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!
