Category Archives: J-Jazz

CULT CLASSIC: MASAO NAKAJIMA QUARTET-KEMO SABE.

Cult Classic: Masao Nakajima Quartet-Kemo Sabe. Masao Nakajima was born in Senzoku, Ohta ward, Tokyo in 1950. His father was a councilman and his mother worked in music and also sang classical music. It was no surprise that her son started playing piano aged seven. In 1959, aged nine,  Masao Nakajima discovered jazz and began …

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CULT CLASSIC: NORIKO MIYAMOTO WITH ISAO SUZUKI-PUSH.

Cult Classic: Noriko Miyamoto With Isao Suzuki-Push. During a long and illustrious career, double bassist Isao Suzuki was one of the most important and influential Japanese jazz artists of his generation. His career began in 1956, and over a career that spanned seven decades he released over fifty solo albums. That’s not all. He also …

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MASAO NAKAJIMA QUARTET-KEMO SABE.

Masao Nakajima Quartet-Kemo Sabe. Label: BBE Music. Format: CD. Masao Nakajima was born in Senzoku, Ohta ward, Tokyo in 1950. His father was a councilman and his mother worked in music and also sang classical music. It was no surprise that her son started playing piano aged seven. In 1959, aged nine,  Masao Nakajima discovered …

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NORIKO MIYAMOTO WITH ISAO SUZUKI-PUSH.

Noriko Miyamoto With Isao Suzuki-Push. Label: BBE Music. Format: CD. During a long and illustrious career, double bassist Isao Suzuki was one of the most important and influential Japanese jazz artists of his generation. His career began in 1956, and over a career that spanned seven decades he released over fifty solo albums. That’s not …

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CULT CLASSIC: KOHSUKE MINE-FIRST.

Cult Classic: Kohsuke Mine-First. Nowadays, the most important period in the development of  J-Jazz is between late-sixties through to the early eighties. That’s regarded as a crucial period in the development of modern jazz in Japan. During that period, many Japanese composers and musicians and bands released ambitious and innovative music that astounded those who …

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CULT CLASSIC: MASAHIKO SATO-KAYOBI NO ONNA. 

Cult Classic: Masahiko Sato-Kayobi No Onna. By 1969, Tokyo-born composer and pianist Masahiko Sato about to turn twenty-nine, and had been a professional musician since he was seventeen. He had started out accompanying magicians, singers and strippers in a cabaret in Ginza, a district of Tokyo. Now eleven years later he had just written the …

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KOHSUKE MINE-FIRST.

Kohsuke Mine-First. Label: BBE. Format: CD. Nowadays, the most important period in the development of  J-Jazz is between late-sixties through to the early eighties. That’s regarded as a crucial period in the development of modern jazz in Japan. During that period, many Japanese composers and musicians and bands released ambitious and innovative music that astounded …

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CULT CLASSIC: HIDETO SASAKI, TOSHIYUKI SEKINE QUARTET +1-STOP OVER.

Cult Classic: Hideto Sasaki, Toshiyuki Sekine Quartet + 1–Stop Over. Ever since the sixties, rather than sign to a label, many artists and bands have released their albums as private pressings. However, the majority of the labels releasing private pressings during this didn’t have the same resources as the major labels or even an indie …

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SPIRITUAL JAZZ 12: IMPULSE!

Spiritual Jazz 12: Impulse! Label: Jazzman Records. Format: 2CD. Little did anyone at Jazzman Records know when they released Spiritual Jazz (Esoteric, Modal and Deep Jazz From The Underground 1968-77) in 2008, that this was the first instalment in what would become their longest-running and most successful compilation series. Over the next twelve years, they’ve …

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PACIFIC BREEZE 2: JAPANESE CITY POP AOR AND BOOGIE 1972-1986.

Pacific Breeze 2: Japanese City Pop AOR and Boogie 1972-1986. Label: Light In The Attic Records. Release Date: ‘15th’ of May 2020. In May 2019, Seattle-based Light In The Attic Records released Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR and Boogie 1976-1986 to widespread critical acclaim. This lovingly curated compilation was what many music fans had …

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MASAHIKO SATO-KAYOBI NO ONNA. 

Masahiko Sato-Kayobi No Onna. Label: Mitsuko and Svetlana Records. By 1969, Tokyo-born composer and pianist Masahiko Sato about to turn twenty-nine, and had been a professional musician since he was seventeen. He had started out accompanying magicians, singers and strippers in a cabaret in Ginza, a district of Tokyo. Now eleven years later he had …

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HIDETO SASAKI, TOSHIYUKI SEKINE QUARTET +1-STOP OVER.

Hideto Sasaki, Toshiyuki Sekine Quartet + 1–Stop Over. Label: BBE Music. Release Date: ‘27th’ March 2020. Ever since the sixties, rather than sign to a label, many artists and bands have released their albums as private pressings. However, the majority of the labels releasing private pressings during this didn’t have the same resources as the …

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