Tokyo Jazz Notes

The Tokyo Jazz Notes Dozen ＃54 - January 2015

2015-01-14T00:15:00.000+09:00

The first dozen of 2015 features a some new tunes from Japan and around the world as well as a couple of journeys back in time. Enjoy ...

Out Of This World - Frances Faye (from Bethlehem Yoru No Jazz Pt 2 on Bethlehem/Solid 2014)
Whatever Lola Wants - Baby Face Willette (from Face To Face on Blue Note 1964)
Help Me Get Out Of Here - The Lyman Woodard Organization (from Saturday Night Special on BBQ/Wax Poetics 2009 reissue)
Montara - Bobby Hutcherson, David Sanborn, Joey de Francesco, Billy Hart (from Enjoy The View on Blue Note 2014)
Um Allah - Aquila (from Spiritual Jazz 5: The World on Jazzman Records 2014)
Nighthawk - Satoru Shionoya Trio (from Wheelin' Ahead on Victor Entertainment 2003)
The Drunk - Osaka Monaurail (from Riptide (and other readings from the book of funk) on Unique Records 2014)
Sugar Daddy - D'Angelo & The Vanguard (from Black Messiah on RCA 2014)
Cleopatra's Dream - bohemianvoodoo (from Aromatic on Playwright 2014)
Raindance - indigo jam unit (from Indigo Jam Unit on Basis Records 2014)
Giant - Gideon van Gelder (from Lighthouse on P-Vine 2014)
This Is What I Can See From Here - Joel Silva (from Geyser on Sintoma Records 2014)

The Tokyo Jazz Notes Dozen ＃54 - January 2015 by Tokyojazznotes on Mixcloud

100 Word Review: Tim Langedijk Trio - Açenja

2015-01-12T18:45:00.001+09:00

Label: The Sand Records
Released: October 2014

Açenja is the latest release from Dutch guitarist Tim Langedijk and his trio. It’s an intriguing album that, quite improbably, has shades of jazz, country and surf rock, all blended into a skilfully crafted whole. Benny’s Blues, Blue Birdy and More have a more straight-ahead jazz feel, Religion and Sam’s Dollhouse wear their country influences loud and proud. Dedication has shades of The Shadows, while The Woods and We’re Getting Close are both compelling, more free-form compositions that grow on repeated listens. Despite the seemingly disparate styles and influences, the album hangs together well and is definitely worth checking out.

100 Word Review: V.A. - Bethlehem Yoru No Jazz Pt.2 & Sunaga Tatsuo presents Revisit: Bethlehem Pt.2

2015-01-12T18:19:00.002+09:00

Label: Bethelehem/Solid
Released: August 2014

Tatsuo Sunaga takes another delve into the Bethlehem back catalogue for a second pair of simultaneously released compilations. The Bethlehem Yoru No Jazz selection focuses more on tunes for the jazz dancefloor, while the Revisit album has more of a swanky late-night bar mood, with its numerous vocal tracks mixed in with some swinging jazz. These collections feature great tunes from Oscar Pettiford, The Australian Jazz Quintet, San Salvador, The Australian All-Stars, Chris Connor and Bob Dorough and Frances Faye as well as A-listers such as John Coltrane, Nina Simone and Marilyn Monroe. A magnificent trip back to the fifties.

Tokyo Jazz Notes Pick of 2014 Part 2

2014-12-26T19:26:00.002+09:00

Tokyo Jazz Notes Pick of 2014 Part 2 by Tokyojazznotes on Mixcloud

Tokyo Jazz Notes Pick of 2014 - Part 1

2014-12-26T19:25:00.001+09:00

Tokyo Jazz Notes Pick of 2014 Part 1 by Tokyojazznotes on Mixcloud

Pick of 2014 - Albums of the year

2014-12-24T01:13:00.001+09:00

Looking back on the year, there was a lot of interesting music made, some of which made a big splash, while other albums didn't quite get the attention they deserved. Here is a selection of some of my favourite albums of the year. Plenty of other good releases out there besides these, and I hope to catch on some of the ones I missed in the New Year.

Dado Moroni - Five For John

(Jando Music/Via Veneto Jazz)

Top tunes: Latino Suite, Naima

Daniel Crawford - The Awakening

(P-Vine)

Top tunes: The One (feat. Vikter Duplaix), The Awakening

Dominic J Marshall Trio - Spirit Speech

(Origin Records)

Top tunes: Bud, Justin

Jose James - While You Were Sleeping

(Blue Note)

Top tunes: While You Were Sleeping, 4 Noble Truths

Kris Bowers - Heroes + Misfits

(Concord Music Group)

Top tunes: ＃The Protester, Wonderlove

Libstems - Daydream Sounds

(SOAK Records)

Top tunes: Daydream Sounds, Night Logic

Mammal Hands - Animalia

(Gondwana Records)

Top tunes: Bustle, Street Sweeper

Mark de Clive-Lowe - Church

(Rope-A-Dope Records)

Top tunes: Now Or Never (feat. Nia Andrews), Imam

Mighty Mighty - See The Light

(Schema Records)

Top tunes: Karma, Backyard Boogie

The New Mastersounds - Therapy

(Legere Recordings/P-Vine)

Top tunes: When It Rains..., Morning Fly

Otis Brown III - The Thought Of You

(Blue Note)

Top tunes: The Way (Truth & Life), The Thought Of You Pt.1 (feat. Bilal)

Primitive Art Orchestra - Helix

(Playwright)

Top tunes: Smokers Forest, Shrine

Quantic - Magnetica

(Tru Thoughts)

Top tunes: You Will Return (feat. Alice Russell), Descarga Cuantica (feat. Fruko & Michi Sarmiento)

Rabbitoo - National Anthem Of Unknown Country

(Song X Jazz)

Top tunes: 猿の正夢 (The Monkey Prophet), 入り口から数えて五番目の席で待つ男 (A Man Sitting In The Fifth Seat From The Entrance Waiting For Something)

Richard Spaven - Whole Other*

(Fine Line Records)

Top tunes: Whole Other* (with The Hics), Tribute

Soil & "Pimp" Sessions - Brothers & Sisters

(Victor Entertainment)

Top tunes: Sonido Del Mar, Love Immediately

Takuya Kuroda - Rising Son

(Blue Note)

Top tunes: Piri Piri, Afro Blues

Taylor McFerrin - Early Riser

(Brainfeeder)

Top tunes: Florasia, Already There (feat. Robert Glasper & Thundercat)

Yosuke Onuma - GNJ

(T5 Jazz Records)

Top tunes: Jungle, June 7th

The Tokyo Jazz Notes Dozen ＃53 - December 2014

2014-12-22T08:59:00.000+09:00

This month's dozen starts out with an older tune and then moves to the present day with half a dozen tracks from Japan and other new tunes from Europe and the States. Enjoy!

Calypso Blues - Zilla Mays (from Jukebox Mambo Vol. 2 on Jazzman Records 2014)
My Car 660 - native (from Liberation on Nature Bliss 2014)
I Wanna Love You - Soil & "Pimp" Sessions (from Brothers and Sisters on Victor Entertainment 2014)
Inuit Party - Mammal Hands (from Animalia on Gondwana Records 2014)
Tribute - Richard Spave (from Whole Other* on Fine Line Records 2014)
Uhuru (feat. Tasha's World) - Nicola Conte (from Free Souls on Schema Records 2014)
Impressions - Yosuke Onuma (from GNJ on T5Jazz Records 2014)
Darkest Hour - Traeben (from Looking At The Storm on Jarr Records 2014)
El Ron Zacapa - bohemianvoodoo (from Aromatic on Playwright 2014)
Really Love - D'Angelo & The Vanguard (from Black Messiah on RCA 2014)
Ginger Sweet - Nia (from NIA on King Records 2014)
Darknight (Moonlight) - Hajime Yoshizawa (from Inner Illusions on Village Again 2014)

The Tokyo Jazz Notes Dozen ＃53 - December 2014 by Tokyojazznotes on Mixcloud

100 Word Review: Hajime Yoshizawa - Inner Illusions

2014-12-13T12:37:00.001+09:00

Label: Village Again
Released: September 2014

The first new release from Hajime Yoshizawa in some time, Inner Illusions sees the pianist assembling an impressive line-up of guests (in addition to playing a lot of different instruments himself), and the album pulls together different styles and elements of his recording career to date – bits of electronic jazz, crossover club sounds and the spiritual jazz sound associated with his time with Sleep Walker. The variety makes for interesting listening, though there are probably two or three tracks too many overall. Tower Of Water, A New Day, Kaleidoscope and Darknight (Moonshine) are some of the highlights. A welcome return.

100 Word Review: Soil & "Pimp" Sessions - Brothers & Sisters

2014-12-13T12:32:00.003+09:00

Label: Victor Entertainment
Released: September 2014

Following on from last year’s Circles, the album with numerous guest collaborations, Soil & “Pimp” Sessions return with Brothers and Sisters. It’s a fine return to form with the trademark combination of melodious jazz, crossover dance sounds and all-out punkish death jazz. Love Immediately, Black Tie, Sonido del Mar, I Wanna Love You and Red Sky are all tunes that hold their own with the best of the sextet’s back catalogue, and they also offer their own version of the perennial favourite Love Theme From Spartacus. A special edition features a bonus disc with live versions of seven classics. Recommended.

100 Word Review: N'sawa Saraca - Forest Dance

2014-12-13T12:28:00.001+09:00

Label: Karasound Label
Released: July 2014

N’sawa Saraca is a project led by keyboard player Yasushi Karasawa (the band’s African sounding name a re-arrangement of the syllables in Karasaw-san). Essentially the same line-up as Transient City (plus Nello on percussion and Raphael Sebbag adding spoken word on one track), the main focus here is more on the sweet tones of the Fender Rhodes and piano than the tenor sax. The song titles evoke images of the tropics, though there’s also a slick urban feel to the music. Standout tracks include Dawn, Forest Dance, Jungle Rain and Next Morning. A nice mellow, atmospheric sound worth checking out.

Sittin' down with eZra Brown

2014-12-10T00:38:00.002+09:00

Friday night, and No Black Tie, one of the leading jazz venues in Kuala Lumpur, is absolutely packed, the crowd up clapping and dancing to the soulful vibes and clearly having a great time. Up on stage is tenor sax player eZra Brown with his band cooking up some great tunes that reference jazz, southern soul, gospel, blues, hip-hop and R’n’B – a mix of original compositions from his debut album The Journey, some other new originals as well as covers of tunes from the world of jazz, soul and pop. The combination of his playing, the way he and the band react to the mood of the crowd, the mood-making interaction with the crowd between tracks and the general aura of positivity that emanates from the musicians makes his live performances definitely worth catching.

The next day at lunchtime I’m sitting down with eZra Brown over a cup of tea and talking about his career, his music and his unrelenting tour schedule. One thing that strikes you on listening to The Journey is that he has a really distinct sound – a blend of jazz, soul, blues and gospel, with some urban sounds in there too. I asked how he arrived at this sound.

“For me, that’s pretty much my life,” he begins. “It’s pretty much the story of eZra Brown. My mom, she’s an amazing gospel piano player and she plays for many different churches. She’s a teacher by day, she plays in the churches, and after all that she teaches piano. And she sings very well. And she does a lot. She visits the sick. We’d play Thanksgiving and Christmas Day together in the nursing homes, all the family, my momma playing and she would make us sing and play. You know, that’s my normal life. I grew up in the church, and my first instrument was drums, in the church, then I started playing saxophone later.”

“Then being in school, you get other experience,” he continues, “you know, the gospel experience. And then I graduated high school in Augusta, Georgia – you know, James Brown – and I went to college in Jackson, Mississippi and I joined a marching band.”

“Also, Jackson, Mississippi is the home of Malaco Records, so you got more of the blues craze. So it’s kinda like, Malaco and Stax . so if you’re not at Stax, you’re at Malaco.”

“I was the youngest horn player, and I ended being in a horn section that made a whole lot of records. You know, Johnnie Taylor, and touring with Bobby “Blue” Bland. Actually I was touring with him for over five years,” he says. “Seeing that on a consistent basis and BB King, plus seeing the many different facets of blues, even down to Robert Johnson, you know, the full range.”

“Then I had a chance to mix that with my jazz experience. And you know, there is kinda like here in that you didn't have a big scene, so you had to play jazz in a regular dance club. So the music had to be somewhat mixed, it couldn't just be straight out jazz,” he explains. “And it was good, because that was what I grew up on, so I just took whatever I knew and made it something like what they were already listening to. So that’s how I kind of seeped jazz into the fibre.”

And this is something clearly evident when he’s on stage. Not only is the music and blend of different styles, Brown and his band have a great knack for working the audience and ensuring maximum participation.

“I think because of the blues experience and that southern experience, how we feel music, and our purpose of music may be different from other musicians,” he suggests. “Our purpose isn’t just to push it. Our purpose is to bridge a gap and actually connect with people,” he says.

In addition to working with a lot of other different musicians in the States, eZra Brown has been travelling the world extensively over the last couple of years.

“It all started in Japan, actually,” he explains. “It was kinda ironic, I was saying in my head I wanted to go to Japan and then I went twice in the same year. I got called for this thing in Yokohama called Harlem Nights, where they have a whole band from New York who play with about five different vocalists – I did this two years running. And then, I got called for Takuya Kuroda, to tour with him. So that was my first taste of Japan. Then I started doing mini-tours on my own and started building my fan base.”

“Then, um, Marcus Young … we were is a band in New York … and he would be like ‘Why don’t you come to Malaysia? Check on the festivals.’ So I checked on the KL Jazz Festival and I played last year, and actually I played this year again. It’s only been a year and a couple of months but I’ve been here at least seven times already. And it’s a really beautiful experience.”

“I do a lot of stuff here, in Indonesia. Things are looking good. I’m really excited about this area, because it’s kinda untapped. There’s a lot of people here, and a lot of good musicians, but it’s in that emerging stage, you know, which is good.”

“As well as the touring, I do a lot of different things,” he explains. “I do workshops in schools and masterclasses, and I have a pretty good fan base here now. I’ve just got endorsed by P. Mauriat saxophones, so I’m gonna be pushing the brand in South East Asia. Here, of course, but mainly Vietnam, Cambodia, you know. The hidden places that people haven’t hit yet.”

In between all the touring and teaching, eZra Brown also tries to find time to get in the studio to record, and last year saw him release his debut solo project, The Journey.

“I always wanted to have a solo album since high school,” he says. “You know, but, for a musician, status, and how that happens can vary. And in some areas, both musically and knowledge-wise, it’s actually very hard to just start out solo, and if I’d did that, I wouldn’t have had the experiences I did as a sideman. And those experiences have contoured my life.”

“That made my album how it is now. The Journey is about the journey. I mean you can hear the blues in the album, you can hear the gospel, you can hear my hip-hop influences, you can hear a bit of other stuff from when I started travelling a lot and getting into the culture. Especially Sendai, which I actually wrote when I was there.”

In many ways, though, despite all the experiences and influences that contributed to the sound of the debut album, the journey has only really just begun, and eZra Brown is constantly on the road.

“I’ve been home maybe a grand total of one week since New Year’s Eve,” he explains. “I’ll get about a week to spend a week with my family near New Year and then I’m headed to Europe – this tour goes on until March. February I’m doing Jazz Café in London, playing Amsterdam.”

But somewhere he finds the time to work on various different projects.

“Then after that there’s Singapore, which is part of my other life on the programs, the teaching part,” he continues. “So I'll be doing schools in Singapore for the first week of February. This all came from how I grew up, how my mom raised us. What I’m doing now is maybe more of a structured global approach to what I was doing back home with inner city schools.”

“From here, I’ll be heading over to Nicaragua for that kind of work. I really love doing this kind of work and watch the kids grow and get a better understanding of the whole spectrum,” he says. “Just last week we got funding to launch a marching band in Nicaragua, and we’re bringing two teachers from the United States and I’ll be training teachers in Nicaragua. It's a six month program and it’s very exciting, and it’s gonna be fun.”

“I’m trying to build a network of musicians around the world that can actually visit these places on a regular basis.” he explains. “Because many of these schools that I go to, I’m the only person – the only time the kids will see someone from the outside world. And it shouldn't be like that.”

Then, at some point, eZra will be taking a short vacation and thinking about his next recording projects.

“Yeah, there’s the blues project, eZra Brown & The Juke Joint” he says. “That’s probably gonna be released in the middle of next year. And there’s a new record too – we played a couple of the new songs last night – but I’m kinds holding back on that for a while.”

“Tour wise, South Africa’s already confirmed for May, I’m really excited about that,” he continues. “Then I’ll go on to Zimbabwe, and then I’ll head to west Africa for a little bit, and then Vietnam. I’m looking forward to branching out more in southeast Asia. There’s a lot of good musicians here, but they haven’t had the chance to fraternize off stage with musicians from other parts of the world.”

It’s not just on stage that his passion comes through, eZra Brown lives and breathes music in everything he does, spreading his love of music in all four corners of the world. From our brief chat, he then left for another meeting, and on to lead an afternoon master class before setting up for the evening gig. The journey goes on …

The Tokyo Jazz Notes Dozen #52 - November 2014

2014-11-22T21:28:00.002+09:00

November's dozen features half a dozen new or recent tunes out of Japan as well as some other gems from around the world. Enjoy!

Liberation - native (from Liberation on Nature Bliss 2014)
Sonido del Mar - Soil & "Pimp" Sessions (from Brothers & Sisters on Victor Entertainment 2014)
The Way (Truth & Life) - Otis Brown III (from The Thought Of You on Blue Note 2014)
Street Sweeper - Mammal Hands (from Animalia on Gondwana Records 2014)
Namibia - Emanuel Ruffler (feat. Johannes Enders) (from Quartet 718 on Rufftone)
Smokers Forest - Primitive Art Orchestra (from Helix on Playwright 2014)
Slow Cooking Baby - The Eminent Stars (from Sittin' In With ... on Tramp Records 2014)
June 7th - Yosuke Onuma (from GNJ on T5 Jazz 2014)
The One (feat. Vikter Duplaix) - Daniel Crawford (from The Awakening on P-Vine 2014)
I Miel Ricordio - Marco di Marco (from Selection Selected by Jazztronik on Village Again 2014)
A New Day - Hajime Yoshizawa (from Inner Illusions on Village Again 2014)
Samba De-La Cruz - Tres-men (from V.A. - Family Compiled by Playwright on Playwright 2014)

The Tokyo Jazz Notes Dozen #52 - November 2014 by Tokyojazznotes on Mixcloud

100 Word Review: native - Liberation

2014-11-16T12:53:00.001+09:00

Label: Nature Bliss
Released: October 2014

Liberation is the tenth album from the Nagoya-based quartet native, and their first since 2011’s Going With The Flow. This new set features nine new stylish tunes led by Tomoyoshi Nakamura’s sax and flute melodies, with new pianist Koutaro Hiramitsu joining the line-up. There’s the usual mix of uptempo numbers aimed at the dancefloor (Liberation, Samba De Brisa, Compass), slower tunes for the late night bar (Je Suis Comme Je Suis, Conversation With The Moon) as well as the mod jazz feel of My Car 660. An album clearly aimed at a faithful audience, and good for all that.

100 Word Review: Primitive Art Orchestra - Helix

2014-11-10T22:08:00.003+09:00

Label: Playwright
Released: September 2014

The newest addition to the Playwright stable is Primitive Art Orchestra, a piano trio with Iori Kimura (bohemianvoodoo) on piano, Kohei Morita on bass and Takao Ito (TRI4TH) on drums. Helix is the title of their slickly packaged debut album and features nine original compositions. As with most releases on Playwright it’s jazz with a twist, and many of the tunes here are atmospheric anthems with strong melodies that have a slight soundtrack feel to them. Tunes to watch out for include Blue Mist, Shrine, Helix and Smokers’ Forest. An impressive debut -- Primitive Art Orchestra are an act to watch.

100 Word Review: V.A. - Family compiled by Playwright

2014-11-10T12:44:00.000+09:00

Label: Playwright

Released: September 2014

In a short period of time the Playwright label as established itself as one of the most exciting imprints in Japan for a whole new wave of artists that fill the gap between jazz and club music. The latest release form the label is a (sadly Japan-only) compilation called Family featuring bands from the label covering some classic jazz numbers. Fox Capture Plan give McCoy Tyner's Passion Dance and uptempo rocky twist, Waiwai Steel Band offer an interesting rendition of Ellington's Caravan and Tres-men version Samba De-la-Cruz. Eight tracks in all -- great fun and worth getting.

100 Word Review: Taylor McFerrin - Early Riser

2014-11-10T12:19:00.002+09:00

Label: Brainfeeder
Released: May 2014

Six years in the making, Early Riser, the debut from Taylor McFerrin, is certainly worth checking out. A blissful mix of piano, floaty synths, programming and live instrumentation with vocals from McFerrin plus guests, the album effortlessly joins the dots between jazz, alternative R'n'B and electronica. From the opening, dreamlike Postpartum via Already There and Place In Your Heart to the cathartic Pls Dnt Lstn that closes the set, the album goes from strength to strength. Think Inspiration Information, think Solid Air, think Lewis Taylor. It's that good. Definitely one of the albums of the year and a future classic.

The Tokyo Jazz Dozen #51 - October 2014

2014-10-31T00:55:00.002+09:00

Later than usual, due to my move and a lack of regualt internet connection, this month's dozen features a couple of new gems from Japan's Playwright label, some other contemporary grooves as well as some recent(ish) re-issues. Enjoy!

Jungle - Yosuke Onuma (from GNJ on T5Jazz 2014)
Visions - Gideon van Gelder (from Lighthouse on P-Vine 2014)
Mau Mau - Art Farmer Septet (from Jazz Club on BGP 2014)
Destroy The Nihilist Picnic - London Experimental Jazz Quartet (from Spiritual Jazz 5: The World 2014)
Benny's Bubble - Tim Langedijk Trio (from Acenja on Tim Langedijk 2014)
Grandma's Rocking Chair - Olli Ahvenlahti (from The Poet on Mr Bongo 2014 re-issue)
Pep's - The Fabulous Three (from The Best Of ... on Truth And Soul 2009)
41 Bernhard - Kerbside Collection (from Mind The Curb on Legere Recodrings 2013)
Together In Paris (from Marco Di Marco Selection by Jazztronik on Village Again 2014)
Nica's Dream - bohemianvoodoo (from Family - V.A. on Playwright 2014)
Gloria's Step - Pietro Ciancaglini, David Kikoski, Ferenc Nemeth (from Second Phase on Via Veneto Jazz/Jando Music 2014)
World Traveller - Tommaso Cappellato & Astral Travel (from Cosm'ethic on Jazz Refreshed 2013)

The Tokyo Jazz Notes Dozen #51 - October 2014 by Tokyojazznotes on Mixcloud

News update

2014-09-19T08:52:00.002+09:00

News update:

At the end of this month, I’ll be moving from Tokyo to Kuala Lumpur to take up a new position within my organisation. However, I will be continuing to add to Tokyo Jazz Notes with CD reviews, the monthly Tokyo Jazz Notes Dozen and other updates. I will also be taking the chance to explore the music scene in my new surroundings. There will probably, however, be a quiet period while I’m busy moving and settling in to my new home.

There’ll be no change to the URL or email address, but I will update you with my new home address as soon as possible.

Thank you for your support to date, and I look forward to hearing from you again in the future.

お知らせ：

今月末に東京からクアラルンプールへ引越します。

Tokyo Jazz Notesはしばらくアプデートできませんが向こうでの環境が整い次第、再開する予定ですので、今後ともよろしくお願いします。

The Tokyo Jazz Notes Dozen #50 - September 2014

2014-09-13T06:57:00.002+09:00

The Tokyo Jazz Notes Dozen hits its half century this month, and this will be the last of the monthly dozens uploaded from Japan, as I'll be moving on to pastures new. This month we have new Japanese music from Soil & "Pimp" Sessions, Primitive Art Orchestra, Wai Wai Steel Band, n'sawa sarape, Jazz Collective and Hiromi, as well as other contemporary sounds from around the globe including Cookin' On 3 Burners and Jaga jazzist, both of home delivered some fine performances at this year's Tokyo Jazz Festival. See you next month. Enjoy!

Love Immediately - Soil & "Pimp" Sessions (from Brothers & Sisters on Victor Entertainment 2014)
Ojo Abameta - The Shaolin Afronaughts (from Follow The Path on Freestyle Records 2014)
Tokyo Saucer - Cookin' On 3 Burners (from Soul Messin' on Freestyle Records 2010)
Caravan - Wai Wai Steel Band (from Family compiled by Playwright on Playwright 2014)
A Place In My Heart (feat. Ryat) - Taylor McFerrin (from Early Riser on Brainfeeder 2014)
Collage - Jazz Collective (from Collage on Jazz Collective/Octave 2014)
Snow Child - Opus 5 (from Progression on Criss Cross Jazz 2014)
Next Morning - n'sawa saraca (from Forest Dance on Karasound Label 2014)
Victory Joy Dance - Gideon van Gelder (from Lighthouse on P-Vine 2014)
Shrine - Primitive Art Orchestra (from Helix on Playwright 2014)
Alive - Hiromi The Trio Project (from Alive on Telarc 2014)
Oslo Skyline - Jaga Jazzist (from Live With Britten Sinfonia on Ninja Tune 2013)

The Tokyo Jazz Notes Dozen #50 - September 2014 by Tokyojazznotes on Mixcloud

100 Word Review: JariBu Afroeat Arkestra - JariBu

2014-09-01T18:55:00.002+09:00

Label: SoulGarden Records/Tramp
Released: June 2014

JariBu Afrobeat Arkestra has been through a few member changes since 2012’s No More Patient, but what remains unchanged is the band’s unflinching commitment to Fela-inspired afrobeat grooves. What sets their music apart from other neo-afrobeat acts is the heavy basslines and the addition of flute to the horn section. As well as building up a solid live following in Japan, their music has also gain plaudits overseas. JariBu sees the band on top form with ten great new tunes including Devil Pts 1 & 2, Wild Pansy, One By One, Unrevealed Truth and Bomb. Possibly their best yet. Recommended.

100 Word Review: Cookin' On 3 Burners - Blind Bet

2014-08-25T21:32:00.001+09:00

Label: Freestyle Records/Holiday Revolution Records
Released: July 2014

Organ funk trio Cookin’ On 3 Burners return with their first new album in five years. All the hallmarks of the CO3B sound remain – tight soul jazz and funk grooves. Building on their last release, this set features no fewer than five guest vocalists. Standout tunes include The Meters-like Skeletor with its Meters-like vibe, the blaxploitation soundtrack groove of the title track Blind Bet, as well as the New Orleans groove of Flat On My Back featuring Tex Perkins. Their most varied set to date, Blind Bet is worth checking out. You can also catch them at Tokyo Jazz Festival.

Jazz Collective - Collage

2014-08-25T19:20:00.001+09:00

Label: Octave/Jazz Collective
Released: July 2014

Collage is an appropriate title for Jazz Collective's third album with various different styles and influences laid down next to each other all contributing the bigger picture. The thirteen tracks on offer build on the sound that has led them to be one of the leading acts in the newest wave of Japanese club jazz, with jazz, jazz funk and club music sounds all evident.

Rejoice Again is a fine mid-tempo track that has both jazz funk and broken beat influences that demands repeated listens. This is followed by the Brazilian fusion sound of the title track, Collage, with the warm sound of the Fender Rhodes, vocals from Saya and extended bass and trombone solos. A perfect summer tune.

There then follows a suite of three covers. Krystol's Don't Change Your Ways, originally an eighties electro-funk number, is given a boogie makeover with Shea Soul on vocals. This is followed by a tribute to the late George Duke in the form of a cover of Daisy Mae, made famous by Raul de Souza. Then, rounding up this section of the album is version of the Bobby Lyle composition Night Breeze, recorded here as a tribute to the late Wayne Henderson , producer of Lyle's version of the track.

Other tracks of note include Love Is The Triumph, which has something of an afrobeat flavour to the rhythm, and Isis which blends jazz with club sounds.

Another solid set from one of the most consistent bands on the scene at the moment. A must have album.

Mark de Clive-Lowe - Church

2014-08-21T17:01:00.001+09:00

Label: Mashibeats/Ropeadope
Released: May 2014

In his career to date, keyboard player, beat maker and producer Mark de Clive-Lowe has explored numerous styles and locations. The different stages of this musical and physical journey are chronicled by MC John Robinson on The Mission, the opening track of de Clive-Lowe's latest album, Church. It's an album that represents a studio-recorded embodiment of his Church event (held in LA since 2011) where he brings together acoustic jazz, electronics and club music featuring a variety of guest artists including the likes of Jamire Williams, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Nia Andrews.

Using funding from Kickstarter, de Clive-Lowe managed to set up this whole recording project in a relatively short period of, with some tracks recorded in LA and others in New York (the second city for Church events). The album features some impressive compositions that effortlessly blend elements of jazz, hip-hop, electronica and Brazilian music.

It's an impressive set from start to finish, but tracks that deserve special mention include The Processional, an homage to some of the musicians that have inspired de Clive-Lowe; Sketch For Miguel, written for, and featuring, Atwood-Ferguson; the beautiful Hollow, a song about hopeless emptiness; and the cover if Abdullah Ibrahim's Imam.

Trying to capture all the different elements of Church in a short review does not really do the album justice. There's a whole spectrum of sounds and styles on this 13-track album that really highlight both the breadth of de Clive-Lowe's vision as well as the scope of his talent as a musician, composer and producer. Definitely one of the albums of 2014. Not to be missed.

The Tokyo Jazz Notes Dozen #49 - August 2014

2014-08-21T16:06:00.001+09:00

Wild Pansy - JariBu Afrobeat Arkestra (from JariBu on SoulGarden Records/Tramp 2014)
Par Avion - Marco Di Marco (from Marco Di Marco Selection Selected by Jazztronik on Village Again 2014)
Quartetto - Quartetto Di Lucca (from Quartetto on Rearward/Schema 2014 reissue)
Broski - Johnathan Blake Quartet (from Gone, But Not Forgotten on Criss Cross Jazz 2014)
Opening - Pietro Ciancaglini, David Kikoski, Ference Nemeth (from Second Phase on Via Veneto Jazz/Jando Music 2014)
Forest Dance - n'sawa saraca (from Forest Dance on Karasound Label 2014)
Red Baron - Soul Jazz Unit (from Old School Recipes on Irma Records 2013)
Rejoice Again - Jazz Collective (from Collage on Jazz Collective/Octave 2014)
Swimming - Brad Mehldau & Mark Guiliani (from Mehliana: Taming The Dragon on Nonesuch 2014)
Eminence - Eric Harland's Voyager (from Vipassana on GSI Records 2014)
Taj - Richard Spaven (from Whole Other* on P-Vine/Fine Line 2014)
Kiyomizu-Dera - Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchestra (from When The World Was One on Gondwana Records 2014)

The Tokyo Jazz Notes Dozen #49 - August 2014 by Tokyojazznotes on Mixcloud

100 Word Review: V.A. - Paul Murphy Presents: The Return Of Jazz Club - Dancefloor Classics From The Original Jazz Dance DJ

2014-08-10T17:37:00.000+09:00

Label: BGP
Released: April 2014

DJ Paul Murphy is credited by some as being the founder of the British jazz dance scene through his pioneering DJ sets in London clubs in the early eighties. Following the original pair of Jazz Club collections released back in the day, Murphy is back, nearly three decades later with a new compilation, The Return Of Jazz Club. For this set he focuses on the Prestige archives from the fifties and sixties. There are Latin flavoured numbers from Thelonious Monk Trio, Johnny Lytle, the Art Farmer Septet in addition to some fifties bop and some soul jazz. Absolutely amazing stuff.