The Standard Edition - Territory - NO Sales to Japan
Ryo Fukui's 1976 highly sought-after jazz masterpiece SCENERY-
LP Edition: Mastered at half speed, 140g vinyl, Sticker

We Release Jazz (WRWTFWW Records' new sister-label) is proud to present its first release, the official reissue of Ryo Fukui's highly sought-after masterpiece Scenery (1976), sourced from the original masters and available on limited edition 180g vinyl mastered at half speed for audiophile sound and on digipack CD.

Unquestionably one of the most important Japanese jazz albums ever recorded, Scenery reveals Ryo Fukui as a miraculously brilliant self-taught pianist fusing modal, bop, and cool jazz influences for a very personal, dexterous and game-changing take on classic standards made famous by Bing Crosby and John Coltrane among others. From "It Could Happen To You" and its serene and calm intro which magically flows into a jubilant and upbeat piece, to the out-of-this-world piano solo of "Early Summer", or the incredible teamwork of "Autumn Leaves" where Fukui leads Satoshi Denpo (bass) and Yoshinori Fukui (drums) into groove heaven, every single note on the album oozes precision, confidence and flair and every single section slides seamlessly into one another, creating a supreme and elegant blend of jazz. Often compared to McCoy Tyner or Bill Evans, Ryo Fukui was a genius in his own right, a true master of his craft whose perfectionism gave birth to some of the greatest music ever recorded. Scenery is his magnum opus and an absolute must-have.

The Hokkaido wizard-pianist followed Scenery with the soulful gem Mellow Dream (also available on We Release Jazz) in 1977. He then focused on improving his live skills, often performing at Sapporo's Slowboat Jazz Club (which he co-founded with his wife Yasuko Fukui) and releasing 2 live albums. Ryo Fukui sadly passed away in March 2016, leaving behind a legacy of works that is sure to captivate jazz lovers for generations to come.


Tracklisting Vinyl LP
A1 It Could Happen To You
A2 I Want To Talk About You
A3 Early Summer
B1 Willow Weep For Me
B2 Autumn Leaves
B3 Scenery
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Release Date: June 25th 2018 - 2022 Repress Edition

Tracklist:

A1. Variation Abyssale (Part 1)
A2. Immersion
A3. La Vie à L‘Ombre
A4. Plénitude Azotée
A5. Parade
A6. Interlude
B1. Variation Abyssale (Part 2)
B2. Dans la Jungle de Varech
B3. Hors d_Haleine
B4. Fumeurs Noirs
B5. Synthi Outtro

Info:
Last time we heard from the Growing Bin, Basso was sat at the water‘s edge, trousers rolled up, toes inthe tide, savouring a Falanghina while Eleventeen Eston went with the wave. Now we move from theshoreline to the ocean shelf, led on an underwater adventure by young Parisian Shelter. Where previousreleases have seen the synth-obsessed Frenchman take his inspiration from Caribbean rhythms orBalearic attitudes, this marine missive sees Shelter turn to the lavish world of the library, creating his analternate score to Jean Faurez’ 1960 documentary short.More submersible than snorkel, our journey begins in the very dark of the deep, mystical harp trillsechoing through the inky blackness, picking up the bioluminescent shimmer of an Abraliopsis Squid.Gradually we make our way into the light, cruising past shoals of silver scales and underwater forests.‚Immersion’ offers a placid, percolating rhythm and billowing pads, providing sonic symmetry for thedancing leaves, while the spheric soundscape of ‘La Vie A L’Ombre’ bubbles away like an underwatervolcano. The optimistic ambience of ‘Plenitude Azotee’, brimming with delicate melody and glisteningsequences, perfectly captures the wide-eyed wonder of a reef dive, before drifting into the serenity of‘Parade’, an aquatic acquaintance of A.R.T. Wilson’s ‘Overworld’. A brief foray into shark fin funk seesout the A-side, before we’re back amid the beauty of the ocean floor; ‘Variation Abyssale II’ echoing thealbum opener but with even more poetry. The exotic and otherworldly sine waves of ‘Dans La Jungle DeVarech’ simultaneously sound like a rainforest canopy, alien landscape and coral microcosm, expandingour horizons nicely ahead of the adrenaline rush of ‘Hors D’Haleine’. Shelter then sets us at ease with thetidal tonality and subtle shuffle of ‘Fumeurs Noirs’, a sublime synthetic suite, then leaves us to marvel atthe soft focus splendour of ‘Synthii Outro’.This is Jules Verne by way of Vangelis, just grab your goggles and take the plunge…(words by Patrick Ryder)
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