KOICHI MATSUKAZE TRIO – At The Room 427 (ALM Records / LP-1976)

Label: ALM Records – AL-3002

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

Style: Contemporary Jazz, Free Jazz, Free Improvisation

Recorded live at Chuo University Hakumonsai on November 21, 1975.

Design By – Yoshimasa Matsuda

Photography By – Masashi Masashiro

Recorded By – Keisuke Yoshida

Record Company – Kojima Recordings, Inc.

Matrix / Runout (Side A matrix): AL-3002-A

Matrix / Runout (Side B matrix): AL-3002-B

A1 - Acoustic Chicken .......................................................................................... 20:02

        Written-By – Ryojiro Furusawa

A2 - Theme Of Seikatsu Kojyo Iinkai .................................................................... 7:44

        Written-By – Koichi Matsukaze

B1 - Little Drummer .............................................................................................. 11:31

        Written-By – Koichi Matsukaze

B2 - Lover Man ..................................................................................................... 10:40

        Written-By – David, Sherman, Ramirez

B3 - Theme Of Seikatsu Kojyo Iinkai .................................................................... 1:96

        Written-By – Koichi Matsukaze

Personnel:

Koichi Matsukaze – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet

Kouichi Yamazaki – bass

Ryojiro Furusawa – drums, percussion

Original rare pressing from 1976 on the highly collectible ALM label, which was also responsible for releasing those Abe Kaoru LP-s and East Bionic Symphonia amongst others. ALM stuff is completely elusive and so hard to find these days, especially those lesser know deities that appeared on the label. Recorded on November 21st 1975, the trio which consists out of Matsukaze Koichi - on alto sax, tenor; Yamazaki Kouichi on bass and Furusawa Ryojiro on drums – make it clear from the start that they are an unrelenting force to be reckoned with. The album dwells into free-jazzing melodic areas similar to the Art Ensemble and middle period Classic Quartet Coltrane as far as the rhythm section is concerned. The opening track has some excellent Elvin Jones’ styles drum and snare ruffings that underscore Matsukaze’s swirling sax lines. Quite intoxicating in its approach, the tune immediately sets the tone for the remainder of the album to unveil itself in. Melodic, yet free and stuffed to bursting with state of the art improvisational interplay of the highest echelon. The trio certainly demonstrates that they fully master their instruments and that they are fully jacked into the current state of free improvisational interplay, which baffles me why they had so little exposure because they were a top class act. The whole LP was recorded live before a small audience in – as the title already suggests – in Room 427, a class room of the Chuo University where Matsukaze and Furusawa were once students. But not let the location fool you, the sound quality is of the highest level and that is all thanks to Mr. Kojima who is a kick ass recording engineer, giving the record a feel like you were sitting on the first bench of the class room. For me personally, this is one of those unsung great free jazz albums to seep out of Japan, a LP that failed to gain any attention, which is so sad. This is brilliantly executed music with a great vibe resonating throughout it, melodic, free, yet at the same time filled with emotion and spine-chilling vaudevillian aesthetic. Limited one time pressing of way back in 1976.

If you find it, buy this album!