SADAO WATANABE VS TERUMASA HINO (Rec.1969/1970 - Canyon/LP-1980)

Label: Canyon – C20R0034 C

Format: Vinyl, LP / Country: Japan / Released: 1980

Style: Contemporary Jazz, Jazz Funk, Free Jazz

(A1, A2) Recorded in January 1969.

( B ) Recorded at Upsurge Studio, New York City, March 1970.

Engineer – Kennichi Handa (A1, A2)

Engineer – Tom Di Pietro ( B )

Remix, Edited By – Kennichi Handa

Cover Design – Mitsuru Yamada

Made By – Canyon Records, Inc.

Matrix / Runout: Side 1 C20R0034 C -A

Matrix / Runout: Side 2 C20R0034 C -B

A1 - Sadao Watanabe Quartet – Pastoral ................................................................ 15:00

A2 - Sadao Watanabe Quartet – Round Trip [Coming] ............................................ 10:11

           Sadao Watanabe – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute

           Yoshiaki Masuo – guitar

           Yoshio Suzuki – acoustic bass, electric bass

           Hirotami Tsunoda – drums, percussion

           guest: Kazuo Yashiro – electric piano, piano

B  -  Terumasa Hino – Journey To Air 1 ................................................................... 24:20

           Terumasa Hino – flugelhorn, trumpet 

           Steve Grossman – tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute 

           Pete Yellin – alto saxophone, flute  

           Gary Pribec – alto saxophone   

           David Liebman – tenor saxophone, alto saxophone  

           Olu Dara – trumpet 

           Mike Garson – piano, electric piano

           Dave Holland – bass, Fender bass

           Lanny Fields – bass, contrabass 

           Teruo Nakamura – bass, contrabass 

           Motohiko Hino – drums, handclaps

           Bobby Moses – drums

It is the 80's planning LP, that coupled the past performances of Japanese jazz pioneer saxophonist Sadao Watanabe and Japan's leading jazz trumpet player Terumasa Hino. Sadao Watanabe in quartet formation, contents that compared the recording work by Terumasa Hino '70 recording work with combo formation.

Japan's jazz where idyllic atmosphere drifts like the title as "Pastoral". "PASTORAL" which became the first album of '69 CBS Sony transferring as organized by Sadao Watanabe, Yoshiaki Masuo , Yoshio Suzuki and Hiro Tsunoda, famous song "Pastoral" which told the opening of the new era, and there is also incredibly goodJazz Funk number "Round Trip [Coming] ".

Terumasa Hino, with the chosen company, saxophone players Steve Grossman, David Liebman, genius trumpeter Ola Dara, pianist Mike Garson, three bassists including Dave Holland, two drummers Motohiko Hino and Bobby Moses will lead us through 24-minute deep free jazz "Journey To Air 1" recorded at Upsurge Studio in New York. (See LP: Group Everything Everything Everything ‎– Hino's "Journey To Air" - Love Records ‎– TP-103).

Very intriguing music. Highly recommended.

If you find it, buy this album!

TERUMASA HINO – Wheel Stone - Live In Nemuro (East Wind / LP-1979)

Label: East Wind – 15PJ-1002

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: Japan / Released: 1979

Style: Avant-garde, Modal, Free Improvisation

Recorded live, April 8, 1975 at the Nemuro-Shi Kohmikan.

Design [Album Design] – Heyqlow Kobayashi

Album Director – Hiroshi Mitsuka, Nobuo Kondoh

Photography By [Back-Cover] – Masakatsu Sasaki

Photography By [Cover] – Fumio Tomita

Engineer – Masayoshi Ohkawa, Toshiaki Kanazawa

Executive-Producer – Toshinari Koinuma

Producer – Kiyoshi Itoh

Liner Notes – Shun-ichi Morita

Matrix / Runout (side A): EW-8065-A 15PJ-1002 - 1

Matrix / Runout (side B): EW-8065-B 15PJ-1002 - 2

A - Mocco .................................................................................................... 21:24

B - In The Darkness .................................................................................... 15:35

Written-By – Terumasa Hino

Personnel:

Terumasa Hino – trumpet, flugelhorn

Hideo Miyata – tenor saxophone

Fumio Itabashi – piano, electric piano

Kiyoshi Sugimoto – electric guitar

Tsutomu Okada – bass

Motohiko Hino – drums

Yuhji Imamura – percussion

A live recording that brought the legendary playing style of Terumasa Hino before he embarked on a national tour 1975. There are two original long tracks in front of us, rhythmic embodiment in the thrilling " Mokko" and "Into the Darkness," recorded in the " live -in-the- concert," format.

A searing performance from this brilliant Japanese trumpeter – working here at the height of his stretched-out, open-ended powers – but with a style that's a bit more inside than some of his work from the start of the 70s! Hino really shows himself to be a great leader here – working with a group that includes Hideo Miyata on tenor, Kiyoshi Sugimoto on guitar, and Fumio Itabashi on some especially great Fender Rhodes and piano – a wonderful player who really gives the album a solid grounding, which then allows the horn players to really soar! Hino's really finding his voice here – growing into one of the best trumpet talents of his generation – and this is his first volume of two, recorded at Nemuro-Shi Kohmikan.

If you find it, buy this album!

TAKEO MORIYAMA QUARTET – Flush Up (LP-1977 / Union Records - Re-1982)

Label: Union Jazz – KUL-5021, Union Records – KUL-5021

Series: Union Jazz 1500 Series – 2nd pressing

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue / Country: Japan / Released: 1982

Style: Avant-garde Jazz, Modal, Free Improvisation

Recorded Live at Shinjuku Pit Inn, Tokyo, in March 1 and 2, 1977.

Originally release 1977 (Teichiku Records ‎– GM-5008)

Made By – Teichiku Records Co., Ltd.

Engineer – Shinichi Kikuchi

Mastered By – Shuji Sakaguchi

Executive-Producer – Toshio Imai

Matrix / side A, Runout: LS - 5333 X1

Matrix / side B, Runout: LS - 5333 X2

A  -  Flush Up .................................................................................................. 18:13

         (Fumio Itabashi)

B1 - Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise .............................................................. 14:59

         (O. Hammerstein II, S. Romberg)

B2 - Yellow Bear ............................................................................................... 8:09

         (Fumio Itabashi)

Personnel:

Takeo Moriyama – drums, percussion

Fumio Itabashi – piano

Tomoki Takahashi – tenor saxophone, sopranino saxophone

Hideaki Mochizuki – bass

Note:

"Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" is a song with music by Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II from the 1928 operetta The New Moon.

Drummer Takeo Moriyama recorded a live album in 1977, 1 and 2 March at Shinjuku Pit Inn, Tokyo, the first after the end work with the Yosuke Yamashita Trio.

"Flush Up" and "Yellow Bear" the original songs of Fumio Itabashi who played a musical staff at Takeo Moriyama Quartet during this period. The quartet consists of: drummer Takeo Moriyama, saxophonist Tomoki Takahashi, jazz pianist Fumio Itabashi and bass player Hideaki Mochizuki.

"FLUSH UP" is alongside "HUSH-A-BYE", LP where can fully enjoy the talented masterful performances based on the powerful druming of Moriyama full-length.

A masterpiece of Japanese spiritual jazz.

If you find it, buy this album!

SABU TOYOZUMI/MOTOTERU TAKAGI – If Ocean Is Broken (Rec.1971/2LP-2009)

Label: Qbico – Qbico 95

Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Limited Edition / Country: Italy / Released: 2009

Style: Free Jazz, Free Improvisation

Recorded live in April 1971 at Yasuda Seimei Hall, Tokyo, Japan.

Cover Design – Qbico

Mastered By – Harumi Hayashi

Recorded By – Tanso Watazumi

Matrix / Runout (Runouts A): blue QBICO 95 A

Matrix / Runout (Runouts B): blue QBICO 95 B

Matrix / Runout (Runouts C): red 2 QBICO 95 C

Matrix / Runout (Runouts D): red 2 QBICO 95 D

A - Song For Yoo-Ki Lee ................................................................................. 20:05

B - If Ocean Is Broken .................................................................................... 25:27

C - The Alilan Pass ......................................................................................... 24:10

D - Nostalgia For Che-ju Island ...................................................................... 24:30

Sabu Toyozumi – drums, percussion

Mototeru Takagi – tenor sax, soprano sax, bass clarinet

Limited edition of 200 copies, somewhat modified design, pressed on blue and red vinyl (very rare). Recorded live in April 1971 at Yasuda Seimei Hall, Tokyo, Japan.

In the front cover is photo of Kubira (Shōtora) a Kamakura period sculpture, on the back cover is an image polychromed wood statue of En no Gyoja, also from the Kamakura Period (1185-1333).

Unreleased free jazz from Japan in its prime, recorded live in Tokyo in 1971. Mototeru Takagi already released two beautiful duo LPs back then with master Japanese drummers like Masahiko Togashi (Isolation) and Toshi Tsuchitori (Origination), so this last DLP is complete in a sense the set of duo recorded with the best, 1st generation, free music drummers from Japan. On the other side it's complete also, the duo recorded by Sabu with the greatest reeds player from Japan (still of the 1st generation); being, his various duos with legendary Kaoru Abe, already documented on Qbico (Senzei) and elsewhere. About the music: raw and passionate = primitive beauty; both musicians are in top form and surely in their most creative period. Mr. Takagi plays tenor, soprano sax and bass clarinet, while Sabu is on drums and percussion. Original recordings were very well preserved (fortunately) and the pressing came out wonderful! Cover by qbico which Sabu can really dig, saying that En no Gyoja is deeply respected by him, he opened the way... AND that was his master's guru... (strange coincidences ?!...)

_ Qbico

Shockingly well performed gig. Enjoy!

If you find it, buy this album!

YOSUKE YAMASHITA TRIO – Chiasma (MPS Records / BASF - LP-1976)

Label: MPS Records / BASF – 68.115 / 20 22678-6

Format: Vinyl, LP / Country: W. Germany / Released: 1976

Style: Free Jazz, Free Improvisation

Recorded live June 6, 1975 at the Heidelberger Jazztage.

Cover Design By – Horst Weber

Photography By [Reverse Side] – Ralph Quinke

Recorded By [Engineer] – Carlos Albrecht

Mixed on Tonstudio Bauer

Produced By – Horst Weber

Sleeve Notes [Translation] – Thomas Fitterling

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, stamped): A 1(lying) 0022 678 S 1 3 20

Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, stamped): A 1(lying) 0022 678 S 2 3 20

Exactly like release 20 22678-6 but with a sticker MPS - 68.115 on the back side cover (upper right corner), red label MPS/BASF release.

A1 - Double Helix ................................................................................................. 4:24

A2 - Nita ............................................................................................................... 4:51

A3 - Chiasma ....................................................................................................... 7:14

B1 - Horse Trip .................................................................................................... 3:44

B2 - Introhach ...................................................................................................... 4:05

B3 - Hachi .......................................................................................................... 12:50

Yosuke Yamashita – piano

Akira Sakata – alto saxophone – Akira Sakata

Takeo Moriyama – drums, percussion

Leader & founded by pianist Yosuke Yamashita, most references encountered refer to him as “The Japanese Cecil Taylor”! Taylor has clearly been a tremendous inspiration for Yosuke who has frequently eulogized him & lavished his idol with the highest of adulation as well as sharing at least one performance together. But Yosuke & indeed his trio are no epigone or second-rate plagiarists. Paired with long time affiliate saxophonist Akira Sakata, an absolute madman of screaming, implacable excoriation, manic instability & one of the most truly ferocious, precise & demolishingly devastating drummers of all time Takeo Moriyama, they unleash an unimaginably ascetic sustained avalanche of bellicosity & divine-wrath of mythical man-beast mensuration. like martial-deities, they foment an allo-secular degree of extremes, urgency, threat & sybaritic smouldering impetuosity & emotion-lead rampageous incandescence.

YYT-Akira Sakata One of the things so exciting & precious about these guys is their commitment to doing battle in the outer-limits, as in do-or-die, foot through the floor fulgurous-ferocity. There’s just no fucking around, they ALWAYS deliver, & their over-spilling magnanimity & direct & staunchly substantial application renders that charred, direct-hit satisfaction. More than anything actually, the most consecutive, tremulous & assaulting component is Takeo, who only seems to be interested in “going for guts” & enforcing his speed-fixated, mesomorphic fanaticism & budo enhanced (surely?) power, consistently collapsing the foundries & throwing their severed pieces in a million directions. His power, stamina & fury are legendary phenomenology, but also his punctilious & tight playing, with clean & vicious rolls galore shredding adversaries & obstacles. The guy even looks the part, like notorious 1960’s psycho lone gangster actor Bunko Sugiwara, aviators, Buddhist crop, flaccid fag lolling out his chops á-la tepodama-hoodlum & attire to match (perhaps a tanto in the waist-line?!). Takeo is the only member that never seems to contrite or enact remission, he’s just always killing it & enmeshes intensity even on the very rare slower/para sections. As for Sakata, this guy makes the sax screel like a banshee, constantly bursting the nerve with those high pitched strained screamers & super-fast prismic- paracemes. YYT-Takeo Moriyama He endows some of the most emotive & non-rational imprecation to edge-up the instability. & of course we have Yosuke himself, definitely the most dynamic member who sometimes rides the current & plays a series of variables (rather than solely erratic & fast) & fractal techniques. When not careening all over the keys with his cohorts rankled & rash explosives, he mangles many forms of vaguely traditional & melodic motives with the drastic & dissolute free-form of aggressive improvisation & Avant-Garde. Together at full reciprocity velocity, these philippic conflagrating aiguilles of remorseless jocund excess, tearing through like some kind of biblical storm, bursting & inspissating with over-abundance & splendorous savagery just chop the blocks like nobody’s business. Amazing! & one of the best & most intense Off-Road Free Jazz experiences available...

Note:

Versions of “Chiasma” also occur on three of LP records (Clay, Frozen Days & the Up-To Date) as well as two alternative takes of “Double Helix”.

If you find it, buy this album!

AKIRA SAKATA TRIO – Counter Clockwise Trip (Frasco-FS-7001/LP-1975)

Label: Frasco – FS-7001

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo / Country: Japan / Released: 1975

Style: Free Jazz, Free Improvisation

Recorded in München Union Studio, West Germany  3,4,5 July 1975.

Cover Design By – Ishikawa Hideomi

Photography By – Uchida Takumi

Engineer [Recording] By – Günther Zipelius

Assistent Engineer By – George Dirtinger

Produce  – Akira Sakata for Frasco

Album Produce – Kitazawa Yasutaka

A3, B1, B2 written-by – Akira Sakata

Matrix / Runout: (Side A runout, stamped) FS7001A

Matrix / Runout: (Side B runout, stamped) FS7001B

A1 - Frascoration ............................................................................................. 8:54

         (T. Moriyama)

A2 - Bass Folk Song No.2 ............................................................................... 2:30

         (A. Roidinger)

A3 - Automatic Moon ...................................................................................... 7:29

B1 - Combination ............................................................................................ 9:51

B2 - Counter-Clockwise Trip ........................................................................... 9:03

Akira Sakata – alto saxophone, clarinet

Adelhard Roidinger – bass

Takeo Moriyama – drums, percussion

Yosuke Yamashita "Chiasma" recorded on a Trio Summer Europe Tour on June 6, 1975 at the Heidelberger Jazztage, Germany.
Album "Counter Clockwise Trip" is then recorded in a month later (3,4,5 July) in Munich Union Studio, Germany, as Akira Sakata Trio. Akira Sakata (saxophone, clarinet) is a leader, and there is a bassist Adelhard Roidinger in place of Yosuke Yamashita. Drums & percussion, of course, the same master Takeo Moriyama.

Sakata going through the sharp pulse of Moriyama Takeo as expected. The bass is also as much talkative as saxophone and drum as much as possible, and it is fully adapted to their essence, sticking to beat-driven things. From the beginning to the end, an album that was dominated by a sense of speed.

Even so, the impression of Moriyama Takeo's drum is softer than Yosuke Yamashita Trio. He got something like some sort of mechanical precision, I thought, this is also very interesting...

If you find it, buy this album!