May 19, 2013

Japanese Jazz 1950s–1980s [listen to 和ジャズ・ディスク・ガイド」


barabara sounds sez:
Just change my name to Taro Urashima
And, for my local friends: 大変お待たせしました…

Yes, here we go again, back from a long siesta — and kicking back into the groove with a j-jazz comp that emerged earlier this year. It's a sampler, a taster to whet your appetite, especially for those who have got their hands onto the essential primer on the j-jazz golden age (in Japanese it's called Wa-jazz Disc Guide). But you don't have to have the book in front of you to recognize the quality of the cuts here: there are some out-and-out gems.

Starting right from the get-go with the opening cut from Toshiko Akiyoshi, and then through Watanabe and Hino (a track off the classic Hi-Nology album when he followed Miles into electric territory) to Kiyoshi Sugimoto's moody Babylonia Winds, there are plenty of pearls to be dug up here. Check out some of those lesser-known artists, like Takeshi Inomata & Sound L.T.D.; or the cut by Toshiyuki Miyama & His New Herd.

Now go track down those albums (and there are a few hints in those links)…

a journalist sez:
Most of the tracks… are from albums that are highly sought after by DJs and record collectors the world over (with some going for very high prices). A lot of the albums either haven't been reissued, or have only reappeared as limited editions. So for any jazz fans who have neither the time or budget to track down the originals, this compilation is a great shortcut as well as a opportunity for beginners to dip into the rich sounds of this country's past.


20 comments:

Anonymous said...


http://www.mediafire.com/?nr8lhb6djy3hnpb

boogieman said...

Welcome back Taro!
I'm looking forward to listening to this sampler. I'm already familiar with a few tracks (thanks to blogs like yours, Bacoso and a few others).

Can't find no link to DL the previous one, have I missed something?

Cheers
Boogieman

taro nombei said...

@boogieman

Hey thanks, hope you enjoy the tracks you haven't heard as yet.

As for the previous one... sorry no link for the time being. But you know how to get hold of me ;)

danair said...

Would love to see a post Of Hino's Speak To Lonliness.

Anonymous said...

very awesome-- arigatou!!! welcome back!!

g.raf said...

Great to have you back Taro.
I'm enjoying this post.
Thank you.

taro nombei said...

@ g.raf, anon
thanks and you're very welcome.

taro nombei said...

@ danair
ah yes, a classic indeed.
And with "classic" cover art too: http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1216390

Bill said...

Great stuff! There`s so much out there to discover,thanks for opening up another page.

katonah said...

Nice drop TN, thanks.

Anonymous said...

Taro, great to see you return!

taro nombei said...

@ Bill, katonah, hideo
cheers!

jazzobsessive said...

I saw this for sale & was intrigued.

Thanks for posting this is really good & I'm already raving about it!

Anonymous said...

thanks much, Taro, keep going!)

Igor

taro nombei said...

@ jazzobsessive
@ Igor

Cheers!

Singh Style said...

Cool...

写真撮影

bongohito said...

whoa. to what to my eye appears... welcome back.

sangenjaya - very soon. dig yourself out.

112nortwest said...

Can't tell you how much I am looking forward to this album - thanks for making my sunday

112nortwest said...

Thank you for your blog.... Just dowloaded your last 4 posts after a year-long absence in blogland - looking forward to listening... love from Holland

taro nombei said...

@ 112nortwest
You're very welcome!
Time I posted some more sounds. too busy recently…
Thanks for your comment: always good to know someone out there is enjoying these sounds!