Feb 7, 2011

Togashi-Yamashita Duo - Kizashi

barabara sounds sez:
Here's another duo out of Japan, but this time featuring piano and drums/percussion. Neither Yosuke Yamashita or Masahiko Togashi should need introduction — they're among the greats from the golden age of Japanese jazz and improvisation. This session laid down in 1980 is short (just 38 minutes) but very sweet, with some lovely inventive playing. And that is probably why this has gone through a couple of CD reissues (this rip is from the first ie non SHMCD) though currently OOP. The duo also recorded a live concert of the same material later the same year.

Kizashi [ 兆 ] means a sprout or bud, but can also mean a sign or omen — not in a mystical sense but apparently as a premonition of the future direction of jazz in Japan. Looking back, I'm not sure that means very much. But at the time it was exciting, the final fling of that golden age.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Send me a sign (or an omen or a bud) to give me a premonition about what you think of it...

http://www.mediafire.com/?y03ftvbrl2btf27

[I wondered why this wasn't proving very popular...
Here at last is a link :-) ]

improv spere said...

Never heard this one, but Yamashita is a fantastic pianist and duo is one of my favourite form, I think I am going to love it.
Thanks a lot

taro nombei said...

@ hjulien
Thanks for dropping by — good to hear from you.
I'm going to have to spend some time looking around your place too!

improv spere said...

I'm now listening to this one, it is a great performance. Togashi is really surprising and Yamashita is always so talentued.
Thanks again,
Cheers

-Otto- said...

Great! In my opinion, the 80s were the most interesting years for Yamashita's output.

Anonymous said...

looking forward to another missing link in the Yamashita/Togashi discogs -- thanks, taro!

taro nombei said...

@ hideo
cheers...
it all comes together in the blogosphere…
:-)

Anonymous said...

i have no doubt, that this recording is a winner! if it isn't breaking any rules and if time permits, please reupload!

Igor

taro nombei said...

Here's a new link for you Igor. Glad to keep this one alive, it's good stuff!

http://www.mediafire.com/?3c9kntntebwhc2j

Anonymous said...

wonderful! thanks a million, Taro Nombei! many of those records you posted here are just like lost treasures, and i'm really happy to have an opportunity to listen to the stuff like that!
i listen to a lot of japanese jazz music last days and mainly Yamashita's and Togashi's by the way, so i can't wait to hear their duo album!)
wow, i'm just happy!)) thanks again!