★Deep Jazz Reality
Live At Vidro '77
** 2LP version. 180 gram vinyl. Heavy sleeve and obi ** I had no idea that Ryo Fukui had left behind such a sound source. This is a completely unreleased live performance recorded on June 8, 1977. The recording was done at Sapporo's live house "Vidro" by Masataka Ito, the producer of Fukui's "Scenery" and "Mellow Dream” albums. It is exactly the performance of the Fukui Trio from that period, but at the same time, it has an overwhelming energy and freshness that is not found in studio recordings…
Exciting Drums African Rock Party
An early masterpiece under the name of Count Buffalo – this is legendary drummer Akira Ishikawa’s first record, from 1969! Genuine jazz, rock and African groovy sound. A rare groove album with a soulful arrangement throughout, with Kozaburo Yamaki and Hiroshi Takami as arrangers. Essential!
Back To Rhythm
Akira Ishikawa is renowned as a super funky drummer in Japan, earning praise for his ability to freely explore and blend jazz, rock, and African music into a unique musicality. Throughout his career, which spans from jazz rock to rare groove, this particular work stands out for its exceptional song selection and exhilarating musicality. "Let's Start" delivers a tight cover of Fela Kuti's Afro-funk, "Bongo Rock" presents a dynamic song with drum breaks, and "Pick Up The Pieces" offers a jazz-funk…
In The Groove
*2024 repress* Since it's formation in 1969, Soul Media had been advocating a fusion of jazz and rock. The next step along that line was this album, In the Groove, recorded in 1973. The sharpness of jazz is brought to the forefront, with rock melting in to give it an edge, and funk injected to imbue it with power and resilience. The result was a strong, sophisticated, and simply "cool music" that could not be categorized within existing genres such as jazz rock, jazz funk, or fusion. This work i…
Dah Nah
"Okinawa-born tenor sax star Ryusei Tomoyose famously studied under Sadao Watanabe in Tokyo words the final part of the 190s. Once his studies were complete, he went home and decided to focus on teaching and nurturing young musicians, which he did for the rest of his life while also becoming a pioneer in the Okinawa jazz scene. This album which was originally released in 1979 is packed with his playing passion and is a legendary record into which he pours his whole heart and soul. It was recorde…
Funky Stuff
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.