Chris Joss - You've Been Spiked

Year : 2004
Label : Eighteenth Street Lounge Music ‎
Genre : Electronic
Style : Acid Jazz, Downtempo, Future Jazz, Funk/Soul

Chris Joss is a french self-taught multi-instrumentalist and studio producer. In 1999, Chris Joss released his first album "The Man With A Suitcase", an imaginary soundtrack of fictional 60's TV series, whose the title-track was used in the movie trailer of Ocean's 13. "You've Been Spiked" recreates the typical sound of the seventies, served by Wah-Wah guitars and groovy sound from Hammond Organ & Fender Rhodes. This is translates by an Acid Jazz style including Soul Jazz (Drink Me Hot), Disco beats (A Part In That Show), Heavy Funk (Wrong Alley Street Part 3), mixed with Breakbeat (Early Morning Wanderings) & cinematic atmosphere (Riviera 69, Waves Of Love). All tracks composed, performed & produced by Chris Joss, all vocals by Cosmika.

Specifics - Lonely City

Year : 2004
Label : P-Vine
Genre : Hip Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Downtempo, Conscious

"Specifics" is a Canadian Hip-Hop band based in Montréal, formed by producer and sound engineer Phil Kennedy aka "Think Twice" featuring rapper Golden Boy & DJ Goser (cuts, scratches, adlibs). Out from the Think Twice's mind, "Lonely City" is a pure downtempo album with a soulful atmosphere including the finest cuts made by DJ Goser, while Golden Boy shines on the mic with poetic and conscious lyrics. Kennedy mostly uses various Jazz & Soul samples ("Bumpy's Lament" from Shaft by Isaac Hayes on "Patience") with some strings and bass materials (Craig's House), collaborated with japanese beatmaker Nujabes (Hyde Out Recordings) on "Under The Hood" production. All lyrics by Golden Boy, produced, recorded, mixed by Phil Kennedy except "Dreams", "Interlude" produced by DJ Goser. All lyrics by Golden Boy.

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Nujabes, Various - Hyde Out Productions (2nd Collection)

Year : 2007
Label : Hyde Out Recordings
Genre : Electronic, Hip-Hop, Jazz
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Downtempo

The second and last volume of "Hyde Out Productions" compilation series, following the First Collection released four years ago, including jazzy hip-hop/downtempo recordings directed by Nujabes, and released for his own label "Hyde Out Recordings". The 2nd Collection compilation brings together various original compositions recorded by Nujabes, including featurings with rappers CL Smooth, Substantial, Five Deez, instrumental tracks composed by Uyama Hiroto, DSK, and some remixes by Nujabes, based on songs performed by Pase Rock, Emancipator & Shing02. All tracks produced & mixed by Nujabes for Hyde Out Recordings.

TRACKLIST : Nujabes - Voice Of Autumn / Nujabes Feat. CL Smooth - Sky Is Falling  / Uyama Hiroto - Walz For Life Will Born / Clammbon By Nujabes - Imaginary Folklore / Nujabes Feat. Substantial - Hikari / Nujabes - Counting Stars - Another Reflection / Nujabes Feat. Five Deez - Fly By Night / Pase Rock - Old Light (Voices From 93 Million Miles Away Remix) / Emancipator - With Rainy Eyes / Shing02 Feat. DJ Top Bill - Luv (Sic.) Modal Soul Remix / Uyama Hiroto - Windspeaks / DSK - Winter Lane (Nujabes Remix) / Nujabes - After Hanabi (Listen To My Beats)

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Takeshi Inomata And His Friends - Get Happy

Year : 1975

Label : Audio Lab. Record

Genre : Jazz, Ltin Jazz

Style : Hard Bop, Post Bop

Amazing record, among the best in the Takeshi Inomata's discography including swing, hard bop &  latin jazz with dynamic beats and insane drum breaks. Arranged by Norio Maeda,  mixed by Mr. "Jazz" sound engineer Okihiko Sugano, "Get Happy" brings together some of the best japanese jazz musicians featuring legends Tadayuki Harada & Kohnosuke Saijoh. Titles include Jazz standards "Here's That Rainy Day" by Jimmy Van Heusen, "Witch Doctor" by Lee Morgan, "I've Got You Under My Skin" by Cole Porter, and killer up-tempo variations on the Duke Ellington's "Caravan" and Stevie Wonder's "Uptight (Everything's Alright)". 

MUSICIANS : Takeshi Inomata - drums - Norio Maeda - piano - Yasuo Arakawa - bass - Fujio Saitoh & Pepe Anai - percussion - Jake H. Concepcion - alto saxophone - Kohnosuke Saijoh - tenor saxophone - Tadayuki Harada - baritone saxophone - Tadataka Nakazawa - trombone

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Sadao Watanabe - Round Trip

Year : 1970
Label : CBS
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contempory Jazz

The saxophonist Sadao Watanabe is the most famous jazz musician outside Japan, always active nowadays, he's best known as the man who introduced Bossa Nova in Japan. During his fruitful career, he recorded a numerous of masterpieces whose "Round Trip", introduced here, featuring jazz giants Chick Corea (p,el-p), Miroslav Vitous (b) and Jack DeJohnette (ds). In 1962, Sadao moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music and later played alongside Charlie Mariano (including three duet albums in the late sixties), Chico Hamilton, Gary McFarland, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin or Hank Jones. Always in the forefront, he explored worldwide musical cultures, reflecting his Brazilian, African & Indian expressions on several albums, and will become the japanese representative of Bossa Nova & World Music like Joe Zawinul. Titles include "Round Trip : Going & Coming" with free improvisations, the short track "Nostargia", the modal "Pastoral" and the Jazz Samba "Sao Paulo". All tracks composed, arranged by Sadao & produced by Kiyoshi Itoh.

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Takeshi Inomata & Sound L.T.D. - Sounds Of Sound L.T.D.

Year : 1970
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Groovy Sound Series/Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock

"Sounds Of Sound L.T.D." is an iconic album out from the Japanese Jazz Rock scene including psychedelic grooves (Mustache), heavy funk breaks (Joint), melodic jazz (Monster) & progressive rock (Tak's Tune). Takeshi Inomata introduced here "The Sound Limited", his regular group during the seventies, featuring the legendary guitarist Ryo Kawasaki, flutist Toshiaki Yokota and trumpeter Shunzo Ohno, barely in his 19 year. In the early sixties, Takeshi Inomata was enrolled in the Hidehiko Matsumoto Quintet and was a regular sideman of jazz pianist Norio Maeda, also within groups Norio Maeda Trio, The Wind-Breakers & The Third. During the sixties, he participated on most japanese recordings of jazz songstress Helen Merrill (such as "In Tokyo", "Plaisir D'amour" or "Sings The Beatles"), formed his best known jazz formation "The West Liners" and evolved within the Mal Waldron Trio. 

MUSICIANS : Takeshi Inomata - drums - Jun Suzuki - bass - Ryo Kawasaki & Shigenori Kamiya - guitar - Yusuke Hoguchi - organ - Toshiaki Yokota - flute - Takao Uematsu - saxophone - Shunzo Ohno & Takashi Kumagai - trumpet - Shigemichi Domoto & Takashi Imai - trombone

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Sonia Rosa With Yuji Ohno - Spiced With Brazil

Year : 1974

Label : CBS

Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz

Style : Pop, Bossa Nova

"Spiced With Brazil" is a joint project between a Brazilian native living in Japan and japanese jazz legend, pianist Yuji Ohno featuring Akira Okazawa (eb), Takao Naoi (g), Tsunehide Matsuki (eg), Kazuyoshi Okayama (ds), Tsuyoshi Yamamoto (ep), Larry Sunaga & Pepe Anai (per). In order to get to closer to the sound of the iconic Bossa Nova Verve's productions to the sophisticated sweetness, Yuji enrolled strings ensemble the "Ohno Group". Sonia Rosa started in 1967, recording her debut album with Chiquinho De Moraes, before to leave Brazil for Japan at the age of 20. In 1970, she released covers album of Bossa Nova "Sensitive Sound Of Sonia Rosa" with the Sadao Watanabe Quintet, her first record in Japan. Shortly after, she recorded "Spice With Brazil", her best-known album marking the beginning of a fruitful professional relationship with japanese jazz pianist Yuji Ohno, including "Space Kid" in 1978, "Samba Amour" in 1979 or "Lupin The Third [JAZZ] : Bossa & Fusion" in 2002. Titles include the classics of Bossa Nova from Antonio Carlos Jobim, Luiz Bonfa to Chico Buarque by Edu Lobo ("Casa Forte" feat. Tsuyoshi Yamamoto on piano), jazz standards of Jimmy Van Heusen ("Here's That Rainy Day"), Paul Francis Webster ("Secret Love"), pop covers of James Taylor ("Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight") and Linda Creed ("You Make Me Feel Brand New" feat. backing vocal band Time Five). All tracks arranged and conducted by Yuji Ohno except "Chove Là Fora" by Sonia Rosa.

Akira Ishikawa Count Buffalo Jazz And Rock Band - Bakishinba~Memories Of Africa

Year : 1970
Label : Polydor
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Rock

The legendary drummer Akira Ishikawa & his Count Buffalos were prolific on the japanese fusion scene since the late sixties. Akira Ishikawa started in the mid-fifties when he joined the Akira Miyazawa's Modern All Stars and later the famous "New Herd" big band conducted by saxophonist Toshiyuki Miyama. Akira Ishikawa becomes renown as bandleader for the Japanese version of rock musical ‘Hair’ from Broadway. Thereafter he becomes a sought-after session musician playing for various artists including japanese jazz/pop songstress Mieko Hirota, and formed the supergroup "Freedom Unity", a jazz quintet featuring pianist Hiromasa Suzuki, saxophonist Takeru Muraoka, bassist Kunimitsu Inaba and trombonist Hiroshi Suzuki. After a trip in eastern Africa, Akira introduces in his music various traditional afro-percussions (as the Bakishinba) brought back of his wanderings, in order to create a fusion between African music, Jazz, Rock & Soul,  which will reach its apogee with the iconic album, "Uganda", released in 1972. Titles include soul jazz tracks "Sandstorm", "Flamingo" & "Blue Soul" (composed by Hiromasa Suzuki), the psychedelic-jazz-rock suite with free expressions "African Deer" (composed by Norio Maeda). All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda & Hiromasa Suzuki.

COUNT BUFFALOS : Akira Ishikawa - drums & african percussion - Kiyoshi Sugimoto - electric guitar - Isao Eto - electric bass - Hirosama Suzuki - keyboards - Norio Maeda - organ - Takeru Muraoka - tenor sax - Masami Kawahara - latin percussion

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Chute Libre - Spasmolune

Year : 1977

Label : EMI
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

"Chute Libre" was an short-lived French jazz supergroup to the Funk/Rock accents influenced by Weather Report and Herbie Hancock & his Headhunters. "Chute Libre" was formed by popular jazz session musicians including Patrice Cinélu (eg), Mino Cinélu (ds, per) from Gong, Olivier Hutman (keys), Denis Barbier (fl), Éric Letourneux & Pierre-Jean Gidon (sax), all former members of short-lived prog-rock student band "Moravagine". Their second and last album "Ali Baba" which was released the following year, is more jazz rock than "Spasmolune". Titles include heavy funk (Black Sweat, Jerba), Brazilian fusion (Flauçerto), caribbean sounds (Sainte Bernadette, Jeremy) or Space-Age Funk (Spasmolune).

Robert Charlebois Avec Louise Forestier - Lindberg

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Year : 1968
Label : Gamma
Genre : Rock, Jazz
Style : Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock

 

Most wanted and iconic record, the psychedelic Québec rock anthem by the best known songwritter, musician & singer in french tongue outside Québec. Robert Charlebois started in Montréal on stage in 1962 and released his first single "La Boulée" in 1965. In the year 1967, he left Canada to California where he met various american counterculture artists such as Frank Zappa and discovered the psychedelia movement which durably changed his vision of music. In the year 1969, he caused outrage when he performed with his "gang" at Olympia concert hall in Paris. Later he played at the Festival Pop of Toronto and took part in 1970 to the Festival Express summer rock tour on the pancanadian train with Janis Joplin, The Band & The Grateful Dead. "Lindberg" includes the famous Quatuor du Jazz Libre du Québec featuring Louise Forestier, the songs "La Marche Du Président" written by famous Québec poet Gilles Vigneault, the single "Lindberg/California", the psychedelic hymns "Egg Génération" & "Engagement" composed by Marcel Sabourin, and "Long Flight 500". All tracks arranged by Robert Charlebois.

Dagha - Object In Motion

Year : 2005
Label : Miclife Recordings
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Conscious, Boom Bap

Dwayne Simmons is a rapper from Boston who started with his friend André Todman aka Insight in the Hip-Hop collective "Electric Company". He shared stage with KRS-1, Big Daddy Kane, Mobb Deep, Wycleff, Common and Cut Chemist from Jurassic 5. Dagha collaborated to numerous Insight's productions including the ShinSight Trio albums, while Insight did the same for "Object In Motion", in charge of production, mixing and scratches, alongside japanese DJ Real from Martiangang (cuts & scratches). Titles include featurings with Insight (8 Count, Skoolhouse Rock), Al-Jabra (Conquerors), Wanda aka Butter (Don't Start Nothing), and bonus tracks released only for Japan featuring Cloke (Whatever It May Be), Anonymous from Project Move (Hands Up), Insight (2 Solutions) plus "No Sheets (DJ Aquarela Remix)". 

Pete Rock & CL Smooth - The Main Ingredient

Year : 1994
Label : Elektra
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Funk/Soul

Classic of the Hip-Hop golden era, one of most essential masterpiece in the history of Rap music recorded by the Pete Rock/CL Smooth duo including singles "Take You There", "I Got A Love" and featurings with Rob-O and Deda on "Worldwide" & "In The Flesh". Pete Rock is an American DJ and one of the finest Hip-Hop producer, a major figure in old school Hip-Hop, pioneer in jazz rap alongside the groups Stetsasonic, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots or Gang Starr, using jazz samples from Cannonball Adderley, Freddie Hubbard, Grant Green, Milt Jackson, George Benson or Deodato. C.L. Smooth is an american rapper and poet appeared as a guest on numerous albums from DJ Krush to DJ Jazzy Jeff by japanese beatmaker Nujabes.

Eric Burdon & WAR - Eric Burdon Declares ''War''

Year : 1970

Label : MGM

Genre : Soul, Jazz

Style : Funk/Soul, Rhythm & Blues

In 1969, Eric Burdon left The Animals and joined the californian protest Funk band WAR. During a short time from 1969 to 1970, the band recorded only two albums before to continue the way without Burdon. The album starts with "The Vision Of Rassan", a tribute to the giant jazz saxophonist, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, follow-up to the medley of classic Loudermilk's song "Tobacco Road" which told us the history of the Afro-American slaves way. Others titles include the smash hit single "Spill The Wine", another tribute to Memphis Slim and the short avant-garde piece "You're No Stranger". "Spill The Wine" was selected for the soundtrack of Paul Thomas Anderson's "Boogie Night" movie. On the back cover is printed : "We the people have declared war against the people for the right to love each other", a sentence against  the Vietnam War, in accordance with the American counterculture spirit. Artwork concept by Eric Burdon, design by The Visual Thing, produced by Jerry Goldstein.

MUSICIANS : Eric Burdon - lead vocal, cowbell - B. B. Dickerson - bass, vocals - Dee Allen - congas, percussion - Harold Brown - drums - Charles Miller - flute, tenor saxophone - Howard Scott - guitar, vocals - Lee Oskar - harmonica - Lonnie Jordan - organ & piano

TRACKLIST : The Vision Of Rassan (Dedication - Roll On Kirk) - Tobacco Road (Tobacco Road Pt. 1 - I Have A Dream - Tobacco Road Pt. 2) - Spill The Wine - Blues For Memphis Slim (Birth - Mother Earth Pt. 1 - Mr. Charlie - Danish Pastry - Mother Earth Pt. 2) - You're No Stranger

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Yuji Ohno - Inugamike No Ichizoku (Original Soundtrack)

Year : 1976
Label : Victor
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style :  Jazz Rock, Fusion

Original Soundtrack of the japanese horror/mystery story "Inugamike No Ichizoku" (Inugami Family), outcome from a long tradition of supernatural suspense films directed by Kon Ichikawa, iconic director of movie series based on the detective "Kindaichi" in the seventies. The soundtrack includes various genres from Jazz to Pychedelic Rock, mixed with eastern sounds produced by the biwa (japanese folk guitar), songs inspired by Pink Floyd ("Grudge", "Hatred's Theme"), some tracks with free expressions and Jazz Funk (The Blood Of The Passion, Mask). All tracks are supported by strings ensemble "Minoru Suzuki Group", conducted by Hiroshi Yoshizawa, composed, arranged & performed by Yuji Ohno featuring biwa player Masako Hirayama, Minoru Kuribayashi, Shigeto Ohara from Electro Keyboard Orchestra, Kiyoshi Sugimoto & Takao Naoi from The Count Buffalos.

MUSICIANS : Yuji Ohno, Shigeto Ohara - piano - Minoru Kuribayashi - organ - Tyuei Yoshikawa - accoustic guitar - Akira Okazawa, Kenji Takamizu - bass - Masako Hirayama - biwa - Yasushi Ichihara - drums - Keiji Azami - dulcimer - Masami Nakagawa, Takeshi Shinohara & Yukio Nishizawa - flute - Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Takao Naoi & Ryogo Kanari - guitar - Tadaomi 'Pepe' Anai - percussion - Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet

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Bingo Miki And Inner Galaxy Orchestra - Back To The Sea

 

Year : 1978

Label : Three Blind Mice

Genre : Jazz

Style : Jazz Funk, Contempory Jazz

"Back To The Sea" is a project to the cinematographic concept including Jazz Funk & Contempory Jazz created by band leader, arranger and composer Bingo Miki. Recorded on the iconic label TBM (Three Blind Mice), the japanese counterpart of CTI records, the tracks are performed by an extended big band based on 28 musicians together in three sections : brass, reeds & rhythm. It features Hidehiko Matsumoto (fl, ts), Masao Suzuki (as, ts, cl), Masaru Imada (p), Mitsuaki Furuno (eb), Yoshiyuki Nakamura (ds) and jazz songstress Mari Nakamoto who lends her voice on "Back To The Sea (Epilogue)". All arranged, composed and conducted by Bingo Miki.

DJ RYOW a.k.a Smooth Current - Optical Axis

Year : 2009
Label : Octave
Genre : Electronic, Hip-Hop, Mixtape
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Downtempo

Ryo Yoshihara is a japanese Hip-Hop DJ, trackmaker, turnabilist & producer from Nagoya, member with Shin-Ski of the producers trio "Levitatorz" & ShinSight Trio featuring Boston rapper Insight. DJ RYOW collaborated with various U.S. rappers and DJs such as DJ Green Lantern, DJ Whoo Kid, DJ Enuff or The Alchemist. "Optical Axis" is a mixtape brings together worldwide Hip-Hop and Electronic artists featuring Daily Bread (Aloe Blacc), Quantic, Drum Brothers, Jazz Liberatorz, DJ Alibi or DJ Cam. Titles include three compositions by DJ RYOW released as Smooth Current (Re: Strain Of Stairs (Unmixed Demo version), Intro & Outro) and original remix [What U Need (Smooth Current Remix)]. Compiled & mixed by DJ RYOW.

TRACKLIST : Smooth Current - Introduction - Dinner At The Thompson's - Vegas - Daily Bread - That's That - Y Society - Setting The Example - Dadamnphreaknoizphunk - Lunchcorner - Andrew J & Kaltenecker - Inch - Quantic - We Got Soul (Rob Life Remix)- Jazz Liberatorz - Music In My Mind Part 2 - The Dining Rooms - Existentialism (Milano Bossa Mix) - Thievery Corporation - Supreme Illusion (Nickodemus Remix) - Zeb - Toe To Toe (Original Version) - Drum Brothers Feat. Pfel & Atom - Live & Uncut - Smooth Current - Re: Strain Of Stairs (Unmixed Demo version) - Mo' Horizons - Green Day - DJ Alibi - One Day - DJ Cam Quartet - Rebirth Of Cool - E Reece & Core Elements - What U Need (Smooth Current Remix) - Liquid Spirits Feat. Phonte - If You Don't Love Me / Stepney - Smooth Current - Outro

Nujabes - Modal Soul

Year : 2005
Label : Hyde Out Recordings
Genre : Hip Hop, Electronic, Jazz
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Downtempo

The second solo album originally released on Lybus Music, by the japanese beatmaker and Hip-Hop producer, Nujabes featuring his musical partner, the multi-instrumentist Uyama Hiroto (keys, sax). As his predecessor "Methaporical Music" released in 2003, "Modal Soul" keeps the same combination of Hip-Hop, Jazz & Downtempo, including several instrumental tracks and various american featurings, in order of appearance, Cise Starr & Akin from CYNE (Feather), Terry Callier (Ordinary Joe), Shing02 (Luv (Sic.) Pt3), Substantial (Eclipse), Pase Rock from Five Deez (The Sign), Apani B (Thank You). Produced, composed & arranged by Nujabes.

TRACKLIST : Nujabes Feat. CYNE - Feather / Nujabes Feat. Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe / Nujabes - Reflection Eternal / Nujabes Feat. Shing 02 - Luv (Sic.) Pt3 / Nujabes - Music Is Mine / Nujabes Feat. Substantial - Eclipse / Nujabes Feat. Pase Rock - The Sign / Nujabes Feat. Apani B. - Thank You / Nujabes - World's End Rhapsody / Nujabes Feat. Uyama Hiroto - Modal Soul / Nujabes - Flowers / Sea Of Cloud / Light On The land / Horizon

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Yuji Ohno & His Project - Proof Of The Man (Original Soundtrack)

Year : 1977
Label : Atlantic
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Disco

"Proof Of The Man" ("Nigen No Shomei") is a crime drama film directed by Junya Sato and starring Yusaku Matsuda & Joe Yamanaka from the japanese psychedelic rock group "Flower Travellin' Band". Yusaku Matsuda (1949-1989) was a famous japanese actor who played the Sato role in the Ridley Scott's Black Rain Movie (1989) and inspired Spike Spiegel, character from Cowboy Bebop serie (1998). Behind the "Yuji Ohno & His Project" featuring saxophonist Takeru Muraoka, guitarist Kiyoshi Sugimoto, keyboardist Kentaro Haneda & trombonist Hiroshi Suzuki, hides future Ohno's group "You & The Explosion Band" in charge of the "Lupin The 3rd Original Soundtrack". Titles include the heavy funk ("Scorch To Kirizumi"), disco song ("Get Up All The People"), opening and ending themes sung by Joe Yamanaka ("Nigen No Shomei Theme"). Composed & arranged by Yuji Ohno.

MUSICIANS : Yuji Ohno - keyboards - Kentaro Haneda & Minoru Kuribayashi - organ - Akira Okazawa - bass - Kiyoshi Sugimoto & Tsunehide Matsuki - guitar - Yasushi Ichihara - drums - Takeru Muraoka & Jake H. Concepcion - saxophone - Eiji Arai & Hiroshi Suzuki - trombone - Koji Hatori & Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet - Larry Sunaga & Pepe Anai - percussion - Minoru Suzuki Group - strings

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Cortex - Inédit '79

Year : 2006
Label : Underdog Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

Compilation of unreleased tracks recorded in 1979 by iconic French Jazz-Funk duo, influenced by the jazz funk albums of Herbie Hancock, Earth Wind & Fire, Al Jarreau or Roy Ayers. The band was formed around multi-instrumentists, producer/arranger Alain Mion and drummer/percussionist Alain Gandolfi, who released their most famous work, the debut album "Troupeau Bleu" in 1975 featuring Jean Grevet (eb), Jean-Claude D'Agostini (eg), Jo Pucheu (perc), Alain Labib (as) & Mireille Dalbray (voc). Cortex's albums was an inexhaustible source of samples for Hip-Hop worlwide artists including Tyler The Creator, MF Doom, DJ Cam or J.Dilla. All tracks written, composed and arranged by Alain Mion except "Moanin'" by Bobby Timmons, performed by Alain Mion & Alain Gandolfi.

Insight - Targeting Zones

Year : 2004

Label : Bad News
Genre : Hip Hop, Electronic
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Boom Bap, Conscious

Insight (born Andre Todman) is a prolific multi-instrumentalist, self-producer, rapper & DJ from the Boston alternative hip-hop scene, founder member of numerous Hip-Hop collectives such as ShinSight Trio, Electric Company or Y Society, in charge of several productions under various pseudonyms like Soloplexus. Produced by japanese hip-hop producer Shinsuke Taoka aka Shin-Ski, "Targeting Zones" includes several featurings, "Rhyme Master" with Dagha, "Good Morning" & "Situations" with Electric Company, "Encouragement" with Rafy Rosa and "The Message" with Old School rapper KRS-One, plus associate producers DJ RYOW aka Smooth Current from ShinSight Trio and DJ Real from Martiangang. 

Shin-Ski Of Martiangang - Shattered Soul On A Pastel Sky

Year : 2007
Label : Miclife Recordings
Genre : Hip-Hop, Electronic
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Conscious

Debut album of Shinsuke Taoka, a Hip-Hop producer, beatmaker & DJ from Hyogo, Japan, member in groups "Designed People", "Levitatorz" and "ShinSight Trio". "Shattered Soul On A Pastel Sky" is a jazzy hip-hop album featuring worlwide MCs and DJs from European US and Japanese alternative Hip-Hop scene, including The Procussions, Dagha, Apani B Fly, Othello (from Lightheaded), Funky DL, Louis Logic (from The Odd Couple), Time Machine, Nikko, Melodee (from La Melodia) & ShinSight Trio. Shin-Ski is also supported by additionals musicians, DJ Real (from Martiangang), Mista Donuts (from Levitatorz), DJ RYOW (from ShinSight Trio), DJ Drez on turntables, Yuichiro Kato (ts) and Takasada Inada (as). All songs composed, produced & arranged by Shinsuke Taoka for Soul Believer Production.

TRACKLIST : Shin-Ski Of Martiangang - Prelude (Shintro) / Shin-Ski Feat. The Procussions - It's All Real / Shin-Ski Feat. Dagha - Elements / Shin-Ski Feat. Apani B. Fly MC - Koyoi / Shin-Ski Feat.Othello - Time / Shin-Ski Feat. Nikko - Flow High / Shin-Ski - Steps 2 Heaven / Shin-Ski Feat. Funky DL - Have You Been A Good Girl / Shin-Ski Feat. Louis Logic - Let You Slide / ShinSight Trio - You Did It Again / Shin-Ski Feat. Time Machine - Rough Draft / Shin-Ski - Till The Day We Die (Lonely Nights Theme Reprise) / Shin-Ski Feat. Melodee - Peace Of Mind / Shin-Ski Feat. Yuichiro Kato & Takasada Inada - Harmonia / Shin-Ski - Finale (Martian Odyssey)

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ShinSight Trio - Shallow Nights Blurry Moon

Year : 2006
Label : Bad News
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Conscious, Boom Bap

ShinSight Trio is an american/japanese jazzy Hip-Hop trio formed by rapper Andre 'Insight' Todman, Shin-Ski Of Martiangang and DJ RYOW a.k.a. Smooth Current (cuts & scratches). Insight is a MC, DJ & Hip-Hop producer from the Boston alternative scene (alongside fellow countrymen, rappers Dagha & Edo G), while Shin-Ski & DJ RYOW are two producers/beatmakers in group "Levitatorz" from Tokyo. Titles include singles "Early Dayz Amazement", "I Love Good Music", "Everything Steady Goin Downhill" and featurings with Dagha (Let's Do A Jam) and Edo G (Heart) . Produced & composed by ShinSight Trio, lyrics written by Insight except "Let's Do A Jam" by Dagha & "Heart" by Edo G.

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Oliver Nelson - Skull Session

Year : 1975

Label : Flying Dutchman
Genre : Jazz
Style : Fusion, Big Band, Electronic Moods, Soul Jazz, Post Bop

"Skull Session" is an amazing eclectic album of saxophonist and arranger Oliver Nelson who borrows various styles as well as Bossa Nova, Electronic, Jazz Funk, Soul and Contempory Jazz. Entirely composed by Oliver Nelson, the album features Lonnie Liston Smith (keys), Willie Bobo (per), Lee Ritenour (eg),  Buddy Collette & Bill Perkins (sax) evolving in big brass band. Titles include the electronic groove "Skull Session", the Oliver Nelson standard "125th St. And 7th Ave." and the funky tracks "Dumpy Mama" & "Flight For Freedom". All tracks composed, conducted and arranged by Oliver Nelson, produced by Bob Thiele.

Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek (Reflections Eternal) - Train Of Thought

Year : 2000
Label : Rawkus
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, R&B, Conscious

Essential classic of rap from the beginning of 21th century by Reflection Eternal, a hip-hop duo formed by conscious rapper Talib Kweli (ex-Black Star) and Tony Cottrell aka Hi-Tek, a DJ and producer from Cincinnati. "Train Of Thought" was originally released on legendary alternative Hip-Hop label, Rawkus Records, featuring jazz pianist Weldon Irvine from the Crusaders (African Dream, Too Late), Mos Def from Black Star (This Means You), legends of rap Kool G Rap (Ghetto Afterlife), De La Soul (Soul Rebels), french songstress Les Nubians (Love Language), Xzibit (Down For The Count), Vinia Monica from The Native Tongues hip-hop collective (The Blast), among others. All tracks produced by Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek.

6ix Toys - 6IX TOYS

Year : 2008
Label : FW (First World Records)
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz, Soul, Electronic
Style : Jazz Funk, Funk/Soul, Hip-Hop, Fusion

"6ix Toys" take place on their first live performance at The Isle of Wight Festival in 2008. Originally from Liverpool, the band is formed around Marco Bernardis (ts) and the DJ Fred Ruddick (turntables), including Paul Burton (tb), Tom Ashbrook (keys), Mark Beaney (eg), Jake Foord (eb) and Adam Beaney (ds). The album mixes Jazz with Funk including Afro-Cuban Jazz (Mosquito & P-Knuckle) & Hip-Hop (Wake 'N' Bake & Wanna Ride). The band played a fusion style approaching the sound of their main influence, the japanese Nu-Jazz band, Soil & Pimp Sessions, but also The Meters, James Brown & The JBs. Titles include featurings with the british blues singer Connie Lush on "Paint The Toon", MC Yarah Bravo from One Self (DJ Vadim's collective) on "Wanna Ride" and Katie Miller on "Cannibal Lunch". Produced by Fred Ruddick. All cuts & beats by Fred Ruddick.

Shing02 - Wankyoku

Year : 2008
Label : Mary Joy Recordings
Genre : Hip-Hop, Reggae
Style : Conscious, World, Folk, Spoken Word

Hip-Hop masterpiece by japanese rapper and multi-instrumentist, settled in Oakland, Shing02 featuring saxophonist David Boyce (both from the jazz trio "Kosmic Renaissance"), jazz songstress Emi Meyer, shakuhachi player (bamboo flute) Philip Gelb, Kakushin Nishihara (biwa), Doc Max (keys), Junzo (eg), Motoki Yamaguchi (ds). "Wankyoku" (means distortion) is an instrumental Hip-Hop album which doesn't use any samples, mixing spoken words with poetry, avant-garde jazz, funk and pop with folk music including traditional japanese instruments (biwa & shakuhachi). Titles includes Jazz with Far-East folklore music (the "Bijou" suite), Pop-Folk ("Wankyoku" feat. Emi Meyer), J-Pop (Houyou), Heavy Funk (Katsubou), Reggae Dub (Saikou, Shousou, Chotsugai) and pure Wu Tang Clan's expressions (Kushi To Kanzashi, Jukou). Written, composed by Shingo Annen (Shing02), orchestrated by Vector Omega. 

One Self - Children Of Possibility

Year : 2005
Label : Ninja Tune
Genre : Electronic, Hip-Hop
Style : Trip Hop, Abstract, Downtempo, Breakbeat

One Self is a British hip-hop collective formed by DJ Vadim, songstress Yarah Bravo and MC Blu Rum 13 featuring Demolition Man, Little Green (aka John Ellis & Judy Green), percussionist Bongo Pete from Freak Power and DJ Woody (cuts, scratches), all supported by additionals musicians. "Children Of Possibility" hovers in a hypnotic Indian atmosphere including the sitar, koto and tabla use with haunting chants, performed in the Trip-Hop, Abstract and Broken Beat styles. Titles include single "Bluebird", "Trying To Speak" feat. Demolition Man, and "Cupid Smiling The Smile" feat. Little Green. All tracks composed & produced by DJ Vadim.

Shing02 - 400

Year : 2002
Label : Mary Joy Recordings
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Funk/Soul, Spoken Word, Jazzy Hip-Hop

Shingo Annen is a japanese MC, poet,multi-instrumentalist & producer (Vector Omega), settled in Oakland where he became involved in various creative arts programs. Best known as Shing02, he got an international audience, collaborating with the japanese hip-hop producer Nujabes for the opening theme "Battlecry" from the Samurai Champloo original soundtrack in 2004, and others of his productions. "400" is his first solo album recorded in Japan including heavy funk, jazzy samples and reggae dub, featuring bassist Takeshi Akimoto from Dry & Heavy reggae dub duo, DJ Nozawa and percussionist Ajo (on taiko). All tracks written by Shingo Annen, produced by Cosiner & Vector Omega.

Sonia Rosa - Sensitive Sound Of Sonia Rosa ~ Bossa Nova Greatest Hits

 

Year : 1970

Label : Express
Genre : Latin Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova

The first recording of brazilian songstress and guitarist Sonia Rosa in Japan, featuring renowned japanese jazz musicians within the Sadao Watanabe Quartet featuring Sadao Watanabe (ts), Yoshiaki Masuo (g), Yoshio Suzuki (b) & Hiro Tsunoda (ds). "Sensitive Sound Of Sonia Rosa" is a Bossa Nova album including the songs which made its fame from Antonio Carlos Jobim (The Girl From Ipanema, Desafinado, Meditation...), jazz standards (Fly Me To The Moon, The Shadow Of Your Smile), cover songs of Bacharach (The look Of Love, I'll Never Fall In Love Again), variation on "Corcovado" with english lyrics called "Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars" and "La Chanson D'Orphée" taken from Marcel Camus' film "Orfeu Negro".

Black Star - Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star

Year : 1998

Label : Rawkus

Genre : Hip-Hop

Style : Conscious

Black Star is a Hip-Hop duo formed by rappers Mos Def & Talib Kweli associated to the producer DJ Hi-Tek. Mos Def and Talib Kweli are part of the Native Tongues collective including A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, the Jungle Brothers, Da Bush Babees and Common. The duo is born on the New York alternative rap scene of the late 1990s, taking the name of 'Black Star' in reference to Pan-Africanist movement lead by Marcus Garvey. Titles include featurings with jazz keyboardist Weldon Irvine from The Crusaders & DJ Evil Dee on "Astronomy (8th Light)", Vinia Mojica on "K. O. S. (Determination)", Apani B Fly on "Hater Players", Common on "Respiration" and Jane Doe, Punch&Words on "Twice Inna Lifetime".

Harvey Mason - Marching In The Street

Year : 1975

Label : Arista

Genre : Jazz, Soul

Style : Jazz Funk

Debut album solo of american studio jazz drummer, Harvey Mason. He collaborated with many jazz and fusion musicians such as George Benson or The Brecker Brothers, almost present in all the Mizell Brothers productions with Donald Byrd or Bobbi Humphrey and played for several japanese artists as Hiroshi Fukumura on Hunt Up Wind (1978). He best known as in group The Headhunters and sideman for Herbie Hancock on Head Hunters (1973), Man-Child (1975), Mr. Hands (1980). Titles include featurings with guests musicians as Melvin 'Wah Wah' Ragin (guitar & talkbox on Fair Thee Well), Hubert Laws (flute on Modaji) George Bohannon (trombone on Hop Scotch) and Blue Mitchell (solo trumpet on Marching In The Street). All tracks composed by Harvey Mason except Modaji by Dave Grusin and Wild Rice by Lee Ritenour. Arranged & produced by Harvey Mason.

Harvey Mason_drums, vocal

Chuck Rainey & Paul Jackson_bass

Lee Ritenour_guitar

Herbie Hancock & Dave Grusin_keyboards

Oscar Brashear & Bobby Bryant_trumpet

Ernie Watts & Bennie Maupin_saxophone

01. Marching In The Street

02. Modaji

03. Hop Scotch

04. Wild Rice

05. Ballad For Heather

06. Fair Thee Well

07. Building Love

Gato Barbieri - Yesterdays

LISTEN SAMPLE

 

Year : 1974
Label : Flying Duchtman
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Afro Cuban Jazz, Soul Jazz, Modal

The sixth studio album of iconic Argentinean saxophonist Leandro Barbieri, nicknamed "Gato" (the cat), featuring bassist Ron Carter & drummer Bernard Purdie. Mostly influenced by avant-garde saxophonists Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Albert Ayler & Pharoah Sanders, Gato was a precursor of the fusion between Free Jazz and Latin music. Starting professional in the Lalo Schifrin orchestra at the end of the fifties, he played thereafter with Don Cherry, collaborated to the Charlie Haden's "Liberation Music Orchestra" album and evolved in the Carla Bley's "Escalator Over The Hill" line-up. In the seventies, he recorded the free jazz masterpiece "The Third World" featuring Charlie Haden on bass and composed his best known score for the Bernardo Bertolucci's film, "Last Tango In Paris" in 1972. Titles include jazz standard "Yesterdays" composed by Jerome Kern, "A John Coltrane Blues" (a variation of his "Village Blues") and "Cariñoso" by brazilian saxophonist/arranger Pixinguinha.

DJ Mitsu The Beats - New Awakening

Year : 2003
Label : Planetgroove, Jazzy Sport
Genre : Electronic, Jazz, Hip-Hop

Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Breakbeat, Funk

Debut album of japanese beatmaker DJ Mitsu The Beats from GAGLE released on Planetgroove (Jazzy Sport's parent label founded by Yasuhiro Komatsu & Masaya Fantasista). "New Awakening" is a jazzy hip-hop album to the funk accents featuring worlwide artists collaboration and others japanese rappers including the Swedish Promoe, K-Otix, Audessey The Sound Sci, Big Pooh, New-Zeland keyboardist Mark De Clive-Low and Hunger. DJ Mitsu The Beats is part of these talented beatmakers who emerged on the japanese Hip-Hop scene these last years among DJ Kentaro, Nujabes, DJ Honda or DJ Muro. Founder member of the japanese Hip-Hop band GAGLE with his brother, rapper Hunger and DJ Mu-R, he's also formed the electronic duo, Jazz Phenomenon, with DJ and producer from Tokyo, Grooveman Spot. All beats & cuts prformed by DJ Mitsu The Beats.

TRACKLIST : DJ Mitsu The Beats - Miwa Says... / Intro Feat. Hunger / Pursuits Of Clarity Feat. Agapé / Tokyo Feat. K-Otix / Material Curse Feat. Promoe / DJ Mitsu The Beats - M.o.o.d. For Otis / Stolen Moments Feat. Audessey The Sound Sci / Feelin Alright (We've Got Have It) Feat. Big Pooh & Phonte / Right Here Feat. Dwele / Away Feat. Lady Alma / Music Mate Feat. Stone Love / Rendezvous Feat. Mark De Clive-Lowe / DJ Mitsu The Beats - Negative Ion / 独行JAZZ道 Feat. Hunger / Do Right Feat. Rich Medina

DJ Mitsu The Beats - The Excellence ~ Selected Works

Year : 2006
Label : Jazzy Sport
Genre : Electronic, Hip-Hop
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop

Compilation of remixes by japanese Hip-Hop producer, founder member of GAGLE, DJ Mitsu The Beats, including various productions recorded for the Jazzy Sport label. Titles include four original compositions by DJ Mitsu The Beats, collaborations with american rappers Roddy Rod & Kev Brown (Yeah Y'all), DJ Kentaro (Cannon Baller), Hidenka (Instrumental), and remixes produced for worlwide Hip-Hop artists featuring Pete Philly & Perquisite from Netherlands with Talib Kweli (Hope) or Crown City Rockers (Weekend Soul). All tracks produced by DJ Mitsu The Beats, directed by Masaya "Fantasista" Kobayashi & Taro "Wassupski" Kesen. "Cannon Baller" is a tribute to the jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley based on "The Weaver" composed by Yusef Lateef.

TRACKLIST : DJ Mitsu The Beats feat. Kev Brown & Roddy Rod - Yeah Y'all / Pete Philly & Perquisite feat. Talib Kweli - Hope / Alex Attias presents Mustang feat. Colonel Red - Help Me / Diverse - Ain't Right / Platinum Pied Pipers feat. Tiombe Lockhart - Stay With Me / DJ Mitsu The Beats - Spireedom 2004 (RE KJM) / Bakura - Thinking About / Ivana Santilli - Everlasting / Crown City Rockers - Weekend Soul / DJ Mitsu The Beats & DJ Kentaro - Cannon Baller / Hidenka X DJ Mitsu The Beats - (Instrumental)

Apani - Story 2 Tell

Year : 2003
Label : Miclife
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Abstract, Conscious

Apani Smith best known as Apani B Fly is a MC based in New-York, active since 1996, releasing her first single "Estragen" in 1996. In 1999, she released her first studio album within the Polyrhythm Addicts alongside rappers Corey Roberts, Marcus Vialva and producer DJ Spinna. Apani collaborated with Black Star (Talib Kweli & Mos Def), J. Rawls, japanese producers Nujabes and Shin-Ski or parisian Hip-Hop trio Jazz Liberatorz. "Story 2 Tell" is her debut solo album after eight-year career produced by DJ Spinna, DJ Crossfader, Celph Titled among others, including titles "Spot Me" featuring Sara Kana, "Airtight" feat. Chico's Son, Lee Boogalou & Sekou720, "Ichinisan" feat. Kojoe, "The Epidemic" feat. Jean Grae, "Abracadabra", "Stay Up" feat. Monet. "Airtight" contains a sample of "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)" by Bob Marley & The Wailers.

Soil & "Pimp" Sessions - Pimpin'

Year : 2004

Label : Victor

Genre : Jazz, Latin

Style : Contempory Jazz, Future Jazz

Debut album of the japanese modern Jazz band combining contemporary & future jazz including latin expressions and punk spirit. In 2005, the band gains international audience when it was introduced by British DJ Giles Peterson, broadcast on his BBC radio show "Worldwide", and released "Pimpin'" in UK on his Acid Jazz label "Brownswood Recordings". Titles include tracks extracted from their first EP ("Fuller Love/Harbor"), jazz standard "Wives And Lovers" (Bacharah/David) and the S&PS anthem "Satsuriku No Theme". All tracks composed by Soil & "Pimp" Sessions, except "Harbor" by composed by Bobby Watson.

MUSICIANS : Shacho - vocals ("agitator") - Tabu Zombie - trumpet - Josei - piano, electric piano - Akita Goldman - bass  - Motoharu - saxophone - Midorin - drums

Robert Charlebois - Québec Love

LISTEN SAMPLE

 

Year : 1969
Label : Gamma
Genre : Rock

Style : Psychedelic Rock, Folk Rock

"Québec Love" is the sixth album of Robert Charlebois, the second featuring "Le Quatuor Du Nouveau Jazz Libre Du Québec" including Louise Forestier. Robert Charlebois follows his musical revolution started since iconic album "Lindberg" including the same psychedelic madness with Rhythm&Blues (Te Vl'a, Les Ailes D'un Ange), Funk/Soul (Tout Ecartillé, Sûrement Hong Kong) or Folk Rock (Sensation, Québec Love). "Tout Ecartillé" is a tribute to Paris and french songstress Marie Laforêt, "Sensation" is a song based on a poem of Arthur Rimbaud, "Broches de Bécik" & "La Fin Du Monde" are two odes to the hippie counterculture. All tracks arranged by Robert Charlebois.