Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media - Head Rock

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

"Head Rock" is an essential japanese jazz album, an iconic masterpiece recorded by the saxophonist Jiro Inagaki, introducing his legendary first jazz quintet, the "Soul Media" featuring guitarist Ryo Kawasaki (his first professional appearance), Masaru Imada (org), Yasuo Arakawa (eb), Tetsuo Fushimi (tp) and Sadakazu Tabata (ds). Recorded in 1969 for the famous Takt Jazz Series (the japanese 'Blue Note'), "Head Rock" includes all elements of psychedelic music (guitar fuzz effects, reverb, rock drum breaks and acid organ), cover songs from Hal Galper (The Vamp), Willie Dixon (amazing version of blues standard "Spoonful"), originals composed by Ryo Kawasaki (Twenty One), Masaru Imada (High Jack), Yasuo Arakawa (The Ground For Peace) and Jiro (Head Rock). Jiro Inagaki started in 1963, recruited by american jazz songstress Helen Merrill alongside the Takeshi Inomata's West Liners formation for the album "Helen Merrill In Tokyo". From the late sixties to the early seventies, he was one of the main actor of the Japanese Jazz Rock scene, before turn to Jazz Funk music.  

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Terumasa Hino Quartet - Alone, Alone And Alone

Year : 1970/1967
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Hard Bop,  Modal, Cool Jazz

"Alone, Alone And Alone" is the debut album of Terumasa Hino, considered as the japanese counterpart of Freddie Hubbard, the most famous Jazz trumpeter outside Japan, and one of Japan's finest jazzman influenced by Miles Davis and Fumio 'Satchmo' Nanri. Hino gained experience in the US military camp dance band, then within the Hideo Shiraki Quintet, and contributed to the Hard Bop expansion in Japan in the sixties. As sideman, he played with Sadao Watanabe and others Jazz giants such as Joe Henderson, Elvin Jones, Gil Evans or Jackie McLean. "Alone, Alone And Alone" introduces his first quartet featuring bassist Kunimitsu Inaba, pianist Yuji Ohno and his young brother, drummer Motohiko. After an interlude in 1968 with Masabumi Kikuchi (Hino=Kikuchi Quintet), the group change into quintet including pianist Hiromasa Suzuki (who replaces Yuji Ohno) and saxophonist Takeru Muraoka in addition, opening a fruitful collaboration with "Hi-Nology" in 1969 & "Into The Heaven" in 1970. All tracks are  composed & arranged by Terumasa Hino except "Summertime" by George Gershwin.

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Shin-Ski Of Martiangang - Re-Shinstruction

Year : 2008
Label : Soul Believer
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop

"Re-Shinstruction" is a hip-hop remixes compilation by the japanese beatmaker & DJ, Shin-Ski, in groups ShinSight Trio, Levitatorz and Martiangang, including various songs written by André Todman (Insight, Soloplexus, ShinSight Trio). Titles include also others remixes based on songs from rappers CL Smooth, Funky DL and hip-hop bands Time Machine, ArtOfficial or Zimbabwe Legit, plus four original compositions by Shin-Ski Of Martiangang ("Shintro", "Do It 4 The Children", "Trying", & "R U 4 Real??"). All cuts & beats by Shin-Ski, additionals scratches by Mista Donut from Levitatorz.

TRACKLIST : Shin-Ski - Shintro - CL Smooth - I Can’t Help It - Time Machine - The Wiggle - Soloplexus - Red Handed - Shin-Ski - Do It 4 The Children - Fine Artz - Ultrasonic - ShinSight Trio - Heart - ArtOffical - Big City Bright Lights - Funky DL - Not The 1 4 Me - Shin-Ski - Trying - Insight - Bother Me - Soloplexus - When Things Go Right Something Goes Wrong - Zimbabwe Legit Feat. Mike G - Where I'm At - Verses - Ms. O’Ginny - ShinSight Trio - Heart - Shin-Ski - R U 4 Real?? - Moon Baker - ABC Of Romance

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Sonia Rosa - A Bossa Rosa De Sônia

 

Year : 1967

Label : Continental

Genre : Latin Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova

Debut album of Sonia Rosa recorded in Brazil when she was just eighteen with guitarist Chiquinho De Moraes who was arranger for Brazilian singers Gilberto Gil and Gal Costa. Sonia sings and plays guitar featuring great orchestra with groovy horns & mellow strings conducted by Chiquinho De Moraes. Titles include six original songs composed by Sonia, Chico Buarque's "Quem Te Viu, Quem Te Vé" and the Bossa Nova standard "Cheiro De Saudade" by Djalma Ferreira. Produced by Alfredo Borba and arranged by Chiquinho De Moraes.

Eric Burdon And War - The Black-Man's Burdon

Year : 1970

Label : MGM

Genre : Jazz, Rock, Soul

Style : Blues Rock, Funk/Soul

The Black-Man's Burdon is the last album by Eric Burdon with WAR featuring guest organist Shirley Scott. After this last album, Eric Burdon continued his solo career leaving WAR evolved alone. Since their first album, WAR transcends musical borders performing as well as jazz to rock including blues, Gospel, Funk with Latin Rhythms, and The Black-Man's Burdon don't derogate it. This double album includes new original compositions by WAR plus cover songs from The Rolling Stones ("Paint It Black", their second medley after "Tobacco Road") and The Moody Blues ("Night In White Satin"). Titles include also two songs featuring Shirley Scott & The Beautiful New Born Children Of Southern California : "Beautiful New Born Child" & "They Can’t Take Away Our Music".

MUSICIANS : Eric Burdon - lead vocal, cowbell - B. B. Dickerson - bass, vocals - Dee Allen - congas, percussion - Harold Brown - drums - Charles Miller - flute, tenor saxophone - Howard Scott - guitar, vocals - Lee Oskar - harmonica - Lonnie Jordan - organ & piano - Shirley Scott - organ (guest)

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Akira Ishikawa And His Group - Drum Screen Drum

Year : 1971
Label : Crown
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Rock, Pop

Between november 1970 and august 1971, Akira Ishikawa has recorded five albums for the "DRUM DRUM DRUM" series released by the CROWN label (not to be confused with the same serie released by Toshiba). Each volume contains a theme such as Christmas songs, classical music, Elvis Presley's standards or traditional folk music (Yagi Bushi). This volume is devoted to the iconic movie themes including "Sounds Of Silence"(Simon & Garfunkel), "Un Homme Et Une Femme" (Francis Lai), "Mélodie En Sous-Sol" (Michel Magne), all broadcasted on japanese screens.

TRACKLIST : Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head from Butch Cassidy And the Sundance Kid (1969) - Melodie En Sous-Sol (1963) - Un Homme Et Une Femme (1966) - Le Voyou (1970) - The Circle Game from The Strawberry Statement (1970) - Stand By Your Man from Five Easy Pieces (1970) - Theme From Love Story (1970) - Jenny Take A Ride (1966) - Theme De La Leçon Particulière (1968) - Che Vuole Questa Musica Stasera from Plagio (1969) - Melody Fair from Melody (1971) - Sounds Of Silence from The Graduate (1967) - 13 Jours En France (1969) - Plein Soleil (1960)

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Shin-Ski - Planetarium

Year : 2009
Label : Octave
Genre : Electronic, Hip-Hop
Style : Downtempo, Future Jazz

Second album from the prolific japanese beatmaker, DJ & producer Shin-Ski, member of ShinSight Trio featuring Insight and DJ RYOW, in groups Martiangang with DJ Real, Designed People with Koji Taninaka and the production team "Levitatorz" alongside DJ RYOW and Mista Donut. "Planetarium" is an instrumental album to the interstellar theme including Future Jazz, Bossa Breakbeat, Downtempo with Cool and Mellow atmosphere. Titles includes tracks bearing a star name among "Fomalhaut", "Southern Cross", "Procyon", "Aldebaran", "Rigel", "Mirfak", "Spica" featuring DJ Fula, "Sirius" feat. Mattan on guitar. All beats & cuts by Shin-Ski.

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Substantial - To This Union A Sun Was Born

Year : 2001
Label : Hyde Out Recordings
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Funk/Soul, Conscious

Stan Robinson known as Substantial, is a rapper from Brooklyn, member of "Extented Famm" and more recently "Bop Alloy" collectives. His debut album was produced, mixed and released by Nujabes for his own label, "Hyde Out Recordings" including instruments use and various samples as well as from Jazz to Soul by Funk and Latin beats. Titles include collaborations with Monorisick & DJ Kiyo (cuts & scratches) and Hana (chorus on "Love Song"), "Home Sweet Home" released on "Hyde Out Productions First Collection" works compilation by Nujabes, singles "Kalitwutchawon2", "Remembering Dave" and the heavy funk "Be People". All songs written by Substantial, produced by Nujabes & Monorisick, recorded, mixed by Nujabes.

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DJ Mitsu The Beats - Blue Impressions (Blue Note Mix)

 

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Year : 2004
Label : Blue Note/Fabulous Records
Genre : Mixtape, Jazz, Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk

As the "Shades Of Blue" album of Madlib released previously, "Blue Impressions" pays tribute to the Blue Note recordings in an amazing mixtape that attempts to retrace the history of this legendary label. Most of the tracks have been selected for the "Rare Groove Series" of reissues created in 1995 which brings together Soul Jazz and Jazz Funk recordings of Blue Note from the late sixties to the early seventies. Titles include remixes by The Roots (Montara), Madlib (Distant Land), DJ Spinna (New York Times), "Clap!" by Soulive trio feat. Black Thought from The Roots and original songs by Bobby Hutcherson, Donald Byrd, Lou Donaldson, John Patton, Gene Harris. Compiled, mixed & edited by DJ Mitsu The Beats.

TRACKLIST : Bobby Hutcherson - Montara - The Roots - Montara (Remix) - Madlib - Distant Land - Donald Byrd - Distant Land - Bobbi Humphrey - Uno Esta - Ronnie Foster - Tuesday Heartbreak - Bobbi Humphrey - New York Times - DJ Spinna - New York Times (Remix) - Soulive Feat. Black Thought - Clap! - Gene Harris - Koko And Lee Roe - Chico Hamilton - Abdullah And Abraham - Donald Byrd - Think Twice - Ronnie Laws - Tidal Wave - Lou Donaldson - Ode To Billie Joe - Bobby Hutcherson - Rain Every Thursday - Brother Jack McDuff - Who Knows What - Alphonze Mouzon - Crying Angels - John Patton - Alfie's Theme - Booker Ervin - Sweet Pea - Bobby Hutcherson - Cirrus

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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Lyn Collins - Think (About It)

Year : 1972
Label : People Records/Polydor
Genre : Soul
Style : Funk/Soul

Debut album by the "Female Preacher" who joined the James Brown revue in the early seventies. Produced by Mr. Brown, she's supported by the fabulous JB's, backing band of James Brown. Titles include four originals especially written for her by James Brown whose her massive hit "Think (About It)" (many times sampled), Soul & Pop covers from Bill Withers (Ain't No Sunshine), Burt Bacharach/Hal David (Reach Out For Me) and the jazz standard "Fly Me To The Moon". All tracks produced & arranged by Dave Matthews & James Brown.

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