Tags: Japanese

Review: After an acclaimed first volume, Japanese jazz expert Yusuke Ogawa continues to explore the phenomenon of Wajazz by diving into the archives of King Records. Spanning the years between 1962 and 1985, he brings to light some truly astounding music from artists like Isao Suzuki, Toshiaki Yokota, Akira Miyazawa, Takeru Muraoka, Yasuaki Shimizu, Masahiko Togashi and George Otsuka. There's a consistent thread of spiritual jazz around these varied performances, which Ogawa has pointedly selected for qualities which mark them out as unmistakably Japanese. It's another strong testament to the vibrant jazz culture from Japan, selected by a true expert driven by infinite passion for the music.

Review: Originally released in 1969, Exciting Drums African Rock Party is the first album from Akira Ishikawa under his Count Buffalo alias. It's a wide-ranging affair which includes covers of contemporary standards such as 'You Keep Me Hanging On', 'Back In The U.S.S.R.' and 'Soul Limbo', all given a bold and brassy jazz revision by Ishikawa's band, which included Hiromasa Suzuki on piano, Masaoki Terakawa on bass and Takeru Muraoka on tenor sax. This is the first time it's been repressed since its release, so you can expect all Japanese jazz aficionados to be jumping on this one quickly.