations, as composer & arranger, in considerable recordings from Nancy Wilson, Wayne Shorter, Roy Haynes, Gary Peacock, Art Farmer, Hank Jones passing by his fellow countryman Yohsuke Yamashita. Satoh enrolled the Jazz Rock band "Soul Media", in joint project with Jiro Inagaki featuring Ryo Kawasaki, Yasuo Arakawa plus Tadayuki Harada, Shunzo Ohno & Takeshi Inomata from the Sound limited. Titles include the killer groove "Sniper's Snooze", the psychedelic soul tune "Love & Peace", the pop ballad "Bridge Over Troubled Water" from Simon & Garfunkel & the bluesy "Somethin Goin On" from Al Kooper. All tracks arranged by Masahiko Sato.

MUSICIANS : Masahiko Sato - piano & electric piano - Jiro Inagaki - tenor saxophone - Tadayuki Harada - baritone saxophone - Shunzo Ohno - trumpet - Tadataka Nakazawa - trombone - Ryo Kawasaki - guitar - Yasuo Arakawa - bass - Takeshi Inomata & Hajime Ishimatsu - drums - Seiji Tanaka - percussion

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George Otsuka Quintet - Go On

Year : 1972
Label : TBM
Genre : Jazz
Style : Hard Bop, Modal 

The first steps on the Three Blind Mice label by the great japanese drummer George Otsuka featuring Mabumi Yamaguchi, Takashi Mizuhashi, Toshiyuki Daitoku & the soulful expressions of Shunzo Ohno. After evolved in the Toshiko Akiyoshi's Cozy Quartet and the Hidehiko Matsumoto Quartet from 1961 to 1964, George Otsuka formed with Hideo Ichikawa & Masaoki Terakawa, his first legendary trio, actives from 1965 until 1969, with whom he recorded the famous trilogy "Page 1", "Page 2" & "Last Summer - Page 3", all released on the Columbia Takt Jazz Series. In 1968, he recorded "Groovin' With My Soul Brother" alongside Roy Haynes & Ichikawa, later evolved in the Mabumi Yamaguchi Quintet and was recruited by Isao Suzuki for his "Blow Up" in 1973, also on the TBM catalogue. During the seventies, George sharing stage with Elvin Jones or Nana Vasconcelos, and was sideman for various frontmen such as Hampton Hawes, Jack Dejohnette, Phil Wood or Miroslav Vitous. Titles include the jazz standard "Here's That Rainy Day" by Jimmy Van Heusen, the cover song "Isotope" from original composition of Joe Henderson, the title-track by Shunzo Ohno and two original compositions by Mabumi Yamaguchi.

MUSICIANS : Shunzo Ohno - trumpet & flugelhorn - Mabumi Yamaguchi - soprano & tenor saxophone - Toshiyuki Daitoku - piano - Takashi Mizuhashi - bass - George Otsuka - drums

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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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Jiro Inagaki + Soul Big Media - Jazz & Rock "Out"

Year : 1970
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Big Band

[Jazz & Rock "Out"] is a recording live at Hibiya Amphitheater performed by an expanded group of the Soul Media band led by saxophonist Jiro Inagaki. From the original quintet to form the Soul Big Media, a brass ensemble is added featuring Tadayuki Harada, Shigeo Suzuki, Shunzo Ohno, Takashi Imai among others. Titles include "The Ground For Peace", taken from the Head Rock album, an variation of the "Head Rock" song called "Yie-Pie", the jazz standard "Freedom Jazz Dance" of Eddie Harris, the traditionnal Negro Spiritual "Oh ! Happy Day", the massive hit from  Blood, Sweat And Tears, "Spinning Wheel", and the classic Soul cover from Talma Motown, "You've Made Me So Very Happy".

MUSICIANS : Jiro Inagaki - tenor saxophone - Ryo Kawasaki - guitar - Yasuo Arakawa - bass - Masaru Imada - organ - Sadakazu Tabata - drums - Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet - Tadayuki Harada - baritone saxophone - Shigeo Suzuki - alto saxophone - Takehisa Suzuki & Shunzo Ohno - trumpet - Takashi Imai & Shigemichi Domoto - trombone

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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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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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The Soul Medium - Woodstock Generation

Year : 1970
Label : Union
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Funk/Soul

Behind "The Soul Medium" name hides saxophonist Jiro Inagaki, an iconic figure of the japanese Jazz Rock scene during the late sixties to the early seventies. Jiro is supported by his legendary quintet "Soul Media" under its first incarnation featuring Ryo Kawasaki (g) Yasuo Arakawa (b), Masaru Imada (org), Sadakazu Tabata (ds), with Tetsuo Fushimi & Shunzo Ohno on trumpet in addition. "Woodstock Generation" is a tribute album to the Woodstock Festival including songs performed on the stage by Sly & Family Stone (I Want To Take You Higher), The Who (Summertime Blues) or Ten Years After (Spoonful). Titles include also variations on the "Head Rock" theme, "The Ground For Peace" taken from his first album and original composition of Masahiko Sato "Knick Knack". All tracks arranged by Jiro Inagaki.

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Takeshi Inomata & Sound L.T.D. - Sounds Of Sound L.T.D.

Year : 1970
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Groovy Sound Series/Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock

"Sounds Of Sound L.T.D." is an iconic album out from the Japanese Jazz Rock scene including psychedelic grooves (Mustache), heavy funk breaks (Joint), melodic jazz (Monster) & progressive rock (Tak's Tune). Takeshi Inomata introduced here "The Sound Limited", his regular group during the seventies, featuring the legendary guitarist Ryo Kawasaki, flutist Toshiaki Yokota and trumpeter Shunzo Ohno, barely in his 19 year. In the early sixties, Takeshi Inomata was enrolled in the Hidehiko Matsumoto Quintet and was a regular sideman of jazz pianist Norio Maeda, also within groups Norio Maeda Trio, The Wind-Breakers & The Third. During the sixties, he participated on most japanese recordings of jazz songstress Helen Merrill (such as "In Tokyo", "Plaisir D'amour" or "Sings The Beatles"), formed his best known jazz formation "The West Liners" and evolved within the Mal Waldron Trio. 

MUSICIANS : Takeshi Inomata - drums - Jun Suzuki - bass - Ryo Kawasaki & Shigenori Kamiya - guitar - Yusuke Hoguchi - organ - Toshiaki Yokota - flute - Takao Uematsu - saxophone - Shunzo Ohno & Takashi Kumagai - trumpet - Shigemichi Domoto & Takashi Imai - trombone

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