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Showing posts from June, 2011

THE FREEDOM UNITY - DOWN BY THE NAKED CITY

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The Freedom Unity for Victor Japan from 1970. Takeshi Muraoka (ts,ss), Hiroshi Suzuki (tb), Hiromasa Suzuki (el p), Kunimitsu Inaba (b), Akira Ishikawa (ds) An excellent obscure session from 1970 featuring a line up of soon to be stars of the Japanese jazz world.The group was pulled together by Hiromasa "Colgen" Suzuki for this one off project which was apparently influenced and inspired by the late 60s output of Miles Davis and his movements toward electric jazz. "Down By The Naked City" is an extended piece by Suzuki in two parts ("The Doors Of Perception" & "The Dancing Protoplasm")while side 2 features three originals two by Suzuki and Takeshi Muraoka's grooving "The Equator". Suzuki went on to record the ground breaking Rock Joints Biwa & Cither soon after this both of which have been recently reissued by Deep Jazz Reality Japan and are very highly recommended purchases.More info at Universounds . All Killer No Filler..

GEORGE KAWAGUCHI'S THE BIG 4

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George Kawaguchi for TBM Japan from 1976. Hidehiko "Sleepy" Matsumoto : tenor sax and flute, Hideo Ichikawa: piano and electric piano, Takashi Mizuhashi: bass, George Kawaguchi: drums. Japanese All Star session led by drummer Kawaguchi for Three Blind Mice from 76 featuring the banging jazz dancer "Invader 7 ", a nifty latin 2 stepper "Monday Samba" and a ferocious hard bop tear up through "Albatross".A couple of funky blues and a C.Porter standard make up the rest of the album. Solid....

AKIRA ISHIKAWA & COUNT BUFFALOS ELECTRUM

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Akira Ishikawa & Count Buffalos for Victor Japan 1970. Akira Ishikawa-Drums:Kiyoshi Sugimoto-Guitar:Masahiko Satoh-Piano Clavinet:Ken Muraoka-Tenor & Soprano Sax:Hiroaki Suzuki Electric Piano:Masaaki Terakawa-Bass Jazz Psych Rock Fusion banger from Count Buffalos. This one's for Doyle -a (belated) Happy Birthday to you !

MASABUMI KIKUCHI IN CONCERT

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Masabumi Kikuchi Sextet recorded Nov 13th 1970 at Sankei Hall,Tokyo for Philips/Nippon Phonogram Japan. Masabumi Kikuchi(elp,p), Kousuke Mine(ss,perc), Masahiro Kikuchi(org)Yoshio Ikeda(b), Hiroshi Murakami(ds), Keiji Kishida(ds) Tremendous one cut a side live session with Kikuchi and brother Masahiro on keyboards, Kosuke Mine breathing fire on soprano plus a heavyweight double drummer rhythm section all anchored by the mighty Yoshio Ikeda on bass. Side one is a pulsating,driving 25 minute take on the Kikuchi standard "Dancing Mist" while side two is another Kikuchi war horse the beautiful "Yellow Carcass In Blue". All killer....