Takeshi Inomata & His West Liners - Liner Note

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Year : 1967
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Cool Jazz, Bossa Nova, Afro-Cuban Jazz

"Liner Note" recorded in 1966, is the first original album by Takeshi Inomata released under the Takt Jazz Series of Nippon Columbia label. The West Liners lead by the legendary japanese drummer was originally formed as a sextet in 1957 with pianist/arranger Norio Maeda featuring Masaru Imada (p), bassist Tatsuro Takimoto (b), Sadanori Nakamure (g),  Shigeo Suzuki (as), Ichiro Mimori (ts) and Tetsuo Fushimi (tp). They were recruited as backing band by american songstress Helen Merrill when she was settle in Japan, recording "Helen Merrill In Tokyo" & "Sings Screen Favorites". Among others albums released by the band feature "Modern Top Hits" in 1965, come thereafter, "Paint It Black" in 1966,  "Come Together!" in 1969 and "My Way" in 1971. "Liner Note" is a blend of Jazz & Latin music including jazz standards of Miles Davis, George Gershwin & Herbie Hancock from Cool Jazz (All Blues), Modal (Freddie Freeloader, Cantaloupe Island) to Afro-Cuban Jazz (Afro-Blue), by Samba (La Grita) & Bossa Nova (Meditation, Panteno). All tracks arranged by Takeshi Inomata.

Norio Maeda Trio - We Three Jazz

Year : 1978
Label : ADAM
Genre : Jazz
Style : Modal, Contempory Jazz

  
The Norio Maeda Trio is among the finest japanese jazz formation actives during the seventies, including Takeshi Inomata on drums (regular sideman for Maeda), Yasuo Arakawa on bass and featuring american shakuhachi player (bamboo flute), John 'Kaizan' Neptune as guest on "Bamboo Blues". Titles include only Jazz standards among Victor Young's "Stella By Starlight", John Lewis' "Django", Duke Ellington's "In The Sentimental Mood" and the original "竹 Blues" (Bamboo Blues) composed by Neptune Kaizan. All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda.

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Yuji Ohno Trio - LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ] - Plays The "Standards"

Year : 2003
Label : VAP
Serie : LUPIN THE THIRD [JAZZ]
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contempory Jazz, Cool Jazz

Sixth volume from the Lupin The Third [JAZZ] serie, the jazz cover album dedicated to the great jazz standards of the 20th century recorded by the Yuji Ohno Trio featuring drummer Kenichiro Murata & new bassist Masayuki Tawarayama who replaces Yoshio Suzuki. Titles include eight great jazz standards released from early thirty to late fifties among others, Duke Ellington's "C Jam Blues", Joseph Kosma's "Autumn Leaves", "S'Wonderful" by Victor Young or "When You Wish Upon A Star" (theme from popular animated Disney's film Pinocchio), plus two Lupin The 3rd classic songs, "Theme From Lupin The Third" & "Treasure Of Time". All tracks arranged by Yuji Ohno. 

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A State Of Mind - Crown Yard

Year : 2011

Label : Lab'Oratoire

Genre : Hip-Hop

Style : Hip-Hop Funk

A.S.M. are two MCs (Green-T & FP) and DJ Fade from England who performed Hip-Hop, Reggae and Trip-Hop. Revealed by French beatmaker Wax Tailor, they features on "Positively Inclined" extracted from his "HOPE & SORROW" album in 2007 and "Say Yes" from "In the Mood For Life" in 2009. Thereafter, Wax Tailor produced their previous album "Platypus Funk" on his own label "Lab'Oratoire" recruiting DJ Vadim, Sadat X, Wildchild and Bonobo. "Crown Yard" is a pure Hip-Hop Funk album to the James Brown style (check "Don't Look Back") with a dash of Reggae featuring backing band from 6ix Toys and Stab on turntables. Titles include "Give It Up" feat. Esther Cowens, "Hide & Seek" feat. Cornell Campbell, "Testimony" feat. Mattic from The Others & "Rawskank Redemption" feat. Justin Percival. Produced & arranged by Fade.

Wax Tailor - HOPE & SORROW

Year : 2007
Label : Atmosphériques
Genre : Electronic, Hip-Hop
Style : Downtempo, Trip-Hop

Second album by french Trip-Hop and Hip-Hop producer featuring Sharon Jones, A.S.M., The Others, Voice, Charlotte Savary & Ursula Rucker. As on "Tales Of The Forgotten Melodies" Wax Tailor is supported by session musicians Hélène Cervero on flute, Marina Quaisse on cello and Mr Gib from La Fine Equipe on turntables. Titles include single "Positively Inclined" feat. A.S.M.,"The Way We Lived" feat. Sharon Jones, three songs performed by Charlotte Savary (The Man With No Soul, To Dry Up & Alien In My Belly) and killer tune "House Of Wax" feat. The Others.

Kool & The Gang - Light Of Worlds

Year : 1974
Label : De-Lite
Genre : Soul
Style : Jazz Funk, Boogie Funk

"Light Of Worlds" keeps Kool & The Gang on the success road started with "Wild & Peaceful" in 1973. The fifth album of the band featuring the Pazant Brothers, includes the highlight song "Summer Madness". This song is a popular raw material for Hip-Hop samples from Gang Starr or Pete Rock &amp CL Smooth to Snoop Dogg. Titles include Boogie-Funk (Rhyme-Tyme People, Light Of The Worlds, Higher Plane), Jazz Funk (Street Corners Symphony) and pure R'N'B songs (Fruitman, Whiting H. & G, You Don't Have To Change).

MUSICIANS : Robert 'Kool' Bell - bass - Khalis Bayyan - tenor saxophone - Claydes E. X. Smith - guitar - Rick West - keyboards - Dennis 'D.T.' Thomas - alto saxophone - Robert 'Spike' Mickens - trumpet, flugelhorn - George 'Funky' Brown - drums - Alvin Pazant - trumpet - Eddie Pazant - oboe, alto saxophone

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Betty Davis (Self-Titled)

Year : 1973
Label : Just Sunshine Records
Genre : Soul, Rock
Style : Funk Rock

Funk-Rock album by the rebel woman Betty Davis, known as the spearhead of the Miles Davis electrification. She introduced Miles to Jimmy Hendrix and persuaded him to explore Rock 'N' Roll music. She was the first woman to include explicit lyrics and sexual contents in her songs with a screaming and ravaging tone. She released only three albums from 1973 to 1975 before to retire of the musical industry.  Produced by Greg Errico, former member of legendary Sly & The Family Stone, it features an amazing line-up including Larry Graham from the same band, Neal Schon from the Santana backing band, Greg Adams from Tower Of Power and Sylvester and The Pointer Sisters in charge of chorus.

MUSICIANS : Betty Davis - lead vocal - Doug Rodrigues & Neal Schon - guitar - Larry Graham & Doug Rauch - bass - Merl Saunders - electric piano, clavinet - Richard Kermode - piano, clavinet - Hershall Kennedy - organ, clavinet - Greg Adams - trumpet - Gregg Errico - drums

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Akira Ishikawa & His Group - Drum Yagibushi Drum

Year : 1971
Label : Crown
Genre : Jazz, Folk
Style : Jazz Rock, Psychedelic, Minyo

Volume 4 of five discs from the "DRUM DRUM DRUM" serie devoted to the iconic instrument, released on the japanese label "Crown Records", and recorded by Akira Ishikawa & His Group. Akira revisits the popular folk songs of Japanese culture from the best-known genres "Bushi" or the "Ondo". These two traditional japanese folk music genres are associated to various dances forms, by the using a set of traditional japanese drums and percussions such as the taiko. The group plays a clever fusion mixing world music, jazz & psychedelic rock including heavy drum solos with modern and traditional instruments.

Kenji Omura, Takao Yamamura, Martin Willweber - Count's Jazz Rock Band

Year : 2005
Label : Bridge Inc.
Genre : Rock, Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Blues Rock

This compilation brings together rare live tracks and studio recordings from 1969 to 1971, including original compositions and four cover songs among Steve Marcus (Count's Rock Blues), The Beatles (She's A Woman) or Bacharach/David (This Guy's In Love With You). The Count's Jazz Rock Band is a short-lived instrumental Jazz & Blues Rock group formed by guitarist Kenji Omura, bassist Takeo Yamamura and drummer Martin Willweber. Kenji Omura was a regular sideman of jazz keyboardist Jun Fukamachi and a session musician for the Yellow Magic Orchestra, while Martin Willweber studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Both joined Jun Fukamachi on stage, in particular for the Triangle Session tour in 1977 featuring The Breckers Brothers. Count's Jazz Rock Band  is probably a wink to the Steve Marcus album's "Count's Rock Band". 

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Funky DL - A Classic Example Of A...

Year : 2010

Label : Bad News Records

Genre : Hip-Hop

Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop

"A Classic Example Of A..." is the fifth album by british Hip-Hop rapper/producer Funky DL released on Japanese Hip-Hop label Bad News Records. It mixes R'N'B & Jazz including several featurings with DJ Stixx (Rhymin' 76), MC Dukus Alemay (Rhymin' 76, Your Night, Hold On, Wait Up) and Lei-An (C'Mon, Star Signs, Wealthy). Dukus Alemay and Lei-An are part of the Funky DL's project "Gemini Infinity". The title probably refers to "The Infamous Date Rape" by A Tribe Called Quest extracted from "The Low End Theory" released in 1991.

Shuggie Otis - Here Comes Shuggie Otis

Year : 1970
Label : Epic/Sony
Genre : Soul, Jazz, Rock
Style : Soul, Jazz, Psychedelic Soul

Debut album of the "Jimi Hendrix" of Soul music featuring jazz great bassist Al McKibbon, Preston Love (fl, sax), Wilton Felder (eb) and "Stix" Hooper (ds) from The Crusaders. At just fifteen year old, his father, the famous musician and producer Johnny Otis, introduces him on his shows and Al Kooper invited him to participate to the "Kooper Session" recordings in 1969 alongside Stephen Stills and Mike Bloomfield. After only three solo albums, he becomes again a session musician for his father. "Here Comes Shuggie Otis" crosses musical boundaries and contributes to the emergence of the Psychedelic Soul style including "Oxford Gray", reminiscent of the Hendrix guitar-playing. Titles include Soul Jazz (Bootie Cooler, Funky Thithee), Soul Funk (Hurricane), Blues (Shuggie's Boogie), Blues Rock (Gospel Groove, Hawkins), Folk Rock (Knowing (That You Want Him)) and Pop (Jennie Lee).

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Earth, Wind And Fire - The Need Of Love

Year : 1971
Label : Warner
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Psychedelic Soul

Second album of the band featuring guest musicians, jazz trumpeter Oscar Brashear and percussionist Yackov Ben Israel. As the previous album, "The Need Of Love" includes Funk/Soul songs to the jazz expressions, as evidence the opening track, the psalm "Energy", a over nine-minute suite with free forms, slam and funky arrangements. Titles include Psychedelic Soul songs "I Can Feel It In My Bones", "Everything Is Everything", "Beauty" and the love ballad "I Think About Lovin' You".

MUSICIANS : Maurice White - drums, percussion, kalimba, vocals - Verdine Adams - bass - Michael Beale - guitar, harmonica - Yackov Ben Israel - percussion, congas - Don Whitehead - piano, electric piano - Chester Washington - tenor saxophone - Alex Thomas - trombone - Oscar Brashear - trumpet, vocals - Wade Flemons & Sherry Scott - vocals

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Serge Gainsbourg - Histoire De Melody Nelson

Year : 1971
Label : Philips
Genre : Rock
Style : Art Rock, Progressive rock

The "Story Of Melody Nelson" is the first of four concept album series by Serge Gainsbourg and, probably, the most representative work of the french Pop Avant-Garde from the second half of twentieth century. It includes Jazz Rock arrangements, symphonic expressions and spoken words inspired by the French literature. According to the Rolling Stone magazine, its the 4th greatest French rock album being part of the main influences for various contemporary artists such as Air, David Holmes, Jarvis Cocker, Portishead or likewise Beck. "Histoire De Melody Nelson" was recorded in collaboration of arranger Jean-Claude Vannier (keys), featuring Jane Birkin (vo), Jean-Luc Ponty (vl) from Mahavishnu Orchestra, Big Jim Sullivan (eg) and Brian Odgers (eb) from Apollo 100, supported by the Opéra Comique's choir and the orchestra "Les Jeunesses Musicales de Paris". Titles include "Melody", "Valse de Melody", "L'hôtel Particulier" & "Cargo Culte" composed by Serge Gainsbourg, the "Ballade De Melody Nelson", "Ah! Melody" & "En Melody" by Serge Gainsbourg & JC Vannier. All tracks arranged & conducted by JC Vannier, recorded at Marble Arch Studios, London and Studio Des Dames, Paris between 1970-1971.

Serge Gainsbourg - Initials B.B.

Year : 1968

Label : Philips

Genre : Rock
Style : Pop

"Initials B.B." introduces a new era in the Serge Gainsbourg's musical career, definitely leaving the Jazz for Pop music, who he has previously explored, composing for several French YéYé entertainers. This album brings together various songs recorded in London from 1965 to 1968, including studio recordings from Fontana ("Docteur Jekyll Et Monsieur Hyde", "Shu Ba Du Ba Loo Ba", "Qui Est In Qui Est Out" & "Marilu") and Chappell ("Bloody Jack", "Initials B.B.", "Black And White" & "Ford Mustang"). The famous Gainsbourg's anthem "Initials B.B." dedicated to iconic Brigitte Bardot (nickname of Brigitte Bardot) echoes to the arrangements of the Dvorak's "Symphony No. 9 From the New World". "Bonnie And Clyde" featuring Brigitte Bardot on vocals was sampled by French rapper MC Solaar on "Nouveau Western" in 1994. All tracks composed by Serge Gainsbourg, arranged by David Whitaker, Michel Colombier and

Arthur Greenslade.

Deodato - Whirlwinds

Year : 1974

Label : MCA

Genre : Jazz, Latin

Style : Jazz Funk, Latin Jazz

Eumir Deodato is a brazilian jazz pianist, popular producer and arranger since the 1960s, as well as in Jazz, Pop and R&B, collaborating with the greatest worldwide artists including Antonio Carlos Jobim, Marcos Valle, Astrud Gilberto, Wes Montgomery, Kool & The Gang or more recently Björk. "Whirlwinds" is his first recording for MCA after the critically acclaimed albums "Prelude" and "Deodato 2" both released on CTI records, featuring Billy Cobham (ds), John Tropea (eg), John Faddis (tp) and Ruben Bassini (percussion). The album is on the same Jazz Funk line than his previous albums, revisiting classical music (Ave Maria),  jazz standard (Moonlight Serenade) and rock "Do It Again" but also offers original compositions including the tropical funk "Havana Strut", "West 42nd Street" and "Whirlwinds" also known as "Tropea" spotlighting the guitarist.

Janko Nilovic - Soul Impressions

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Year : 2011/1975
Label : Vadim Music/Montparnasse 2000
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Funk, Jazz Rock, Pop

"Soul Impressions" is the Janko Nilovic's most-wanted record from french music library label, the Montparnasse 2000 Editions, an essential material for Hip-Hop samplers and soundtracks lovers. "Soul Impressions" is one of the best productions ever made for various TV soundscapes, including killer breakbeats, funky horns, howling guitar and roaring bass. Titles include versatile sounds from pop (Lady Day) to jazz (To And Fro) by progessive rock (Hippocampus, Drug Song) and Samba (Soul Impressions). All tracks composed, arranged & conducted by Janko Nilovic with Dave Sucky.  as evidenced the various reissues from France to Japan including Vadim Music and more recently P-Vine in 2015.

Hiromasa Suzuki - Rock Joint Biwa ~ Kumikyoku Fulukotofumi

Year : 1972
Label : RCA
Serie : DYNAGROOVE
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, World Music, Psychedelic Rock

"Rock Joint Biwa", is the first part of experimental musical project, the unfinished trilogy of pianist Hiromasa Suzuki called "Rock Joint", mixing Jazz Rock with Oriental music featuring Akira Ishikawa, Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Kunimitsu Inaba and Takeru Muraoka. The album is a psychedelic work based on the "Kojiki" (also called Fulukotofumi), a compilation of myths, legends and oral traditions from the ancient Japan. Recorded during the same session as the "Rock Joint - Cither", the album showcases japanese traditional instruments including wadaiko and biwa played by Akira Ishikawa & Kuifumi Miyake. Titles include the musical piece for biwa, "Yamatoshi Uruwashi", "Hi No Kawa" featuring the Tamaki Quartet, from heavy-metal (Ananiyashiewotomewo) to smooth-jazz (Watatsumi No Irokonomiya). All tracks arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki.

MUSICIANS : Hiromasa Suzuki - piano, electric piano - Kunimitsu Inaba - bass - Hideo Sekine - drums - Kuifumi Miyake - biwa - Akira Ishikawa - wadaiko - Kiyoshi Sugimoto - guitar - Takehisa Suzuki - trumpet - Takeru Muraoka - tenor saxophone - Tadataka Nakazawa - trombone - Tamaki Quartet - strings

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Yoshiaki Masuo - 24

Year : 1970

Label : CBS
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Psychedelic Rock

The masterpiece of Yoshiaki Masuo is an essential album of japanese progressive jazz featuring Sadao Watanabe, Yoshio Suzuki, Hideo Ichikawa & Motohiko Hino. "24" is the exact age of Masuo in 1970, who explores the music of the Woodstock generation, following the Jimmy Hendrix steps. The album is an incursion in the Rock 'N' Roll genre from Blues Rock (Dirty Mashy Toe) to Folk Rock (Shirley), including original songs by Masuo, the jazz rock anthem "Round Trip : Coming" composed with Sadao, "Uptight" to the free expressions, the jazz ballad "Soft Sadness" and "Corvallis" with Sadao on flute. All tracks arranged by Yoshiaki Masuo.

MUSICIANS : Yoshiaki Masuo - guitar - Hideo Ichikawa - keyboards - Yoshio Suzuki - bass - Motohiko Hino - drums - Hiro Tsunoda - drums, percussions - Sadao Watanabe - flute, percussions - Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet - Takashi Imai - trombone - Shigemichi Domoto - trombone

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Brother Jack McDuff - Tobacco Road

Year : 1967
Label : Atlantic
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

Focused on standards soul grooves and pop tunes, this album was recorded at Chess Studios in 1966 by Brother Jack McDuff and his legendary Hammond B-3. Titles include Shadow Of Your Smile, song from Bob Dylan, Blowin' In The Wind, two original compositions of McDuff, Can't Get Satisfied & Wade In The Water. Arranged & conducted by J.J. Jackson except track 3, 4, 6 and 9 by Brother Jack McDuff.

Brother Jack McDuff_organ

Roland Faulkner & Calvin Green_guitar 

Danny Turner_flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone 

Red Holloway_tenor saxophone

Lonnie Simmons_baritone saxophone

Frederick Berry & King Kolax_trumpet

John Watson_trombone 

Bobby Christian_vibraphone, percussion 

Joe Dukes & Robert Guthrie_drums. 

01. Teardrops From My Eyes
02. Tobacco Road
03. Shadow Of Your Smile
04. Can't Get Satisfied
05. Blowin' In The Wind
06. And the Angels Sing
07. This Bitter Earth See
08. Alexander's Ragtime Band
09. Wade In The Water

Bobbi Humphrey - Fancy Dancer

Year : 1975
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Latin

Bobbi Humphrey is the pseudonym of Barbara Ann, an american jazz flautist and singer who plays in particular in the Soul Jazz & Jazz Fusion Funk styles. Produced & arranged by brothers Fonce and Larry Mizell,  Fancy Dancer is her last album of six Blue Note recordings serie after five LPs and one live performance recorded in Montreux Jazz Festival. She was discovered by Be Bop trumpeter Dizzie Gillepsie and recruited renowned musicians as Lee Morgan for Flute In (1971) or Ron Carter on Dig This! (1972). A part of the line-up consists of Chuck Rainey, Harvey Mason, Dorothy Ashby, Skip Scarborough, Larry Mizell & Fonce Mizell.

Bobbi Humphrey_flute, vocals
Chuck Rainey_bass
Craig McMullen & John Rowin_guitar
Dorothy Ashby_harp
Harvey Mason_drums
Tyree Glenn Jr._tenor saxophone

Julian Priester_trombone

Oscar Brashear_trumpet
Fonce Mizell_trumpet & keyboards
Skip Scarborough, Larry Mizell & Jerry Peters_keyboards
Mayuto Correa_congas
Roger Glenn_marimba & vibes

01. Uno Esta
02. The Trip
03. You Make Me Feel So Good
04. Fancy Dancer
05. Mestizo Eyes
06. Sweeter Than Sugar
07. Please Set Me at Ease

Kool And The Gang (Self-Titled)

Year : 1970
Label : De-Lite
Genre : Jazz, Soul
Style :  Funk/Soul

Debut album of killer funk group from New Jersey recorded in 1969. Kool & The Gang were formed by the Robert & Ronald Bell brothers on the Jazziacs' ashes, a high-school jazz band founded in 1964. In 1969, they signed on De-Lite Records until the early eighties. In the late seventies, they recruit famous brasilian arranger Eumir Deodato and new lead singer James Taylor. They gain international audience in 1979 with the "Ladies' Night" album following the Disco explosion. Titles include only instrumental tracks whose their anthem "Kool & The Gang", declined in three variations, and "Give It Up" sampled by A Tribe Called Quest for "Scenario", Beastie Boys for "Professor Booty" and Cypress Hill for "The Phuncky Feel One".

MUSICIANS : Robert 'Kool' Bell - bass - Ronald 'Khalis' Bell - tenor & soprano saxophone, keyboards - Dennis 'DT' Thomas - alto saxophone, flute, percussions - Robert 'Spike' Mickens - trumpet - Claydes 'Charles' Smith - guitar - Georges 'Funky' Brown - drums

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Kimiko Kasai - Tokyo Special

Year : 1977
Label : CBS
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

"Tokyo Special" is the eighth album and second recorded by Kimiko Kasai in japanese tongue since "Umbrella" in 1972. Kimiko back to the japanese studios after a three albums serie recorded in US, supported by "The Colgen Band" lead by pianist/arranger Hiromasa Suzuki featuring guest soloists :tumpeter Terumasa Hino, bassist Isao Suzuki & saxophonist Takeru Muraoka. Terumasa Hino takes part on "Very Special Moment" & "Tokyo Special (Manhattan Special)", Isao Suzuki plays cello and composes "Yarikake No Jinsei", while Hiromasa Suzuki takes over the arrangements. The Colgen Band is supported by strings ensemble, The Tadaaki Ono group.

THE COLGEN BAND : Kimiko Kasai - vocal - Hiromasa Suzuki - keyboards - Akira Okazawa - bass - Tsunehide Matsuki - guitar - Yasushi Ichihara - drums - Masafumi Yamaguchi - saxophones - Pepe Anai - percussion - Shin Kazuhara - trumpet - Koji Hatori - trumpet & flugel horn - Eiji Arai - trombone

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Hiromasa Suzuki - Rock Joint Cither ~ Silk Road

Year : 1973
Label : RCA
Serie : DYNAGROOVE
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, World, Psychedelic Rock

"Rock Joint Cither" is the second part of an unfinished trilogy, an oriental-Jazz-Rock project including traditional eastern instruments, recorded by the Hiromasa Suzuki feat. Kunimitsu Inaba, Takeru Muraoka and sitar musician Yoko Uehara. Hiromasa 'Colgen' Suzuki was one of the greatest japanese jazz pianist, composer, arranger in demand for various prominent jazz groups whose he takes part, among others the Terumasa Hino Quintet, Akira Ishikawa's Count Buffalos, The Freedom Unity or the Jiro Inagaki's Soul Media. He was the founder member of the Colgen "backing" Band who supported, in particular, japanese songstress Mieko Hirota or Kimiko Kasai. He collaborated to several concept albums like "Electro Keyboard Orchestra" or "Pianic Pianism" within the Super Tri Piano jazz trio, all alongside Norio Maeda & Masahiko Sato. All compositions & arrangements by Hiromasa Suzuki. 

MUSICIANS : Hiromasa Suzuki - piano & electric piano - Kunimitsu Inaba - bass - Hideo Sekine - drums - Yoko Uehara - sitar - Takeru Muraoka - tenor & soprano saxophone - Takehisa Suzuki - bugle - Tadataka Nakazawa - trombone - Yukio Eto - flute - Hiroshi Yoshinaga - oboe - Katsuyoshi Kurusawa - horn

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Yuji Ohno - Lupin The 3rd Chronicle 1977 Music File

Year : 2003
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Funk, Disco,

First of four volumes from "Lupin The 3rd Chronicle" compilations serie released since 2003, listing the complete soundscape dedicated to the original soundtrack of Lupin III recorded for the animated serie and broadcast from october 1977 on japanese TV. Each volume matches a recording year gathering various unreleased tracks, alternatives takes and others background music (TV Size, episode previews, eye catchs sounds) including all songs taken from the "TV Original Soundtrack BGM Collection" Vol. 1 et 2, released in 1980 and 1981. "Lupin The 3rd Chronicle : 1977 Music File" consists of original recordings heard in the season one (1977-1978), including variations on the "Theme From Lupin III" and first versions of "Love Theme", "Sunset Flight" (Exotic Highway), "Lost In The Desert" (Zenigata & Lupin M4T2), "Waving Flame" (Prologue M14), "Walking In A Prim" (Day By Day M8BT2), "Chasing The Hustler" (That's Climax), "Night Flight"(Mellow Time M7), "Take A Chance!!" (Chasers M2), "Dangerous Temptation" (Active Guys M9) & "...The Game Of Chase" (Midnight Chasers M10). Performed, arranged & composed by Yuji Ohno.

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Toshiyuki Honda - Burnin' Waves

Year : 1978
Label : King Records
Serie : Electric Bird
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

Toshiyuki Honda is a jazz saxophonist, best known as composer & arranger of various japanese animated movies soundtracks such as "Metropolis" directed by Rin Taro in 2001 or "Nasu : Summer in Andalusia" in 2003. He started as a leader, in the middle of the seventies, recording under the "Toshiyuki Honda & The Burning Waves" name, a five albums serie released on japanese fusion jazz label "Electric Bird" whose "Burnin' Waves" was the first. The Burning Waves band is based on the core of the american fusion group, "Seawind", featuring Pauline Wilson, Larry Williams, Jerry Hey & Bud Nuanez. Titles include various styles from Jazz Funk (Burnin' Waves & Thunder Kiss) to Samba fusion (You Blow My Heart Away, São Paulo, 747 Wind Flight), passing by Afro-Cuban Jazz ("Havana Candy" feat. Pauline Wilson). All tracks arranged & conducted by Chikara Ueda.

MUSICIANS : Toshiyuki Honda - alto & soprano saxophone, flute - Eiji Arai - trombone - Tadaomi 'Pepe' Anai - percussion - Bob Wilson - drums, percussion - Larry Williams - keyboards, percussion - Jerry Hey - trumpet, fluegelhorn, percussion - Gary Herbig - alto, tenor saxophone, alto flute - Ken Wild - bass - Bud Nuanez - guitar

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Yuji Ohno & Galaxy - Captain Future (Original Soundtrack)

Year : 1979
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Funk, Disco

The legendary japanese soundtrack composed by Yuji Ohno and recorded with the Galaxy band featuring Takao Naoi, Eiji Arai, Takeru Muraoka, Jake H Concepcion and Pepe Anai, all from You & The Explosion Band. Produced in the late seventies, the Space Opera "Captain Future" is a TOEI animated serie in 53 episodes, originally broadcast from november 1978 to december 1979. "Captain Future" is among the first animated serie to be exported outside Japan which knew a worldwide success from France ("Capitaine Flam") to Italy by US. The serie is based on stories written by Edmond Hamilton which were published in the Pulp Magazine from 1940 to 1951. The soundtrack includes deep ambient grooves served by the Korg Synthesizer, Jazz Funk pearls ("Andromeda No Kanata Ni"), Disco beats ("Ijigen No Eden") or Pop songs ("Oira Wa Sabishii Spaceman" feat. Hideyuki Hirano). Titles include also the opening ("Yume No Funanori" feat. Yukihide Takekawa) & ending themes ("Popura-Dōri No Ie" feat. Peeka-Boo), the song "Ok! Captain" feat. Kamishiro Youth Chorus from Sendai.

MUSICIANS : Yuji Ohno - electric piano, Korg synthesizer - Minoru Kuribayashi - organ - Takao Naoi - electric guitar - Kiyoshi Hagiya - electric guitar - Michio Nagaoka - electric bass - Yasushi Ichihara - drums - Pepe Anai - percussion - Takeru Muraoka - tenor saxophone - Jake H Concepcion - alto saxophone - Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet - Susumu Kazuhara - trumpet - Eiji Arai - trombone - Isao Kaneyama - vibes

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Reuben Wilson - Got To Get Your Own

Year : 1975
Label : Cadet Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk

Soul Grooves & Jazz Funk by one organist emblem of the Soul Jazz from the 60's. Personnel includes incredible talented players as the JB's saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis, drummer Bernard Purdie, Houston Person (saxophone), Joe Newman & Jon Faddis (trumpet), Garnett Brown (trombone), Richard Tee (keyboards), Wilbur Bascomb, Jr. (electric bass). Arranged by Reuben Wilson & Brad Baker.

01. What the People Gon' Say
02. In the Booth, In the Back, In the Corner, In the Dark
03. Back Rub
04. Tight Money
05. Stoned Out Of My Mind
06. Together (You & Me)
07. Got to Get Your Own

Disk Union In Tokyo

Interesting shops where you can find everything according to your wishes...Used & New, CDs & Vinyls, a wide range of prices. I visited two shops in particular in Shibuya (SHIBUYA JAZZ/RARE GROOVE STORE, Shibuya-ku Udagawa-cho 30-7 Antena 21 Bldg) & Shinjuku (SHINJUKU JAZZ STORE, Shinjuku-ku Shinjuku 3-31-2). I found this rare LP Terumasa Hino Quartet' Alone, Alone and Alone in the Shibuya shop.

Disk Union Jazz
Rare Groove/J-Jazz/Latin & Bossa Nova
Disk Union Latin, Brazil
World Music/Brazilian & Latin Beats

Disk Union Black
Soul/Funk/Rhythm & Blues
Disk Union Club Music Online
Hip-Hop Jazz & Old School/J-Hip-Hop/Mixtape
Disk Union Rock Web Shop

60's-70's Rock & Pop/Indie/Alternative

Antonio Carlos Jobim - Stone Flower

Year : 1970

Label : CTI
Genre : Latin Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova

Considered as the forerunner of the Bossa Nova genre, Antonio Carlos Jobim was best known for having shaped Brazilian modern music and his contribution to famous Stan Getz's albums "Jazz Samba" and "Getz/Gilberto". Arranged by Eumir Deodato and recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder, "Stone Flower" is a highlight point of his career, a kind of own version of the Miles Davis' "Kind Of Blue" album. It's his only album recorded for the Creed Taylor label including the best of the best among CTI musicians : Joe Farrell, Ron Carter, Hubert Laws, Deodato and Airto Moreira. Titles include the Brazilian music anthem "Brazil" ("Aquarela Do Brazil" composed by Ary Barroso) and original compositions by Jobim.

Guru - Jazzmataz Vol.1

Year : 1993

Label : Chrysalis

Genre : Hip-Hop

Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop

Member of iconic old school Hip-Hop duo "Gang Star" feat. DJ Premier, Guru is also known as the forerunner of the Jazzy Hip-Hop style. "Jazzmataz" is an essential classic from the golden era of Hip-Hop, a solo project mixing Jazz & Hip-Hop including the Jazz giants' contributions among Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith, Branford Marsalis or Donald Byrd. Titles include also worldwide collaborations such as the former lead vocalists N'Dea Davenport (When You're Near, Trust Me) & Carleen Anderson (Sights In The City) from The Brand New Heavies, U.K. R&B songtress Dee C. Lee (No Time To Play), session British punk saxophonist Gary Barnacle (Slicker Than Most), acid jazz guitarist Ronny Jordan (No Time To Play) and french rapper MC Solaar (Le Bien, Le Mal). Arranged, produced and mixed by Guru, cuts by DJs Jazzy Nice & Jimmy Jay.

MUSICIANS : Courtney Pine & Gary Barnacle - flute, saxophone - Branford Marsalis - saxophone - Donald Byrd - trumpet, piano - Roy Ayers - vibes - Lonnie Liston Smith & Simon Law - keyboards - Ronny Jordan & Zachary Breaux - guitar.

ShinSight Trio - Moonlight Sunrise

Year : 2011
Label : Bad News Records
Genre : Hip Hop/Electronic
Style : Jazzy Hip-Hop, Boom Bap

The new album by the Hip-Hop trio featuring american DJ/rapper Insight supported by japanese DJ Ryow and beatmaker/producer Shin-Ski, in an worldwide project gathering several MCs from various countries including Europe, Asia & America. It features Geronimo MC from Germany, Moby Dee from France, Dagha, Shazzo, SayLove, Sendu, Educated Advocates from U.S., Hip-Hop Band Midicronica, SKY-HI from Japan and Soft Lipa from Taïwan. "Moonlight Sunrise" is a little bit different than their two previous albums including more electronic sounds and R&B style. All cuts performed by DJ Ryow, composed and arranged by Shin-Ski, lyrics by Insight, produced by ShinSight Trio.

TRACKLIST :  Keep Rockin It feat. Sondu - Higher Velocity - Times Like These - Ocean Skyline feat. SayLove & Sondu - Stay On Track - We Got Soul feat. Geronimo MC - Rhyme Physics feat. Midicronica & SKY-HI - Take Stride feat. Educated Advocates - Rush feat. Dagha & Shazzo - Peace, Love And Happiness feat. SayLove - Music Is Magic feat. Soft Lipa - Do Da Dance - Can’t Forget HipHop feat. Moby Dee

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The Roots - Organix

Year : 1993

Label : Remedy Records

Genre : Hip-Hop

Style : Jazz Rap

Debut self-produced album by The Roots is an American instrumental Hip-Hop band formed in 1987 in Philadelphia featuring MC Black Thought and drummer ?uestlove (Quest Love). Mostly influenced by Jazz & Soul music, the band became known to use sampling materials based on their own music and perform on stage with real instruments. Indeed, at the beginning, their approach was to perform Jazz Rap (jazz including instruments and rap verses or spoken word like Gil Scott-Heron) whose "Organix" is representative, and not pure Jazzy Hip-Hop style based on jazz samples. Titles include "Good Music", "Common Dust", "The Session" (featuring nine MCs), a live recording at the Soulshack in Slovenia (Essawhamah?), "Pass The Popcorn" & "Popcorn Revisited" with the bass line inspired by "The Weaver" of jazz saxophonist Yusef Lateef.

MUSICIANS : Tariq 'Black Thought' Trotter - rap - Joshua 'Rubberband' Abrams, Leonard 'Hub' Hubbard - bass - Chuck Treece - guitar - Ahmir '?uestlove' Thompson - keyboards & drums - Scott Storch - keyboards

A Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm

Year : 1990
Label : Jive
Genre : Hip-Hop
Style : Conscious, Funk/Soul, Jazzy Hip-Hop

Considered as one of best 100 Hip-Hop album ever recorded, "People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm" is among the most influencing album in the Hip-Hop history including the iconic classic "Can I Kick It ?"(with famous introducing extracted from "Walk On The Wild Side" composed by Lou Reed). It's also the last album before Jarobi White left the band. Titles include "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo" & "Bonita Applebum" (debut and second singles), "Pubic Enemy" featuring DJ Red Alert and tribute to french Hip-Hop producer Lucien Papalu from The Native Tongues "Luck Of Lucien".

Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces Of A Man

Year : 1971
Label : Flying Dutchman
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz
 
"Pieces Of A Man" is a Soul Jazz album featuring Brian Jackson (p), Ron Carter (eb), Hubert Laws (fl, sax), Burt Jones (eg) and Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (ds). Gil Scott-Heron speaks about social and political issues of his time including slam forms and protest speech, in particular on iconic song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", major influence for Hip-Hop music. Indeed, Gil Scott-Heron is considered as the first rapper in the history, musician and poet, he started as writer publishing his first novel "The Vulture" in 1969. Influenced by The Last Poets, his music is marked by political and social engagement. He meets musician Brian Jackson at university, it's the beginning of a long time collaboration on seven albums in duet released between 1974-1980, including "Winter In America" with his massive hit "The Bottle". All tracks composed by Brian Jackson & Gil Scott-Heron, conducted by Johnny Pate.

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The Pazant Bros. & The Beaufort Express - Loose And Juicy

Year : 1975
Label : Vanguard
Genre : Soul, Jazz
Style : Jazz Funk, Funk/Soul

Rare and Holy Grail record of the New York Funk duo, the Pazant Brothers from Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers. "Loose And Juicy" is a proofreading of their first recordings between 1969-1971, including "A Gritty Nitty", "Work Song", "Skunk Juice" and "New Orleans". Titles include also new songs such as the disco "Toe Jam", "Back To Beaufort" feat. "Cookie" Harries and the super Funk "Spooky" & "You've Got To Do Your Best" selected on various Rare Funk compilations and many times sampled.

MUSICIANS : Eddie Pazant - saxophone, flute - Alvin Pazant - trumpet - Aaron Thompson - bass - Perry Smith - drums - Harry Jensen - guitar - Ray Chew - keyboards - Pablo Lundrum - percussion - Pete Yellin - tenor saxophone - Mike Terry - trombone - "Cookie" Harries, Betty Barney, Frances Courtney - vocals

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