(Originally released in 1987, Comes with obi, Pressed on Black Viny) A masterpiece of Japanese ambient/new age music

TRACKLIST

A1. Himawari
A2. Retro no Shizuku
A3. Yasha
A4. Boufuu
A5. Reien no Madobe
B1. Kinshitsu no Shirabe
B2. Itoshi no Rei
B3. Keisetsu
B4. Ranja no Sono
B5. Koshuu

INFO

Soundtrack of the documentary program for Japanese art history, “Japan: Its Heart and Form” which was aired on NHK educational channel from 1987 to 1988. Akira Mitake worked on it, and after the dissolution of Ippudo, he produced music for the media and provided music to many artists, mainly pop music. It’s an electronic work that expresses the silence, space, romance reminiscent of Japanese spirit. The entire contents has a mysterious atmosphere, “Yasha” and “Keisetsu” are particularly captivating, evoking the beauty of Japan. Truly amazing piece left by the talent behind Masami Tsuchiya, who can be interpreted as ambient music. More

LP with obi. Akiro Ashikawa's 1975 Japanese jazz, rare groove masterpiece re-released on clear lime yellow color vinyl! The pleasure of feeling numb all over your body with a single drum beat. Akira Ishikawa, the super funky drummer born in Japan, runs through a wonderland of grooves!



TRACKLIST

A1.I've Got To Use My Imagination
A2.Bongo Rock
A3.Do It Til You're Satisfied
A4.Hey Jude
A5.El Condor Pasa
B1.Pick Up The Pieces
B2.Love Is The Answer
B3.I Shot The Sheriff
B4.Let's Start
B5.Boogie On Reggae Woman


INFO

Japanese jazz, rare groove masterpiece re-released on clear lime yellow color vinyl!

The pleasure of feeling numb all over your body with a single drum beat. Akira Ishikawa, the super funky drummer born in Japan, runs through a wonderland of grooves!

Akira Ishikawa is a super funky drummer born in Japan. His ability to freely explore and fuse jazz, rock, and African music to create a unique musicality has been highly praised in many fields. His career includes masterpieces from jazz rock to rare groove, but this work is especially beloved for its outstanding song selection and exciting musicality. "Let's Start" is a tight cover of Fela Kuti's Afro-funk, "Bongo Rock" is a dynamic song with drum breaks, and "Pick Up The Pieces" is a jazz-funk version of the Average White Band's classic song. It is full of amazing monster tunes that are hard to believe were recorded in 1975. Support from masters such as Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Hiromasa Suzuki, and Takeru Muraoka also shines.
text by Yusuke Ogawa (universounds/Deep Jazz Reality) More

LP with obi. Toshiyuki Miyama & The New Herd's 1972 Jazz, big band masterpieces re-released on clear green color vinyl! Nio dances and pigeons dance. A mysterious melody that flows in a strong groove. Pursuing the possibilities of big band sound, this is the true essence of new hard and its climax.

TRACKLIST

A1.Kakurenbo
A2.Kitsune no Yomeiri Koushinkyoku
A3.Enka ni Taisuru Kanashimi
A4.Niou to Hato
A5.Hakuchou no Nemurutoki
B1.Sumidagawa no Nagare
B2.Kiganbi
B3.Seijinshiki

INFO

Japanese jazz and big band masterpieces re-released on clear green color vinyl!

Nio dances and pigeons dance. A mysterious melody that flows in a strong groove. Pursuing the possibilities of big band sound, this is the true essence of new hard and its climax.

New Hard, led by Toshiyuki Miyama, is one of Japan's leading big bands. Since the release of ``Perspective'' in 1969, they have opened up new horizons in big band jazz with their cutting-edge sound. This work "Niou to Hato" is one of the representative works of new hard released in 1972. Kozaburo Yamaki was in charge of the entire composition and arrangement, and deeply pursued one of his long-standing themes: "Japan." Japanese features, traditions, and scenes expressed through elaborate, multi-layered arrangements and performances. A profound and dynamic melody with a Japanese atmosphere that can be described as mysterious. Starting with "Seijinshiki," which is led by a strong groove, the album is lined up with songs full of deep flavor and great excitement. This is the true essence of new hard work and its climax.
text by Yusuke Ogawa (universounds/Deep Jazz Reality) More

(pressed on black vinyl, original released in 1975) Colorful, powerful and elegant. A watershed masterpiece that embraces before then and after that by Kiyoshi Sugimoto, the master of the era.

TRACKLIST

A1. Our Time
A2. Jones Street
B1. Take My Blues !!
B2. Quiet Pulse
B3. Marmalade Sky


INFO

Since turning professional in 1960, Kiyoshi Sugimoto has been active in many sessions and recordings. From the latter half of the 1960s, he joined groups such as Hideo Shiraki, Akira Ishikawa, and Terumasa Hino, gaining attention and solidifying his position with leader works such as “Country Dream” and “Babylonia Wind.” This work was recorded with Akira Ishikawa, Hiromasa Suzuki, Takao Uematsu and others right after studying in America for about a year. Starting with the groovy and luscious “Our Time” and “Marmalade Sky”, the dubious keyboards of “Jones Street”, and the melancholic and beautiful “Quiet Pulse”, it can be said to be a gap between jazz rock and fusion. There are attractive songs. This work represents Sugimoto’s work in the mid-1970s. More

(2022 Japanese pressing, with obi, Clear vinyl) Part of the Deep Jazz Reality series! The popular work 'Leeward' is affectionately known as 'Mabumi's Fan' among fans. This is the second album recorded in 1978 by Mabumi Yamaguchi, a saxophonist who was active in the George Otsuka Group and the Colgen Band (later The Players).



TRACKLIST


A1. Dawn
A2. Dewdrop
B1. Distant Thunder

B2. Leeward


INFO

A bouncy groove. beautiful melody. Hard bop, jazz rock, fusion. No label can capture the essence of this work. The pure crystal is now shining once again.

The popular work 'Leeward' is affectionately known as 'Mabumi's Fan' among fans. This is the second album recorded in 1978 by Mabumi Yamaguchi, a saxophonist who was active in the George Otsuka Group and the Colgen Band (later The Players). The titles/themes of all four songs, ‘Dawn (Yoake),’ ‘Dewdrop (Tsuyu),’ “Distant Thunder (Enrai),’ and ‘Leeward (Kazashimo),’ unfold before your eyes as vivid images in harmony with the musicality.

A groove that combines dynamism and elasticity. A dignified yet beautiful melody that touches your heart. Hard bop, jazz rock, fusion. All of these apply, but none of them can tell you the essence of this work. It doesn't need any labels, it's just a pure masterpiece. – text by Yusuke Ogawa (universounds/Deep Jazz Reality) More

(Gatefold 2LP with obi strip) This is a completely unreleased live recording from June 8, 1977

"The pleasure in listening to this was vast an unreleased trio recording by Ryo Fukui during these times of global pandemics this is the healing force we all need." Gilles Peterson

TRACKLIST

A1.Mellow Dream
B1.Speak Low
B2.Body And Soul

C1.Love For Sale
D1.Mr. P.C.
D2.My Foolish Heart

INO

This is a completely unreleased live recording from June 8, 1977.

The recording was made at the Sapporo live house “Vidro” by Masataka Ito, the producer of Fukui’s “Scenery” and “Mellow Dream”.

This is the performance of the Fukui Trio at that time, but at the same time, it has an overwhelming amount of heat and freshness that you don’t find in-studio recordings, and it is very exciting. Not to mention the brilliant 16-minute “Mellow Dream”, the dynamic “Speak Low”, the lustrous “Body & Soul”, the galloping “Love For Sale”, the profound “Mr. P.C.”, and the spilling “My Foolish Heart”. It was an amazing performance. More

(clear pink color vinyl / LP with OBI) Fresh reissued magic of Funky Stuff, formerly a rare exquisite by jazzmaster Jiro Inagaki, originally released in 1975. An enduring, pioneering fusion of jazz, funk, soul and rock - the album features some of the best and most acclaimed Japanese musicians of the time, enlisting the talent-wares of Hiromasa Suzuki on keyboards, Akira Ishikawa on drums and Takeru Muraoka on sax.



TRACKLIST

A1. Painted Paradise
A2. Funky Motion
A3. Breeze
A4. Scratch
B1. Funky Stuff
B2. One For Jiro
B3. Gentle Wave
B4. Four Up


INFO

Fresh reissued magic of Funky Stuff, formerly a rare exquisite by jazzmaster Jiro Inagaki, originally released in 1975. An enduring, pioneering fusion of jazz, funk, soul and rock - with influences from Herbie Hancock, James Brown and Santana - the album features some of the best and most acclaimed Japanese musicians of the time, enlisting the talent-wares of Hiromasa Suzuki on keyboards, Akira Ishikawa on drums and Takeru Muraoka on sax.



Originally released in 1975
Features a cover of “Funky Stuff” by Kool & The Gang
All songs written and arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki
Pressed on Pink Vinyl

Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, Flute, Producer – Jiro Inagaki
Electric Piano – Hiromasa Suzuki
Drums – Hajime Ishimatsu
Bass – Akira Okazawa
Guitar – Hiroshi Yasukawa
Trombone – Takashi Imai More

(Pressed on Black vinyl, LP with OBI, original released in 1970) 2023 pressing Japanese Import of the Japanese Jazz-Funk classic. From the opening 'The Vamp' to the final 'Head Rock', this is a dazzling jazz rock showcase with dreadnought songs that are filled with ideas and passion you can hold. A masterpiece that has an overwhelming presence in the history of jazz in Japan, as a heresy left on the prestigious jazz label Tact.


TRACKLIST

A1. The Vamp
A2. Twenty One
A3. Spoonful
B1. Back To Rack
B2. High Jack
B3. The Ground For Peace
B4. Head Rock


INFO

From the opening “The Vamp” to the final “Head Rock”, this is a dazzling jazz rock showcase with dreadnought songs that are filled with ideas and passion you can hold. A masterpiece that has an overwhelming presence in the history of jazz in Japan, as a heresy left on the prestigious jazz label Tact.


Bass – Yasuo Arakawa

Drums – Sadakazu Tabata

Guitar – Ryo Kawasaki

Organ – Masaru Imada

Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Jiro Inagaki

Trumpet – Tetsuo Fushimi More

(Pressed on Black vinyl, LP with OBI, Originally released in 1976) 2023 pressing Japanese Import of the Japanese Jazz-Funk classic. Deeply involved in the works of Terumasa Hino, Akira Ishikawa and Jiro Inagaki the 1976 Jazz-funk classic 'Flying-High,' showed his innovativeness, which was always one step ahead of the times, in the overall financial results.

TRACKLIST
A1. High-Flying
A2. Screwdriver
A3. Scramble

B1. Between O&M
B2. Smash
B3. Straight Flash
B4. Out of Focus



INFO



Hiromasa Suzuki is a composer/arranger/key player who has been active in the Japanese music world, including jazz as well as movies, television and commercials. In the late ‘60s and mid-’70s, he was deeply involved in the works of Terumasa Hino, Akira Ishikawa and Jiro Inagaki in the most radical times. The album “High-Flying,” recorded in 1976, showed his innovativeness, which was always one step ahead of the times, in the overall financial results.



Composed By, Arranged By, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Piano, Electric Piano – Hiromasa Suzuki

Drums – Shuichi Murakami

Electric Bass – Akira Okazawa, Kenji Takamizu

Electric Guitar – Fujimaru Yoshino, Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Masayoshi Takanaka

Keyboards, Synthesizer – Jun Fukamachi

Percussion – Larry Sunaga

Producer, Flute, Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Jiro Inagaki

Vocals – Kayoko Ishu More

(LP with obi strip) A magnificent concept album that will remain in the history of Japanese jazz

TRACKLIST

A1. By The Red Stream
A2. Warm, Honest And Love
B1. There Is Not Any War To End The War
B2. Something Over The War

INFO

The sound that swallows jazz rock, mode jazz, and free jazz is serious and profound.

A magnificent concept album that will remain in the history of Japanese jazz with the theme of global anti-war and peace

Hiromasa Suzuki, a rare pianist/composer/arranger who showed his skills in the groups of Terumasa Hino and Akira Ishikawa. Collaborating with Big Soul Media, led by Jiro Inagaki, one of the best jazz rock groups of our time, this work is unusual for a Japanese jazz work, and the concept is based on the theme of “global anti-war and peace.”

The sound that swallows jazz rock, mode jazz, and free jazz is serious and solid, but at the same time, it is full of overwhelming dynamism.

Suzuki’s ability to manage a big band and create a masterpiece sound is also splendid, and Big Soul Media, which listened to Suzuki’s intentions and responded to his request, is also splendid.

Both Suzuki and Inagaki’s activities in the jazz-rock era are at their peak, and this work is also important in that it captures the overlap.

text by Yusuke Ogawa (universounds/Deep Jazz Reality)

Composition/Arrangement/Conductor: Hiromasa Suzuki
Performed by Jiro Inagaki and Big Soul Media
Jiro Inagaki (S.Sax, T.Sax)
Shigeo Suzuki (A.Sax)
Tadayuki Harada (B.Sax)
Takehisa Suzuki (Trumpet)
Tetsuo Fushimi (Trumpet)
Takeshi Nomura (Trumpet)
Shigemichi Domoto (Trombone)
Tadataka Nakazawa (Trombone)
Kazuo Usui (Trombone)
Tsunehide Matsuki (Guitar)
Masaru Imada (Piano, Organ)
Hiromasa Suzuki (Piano, Organ)
Yasuo Arakawa (Bass) / Gen Ishimatsu (Drums) More

Reissued on CD and, for the first time, on vinyl on ESP-Disk'. Please see attached and below the announcement info for "Circular Temple" by the legendary Matthew Shipp Trio
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