TOKK-ENSEMBLE TOKYO – Music For Living Process... (V–SJX-7539 / LP-1976)

Label: Victor – SJX-7539

Format: Vinyl , LP, Album / Country: Japan / Released: 1976

Style: Contemporary, Free Improvisation

Recorded at Victor Studio, October 27, 28 & 29, 1975, Tokyo, Japan.

Design – Kazuhiko Muranaka

Engineer [Recording] – Takashi Watanabe

Recording Supervisor [Recording Director] – Toru Yamazaki

Liner Notes – Yoshiro Irino

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, stamped): SJX 7539-A - 111+ E 1

Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, stamped): SJX 7539-B - 111+

side 1:

A1 - Toshi Ichiyanagi – Music For Living Process ................................................... 13:30

         Harp – Ayako Shinozaki

         Percussion – Yasunori Yamaguchi

         Piano, Composed By – Toshi Ichiyanagi

         Shakuhachi – Katsuya Yokoyama

         Violin [Electric] – Takehisa Kosugi

A2 - Yoshiro Irino – Strömung ................................................................................. 11:10

         Composed By – Yoshiro Irino

         Flute – Hiroshi Koizumi

         Harp – Ayako Shinozaki

         Percussion – Yasunori Yamaguchi

side 2:

B1 - Maki Ishii – Nucleus .......................................................................................... 12:53

         Biwa – Kinshi Tsuruta

         Composed By – Maki Ishii

         Flute – Hiroshi Koizumi

         Harp – Ayako Shinozaki

         Shakuhachi – Katsuya Yokoyama

B2 - Toru Takemitsu – Munari By Munari – Corona For Pianist .............................. 12:95

         Composed By – Toru Takemitsu

         Percussion – Yasunori Yamaguchi

         Piano, Celesta,

         Harpsichord [Cembalo] – Toshi Ichiyanagi

Track B2: The two compositions "Munari by Munari" and "Corona For Pianist" are performed simultaneously.On the release this is indicated by printing the titles one below the other, connected by squared brackets.

Massive and mythic album featuring: Toshi Ichiyanagi, Yoshiro Irino, Maki Ishii, Toru Takemitsu, among some more big names Takehisa Kosugi,  Yasunori Yamaguchi, Ayako Shinozaki, Katsuya Yokoyama, Hiroshi Koizumi, better known as TOKK-Ensemble Tokyo.

Not only there are famous names but compositions are great classics and these versions are quite unknown.

Four Japanese avant-garde composers' work is presented, a side each, on this edition Victor– SJX-7539 LP. Beautifully produced, this label specializes in high standard productions, with a striking design that is as modern and oblique as the music they present. On album "Music for Living Process..." all four composers present pieces that reflect a prominent influence of John Cage, which can be accredited to the fact that Ichiagi was a premier interpreter of Cage's music. The experimental work for violin and biwa incorporates elements of chance and improvisation; traditional Japanese modes working in conjunction with distinctly European techniques make for an elating display of premium music...

We move on (very carefully) with important Japanese rarities.

Listen to this incredible album.

If you find it, buy this album!