Yuji Ohno - The Boss & His Piano Vol. 3 ~ Selected Works 2000 - 2012

 

Volume 3 of the compilation series dedicated to the japanese jazz pianist Yuji Ohno including the classics "Zenigata March", "Magnum Dance" and others original songs recorded for the soundtrack of the annual Lupin III TV Special. It features his usual line-up during the 2000 decade including "Yuji Ohno Trio" & the "Lupintic Five" with Hisatsugu Suzuki (sax), Keiji Matsushima (trumpet), Satoshi Izumi (electric guitar), Yoshihito Eto (drums), Yosuke Inoue & Masayuki Tawarayama (bass) and guests among guitarist Kiyoshi Sugimoto and flutist Masami Nakagawa. Compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Yuji Ohno & Friends - LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] - Bossa & Fusion

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Year : 2002
Label : VAP
Genre : Jazz, Latin
Style : Bossa Nova, Jazz Funk, Fusion   

The 4th volume in the twelve LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] discs serie recorded during the 1998-2008 decade. As the title suggests, it's a mostly Bossa Nova album featuring the mellow voice of Sonia Rosa (including classic themes from Lupin The Third sung in portuguese) and Jazz Funk tracks. "Bossa & Fusion" is the fourth collaboration between Yuji Ohno and Sonia Rosa after "Spiced With Brazil" released in 1974, "Space Kid" in 1978 and "Samba Amour" in 1979. The duo is supported by a rhythm section including guest musicians as the renowned guitarist Kiyoshi Sugimoto, saxophonist Masabumi Yamaguchi, percussionist Tatsuji Yokoyama and drummer Yasushi Ichihara from You & The Explosion Band. Titles include main themes of Lupin III and four songs especially composed for the TV Special "Episode 0 : First Contact". All tracks composed & arranged by Yuji Ohno.

Yuji Ohno & Lupintic Five - LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] - What's Going On?

Year : 2007
Label : VAP
Serie : LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ]
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Jazz Funk, Fusion 

Taken from the LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] serie, the third Yuji Ohno's album featuring the Lupintic Five who celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Shin Lupin III second TV serie birth (1977-1980), ten years after the first publication of the Monkey Punch's manga (1967). As the title suggests, "What's Going On?" is a jazz album to the Funk/Soul accents with mellow grooves & soulful arrangements including cover songs from Stevie Wonder (You Are The Sunshine, Lately), Marvin Gaye (the title-track), Roberta Flack (Where The Love), jazz standards by trumpeter Neal Hefti (Girl Talk) and saxophonist Duke Pearson (Jeannine). Titles include also new original composition, the Jazz Rock "But Not Really" and variations on the "Theme From Lupin III" & "Angel Dance". All tracks arranged & produced by Yuji Ohno.

MUSICIANS : Yuji Ohno - piano & electric piano - Yoshihito Eto - drums - Masayuki Tawarayama - wood bass & electric bass - Keiji Matsushima - trumpet - Hisatsugu Suzuki - soprano & tenor sax - Satoshi Izumi - guitar

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Yuji Ohno - Mad Police '80

Year : 1993
Label : VAP
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Funk, Disco, Pop

Mad Police '80 (Daigekito Mad Police) was a police drama serie ranked in the hard boiled genre, produced by the TOEI Company, and composed of 26 episodes, originally  broadcasted on NTV from april to september 1980. Recorded in 1979, the soundtrack is among the best work of Yuji Ohno, one more time surrounded by his Jazz Funk-Disco band "You & The Explosion Band" featuring jazz guitarist Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Tsunehide Matsuki, Michio Nagaoka, Yasushi Ichihara, all supported by full string orchestra. Titles include over thirty tracks offered in several variations, the opening (Theme From "Daigekito") &the  ending theme ("How Can You Love The City" featuring Noboru Kimura). All tracks are composed & arranged by Yuji Ohno.

MUSICIANS : Yuji Ohno - keyboards - Michio Nagaoka - bass - Tsunehide Matsuki - electric guitar - Kiyoshi Sugimoto - accoustic guitar - Yuichi Tokashiki - drums - Yasushi Ichihara - drums - Susumu Kazuhara - trumpet

TRACKLIST : Yuji Ohno - Theme From "Daigekito" (TV Size) Opening - JAPAN MAFIA - MAD POLICE - Illusion of MAD CITY - Theme From "Daigekito" (Ballad Versions) - BIG BATTLE - Theme From Daigekito (Variations Theme - Opening) - How Can You Love The City (Instrumental) - How Can You Love The City (TV Size) / You & The Explosion Band Feat. Noboru Kimura - How Can You Love The City (Single Version) - Theme From "Daigekito"

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Yuji Ohno Trio - LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] - Plays The "Standards"

Year : 2003
Label : VAP
Serie : LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ]
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contempory Jazz, Cool Jazz

Sixth volume from the Lupin The Third [JAZZ] serie, the jazz cover album dedicated to the great jazz standards of the 20th century recorded by the Yuji Ohno Trio featuring drummer Kenichiro Murata & new bassist Masayuki Tawarayama who replaces Yoshio Suzuki. Titles include eight great jazz standards released from early thirty to late fifties among others, Duke Ellington's "C Jam Blues", Joseph Kosma's "Autumn Leaves", "S'Wonderful" by Victor Young or "When You Wish Upon A Star" (theme from popular animated Disney's film Pinocchio), plus two Lupin The 3rd classic songs, "Theme From Lupin The Third" & "Treasure Of Time". All tracks arranged by Yuji Ohno. 

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Yuji Ohno Trio - LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] - The 3rd Funky & Pop

Year : 2001
Label : VAP
Serie : LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ]
Genre : Jazz
Style : Big Band, Cool Jazz

Yuji Ohno featuring Yoshio "Chin" Suzuki & Kenichiro Murata in LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] Part III, the last album with the original formation before Suzuki left the trio. As suggests the title, the musical approach is a bit different than the two first previous releases, including jazz expressions with soul grooves and pop rhythms. Titles include classics songs composed for the Lupin The 3rd serie as always opening "Theme From Lupin III", "Treasures Of Time" (Cagliostro No Shiro's movie theme) and "Zenigata Rock" (Zenigata March/Don't Be Shy Zenigata), variation on the standard Ohno's song "Mayflower" (originally recorded for "Electro Keyboard Orchestra" project in 1975) and new original compositions. All tracks composed & arranged by Yuji Ohno. 

MUSICIANS :  Yuji Ohno - piano - Yoshio Suzuki - wood bass - Kenichiro Murata - drums - Tatsuji Yokohama - percussion - Makoto Hirahara, Atsushi Tsuzurano & Kazuhiko Kondo - saxophones - Shin Kazuhara, Yuji Osada & Norio Koyama - trumpet - Eijiro Nakagawa, Masanori Hirohara & Masaki Domoto - trombone

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Yuji Ohno Trio - LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] - The 2nd

Year : 2000
Label : VAP
Serie : LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ]
Genre : Jazz
Style : Cool Jazz, Latin Jazz

Second album of the Yuji Ohno Trio featuring Yuji Ohno (p), Yoshio Suzuki (b) and Kenichiro Murata (ds), released for the LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] serie, including Cool Jazz & Latin expressions. As on their previous record, the trio is supported by guests musicians whose the japanese jazz great Kiyoshi Sugimoto on guitar, Joe Yamada on tenor saxophone, Tatsuji Yokoyama on percussion, Toku on flugelhorn, vocal and others singers. Titles include variations on opening & ending themes from Lupin The 3rd featuring songstress Cynthia Dewberry (Lupin The Third) & Lileth (Take Me, Stolen Moments), theme from Cagliostro No Shiro (Treasures Of Time), "Deep Night Call" & "Treasures Of Time" feat. Toku. All tracks composed & arranged by Yuji Ohno.

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Yuji Ohno Trio - LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ]

Year : 1999

Label : VAP
Serie : LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ]

Genre : Jazz

Style : Cool  Jazz, Latin Jazz

The first Yuji Ohno Trio's album opening the new LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] serie, released under VAP label since 1999. "Lupin The Third Jazz" introduces his new line-up featuring japanese jazz giant Yoshio Suzuki (b) & Kenichiro Murata (ds), his mostly jazz trio formation of the early decade 2000. Yoshio "Chin" Suzuki is one of the best japanese jazz bassist who evolved in groups the Gil Evans Orchestra, The Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and was sideman for saxophonist Kohsuke Mine, pianists Masabumi Kikuchi & Takehiro Honda. The trio is supported by guests musicians including Yasushi Ichihara, former member of "You & The Explosion Band" (replaces Kenichiro Murata on "Love Theme"), percussionist Tatsuji Yokoyama, saxophonist Joe Yamada and other japanese jazz great, the guitarist Kiyoshi Sugimoto. The tracklist is based on classics songs from Lupin The 3rd revisited including variations on the opening & ending themes (Theme From Lupin III, Love Squall, Love Theme), on "Funny Walk In Old Fashion" (Funny Walk) and new compositions by Yuji Ohno (O Men A Mor, Members Only). All tracks arranged & composed by Yuji Ohno.

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Yuji Ohno - Y.O. Connection

Year : 2009
Label : LUPINTIC/VAP
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Latin Jazz

The second album of Yuji Ohno released for his new "LUPINTIC" label featuring the Lupintic Five group, including featurings and guest musicians among bassist Akira Okazawa, vibrationist Takashi Ooi, brazilian songstress Sonia Rosa, brothers Masami & Ejiro Nakagawa from Pretty Good, all supported by the Masatsugu Shinohara strings group. Titles include the cover "Theme From M.A.S.H." taken from the original soundtrack, jazz standards such as "How High The Moon" by Nancy Hamilton or "Five Spot After Dark" by Benny Golson, the classic of Bossa Nova "Desafinado" from Antonio Carlos Jobim and the traditional Russian Gypsy song "Dark Eyes" popularized in 1940 by Django Reinhart (in french "Les Yeux Noirs"). All tracks produced & arranged by Yuji Ohno.

MUSICIANS : Yuji Ohno - keyboards - Satoshi Izumi & Takayoshi Baba - guitar - Masayuki Tawarayama, Akira Okazawa & Daiki Yasukagawa - bass - Yoshihito Eto - drums - Hisatsugu Suzuki - saxophones - Keiji Matsushima - trumpet - Masami Nakagawa - flute - Ejiro Nakagawa - trombone - Takashi Ooi - vibes - Masato Kawase - percussion - Sonia Rosa - vocal

TRACKLIST : Yuji Ohno - Theme From M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) / Yuji Ohno Feat. Pretty Good - Undecided / Yuji Ohno Feat. Sonia Rosa - Desafinado / Yuji Ohno - I'm Not In Love / Takashi Ooi & Y. O. Jam - How High The Moon / Yuji Ohno Feat. Pretty Good - Five Spot After Dark / Yuji Ohno Feat. Keiji Matsushima - Sweet Memories / Takashi Ooi & Y. O. Jam - Dark Eyes / Yuji Ohno Feat. Sonia Rosa  - Where or When

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Yuji Ohno & Lupintic Five - LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] - The 10th~New Flight

Year : 2006
Label : VAP
Serie : LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ]
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Bossa Nova

Yuji Ohno back to the sound which made his fame, the Jazz-Funk style from the seventies. Yuji Ohno (keys) introduces his new band, "The Lupintic Five", including Masayuki Tawarayama (b), Satoshi Izumi (g), Keiji Matsushima (tp), Hisatsugu Suzuki (ts), Yoshihito Eto (ds), and featuring guest musician, Masabumi Yamaguchi (on tenor saxophone in addition) from the Motohiko Hino Quartet, Yosuke Yamashita Trio and Hiromasa Suzuki's Colgen Band. "The 10th~New Flight" is part of the best productions than Yuji Ohno recorded in the 2000s, who revisits the classics from "Original Soundtrack From Lupin III" with an irrepressible verve and great creativity, an essential japanese jazz album of the XXIth century. Titles includes amazing deep grooves from Jazz Samba (Hot Samba, Love Squall) to Jazz Funk (Manhattan Joke, Zenigata March) by Cool Jazz (Isn't It Lupintic ?). All tracks composed & arranged by Yuji Ohno.

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Yuji Ohno & Lupintic Five With Friends - Elusive Memory At The Kiritappu

Year : 2007
Label : VAP
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

One of the finest Yuji Ohno productions from the last years, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the "Lupin The 3rd Part II" serie TV birth, in a 19th annual Lupin TV Special broadcast episode. Yuji Ohno & his young new group "Lupintic Five", formed in 2006, perform crossover jazz in the same approach as the CTI recordings from the seventies, including beautiful arrangements for strings, Funk/Soul elements (Opus 4, 5 & 8), Smooth Jazz (Iseka's Theme, Elusive Memory At The Kiritappu) and Cool Jazz (Opus 3, La Valse Froide). The band is also supported by various guests musicians featuring flutist Masami Nakagawa, former member of the Masahiko Togashi Quartet & the Gil Evans Orchestra, Kiyoshi Yoshida (synthesizer), Hajime Ueshiba (whistle), Tatuya Nishiwaki (harmonica) and J-Pop songstress Miki Imai on "Love Theme" song. 

LUPINTIC FIVE : Yuji Ohno - keyboards - Satoshi Izumi - guitar - Masayuki Tawarayama - wood bass, electric bass - Keiji Matsushima - trumpet - Hisatsugu Suzuki - soprano & tenor sax - Yoshihito Eto - drums 

TRACKLIST :  Opus 1 - Iseka's Theme - Opus 2 - Theme From Lupin The Third 'Ice blue' Version - Opus 3 - Opus 4 - Opus 5 - Opus 6 - Elusive Memory At The Kiritappu - Opus 7 - La Valse Froide - Opus 8 - Opus 9 - Theme From Lupin III 'Elusive' Version  - Love Theme Feat. Miki Imai

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