Sadao Watanabe Quartet – live in France

Motherlode! 

Not here, but over at Private Press, where Katonah has just posted some outstanding live (TV studio) footage of the Sadao Watanabe Quartet shot in France.

With him he's got Takehiro Honda on piano, Yoshio Suzuki on bass, and Fumio Watanabe on drums. They're all really on fire, especially Honda.

Katonah reckons it's from 1970. I think it's later, maybe 1973, since that was the time he was first recording with those other three. Plus Intersection (the third piece they play) wasn't recorded till that year (on Open Road). There's more on this over on Sadao's official site here…

That's probably my all-time favourite period in J-jazz, which makes it extra special. But whatever the year, it's brilliant. 

So what are you waiting for? It's over here…

And apparently there's more to come. I for one can't wait.

Shibuya Jazz Classics - Sleep Walker collection

barabara sounds sez: 

Just in time for Christmas, another bundle of tip-top J-jazz, all culled from the excellent label that was Columbia-Takt. This compilation was put together by the guys of Sleep Walker. Eleven gems for the holiday season. Not the first time it's been seen in the blogosphere I believe, but too good not to post.

Enjoy! And best wishes to one and all for the holiday season!

tracks: 
Toshiko Akiyoshi - Phrygian Waterfall; Hino-Kikuchi Quintet - H.G. and pretty; Eddie Daniels - This is new; Norio Maeda - Alpha ray; Tadayuki Harada & His Group - Cinnamon and clove; George Otsuka Trio - Blues by five; Sadao Watanabe - Mas que nada; Hiroshi Suzuki-Masahiko Togashi Quintet - Castle cats; Sadao & Charlie - Palisades; Hiroshi Okazaki & His Stargazers - Flamenco sketch; Kazuo Yashiro Trio - The black nag

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.

New Year sounds

barabara sounds sez:  

Greetings and warmest wishes as we enter 2012, the Dragon Year. Good health and good listening in the year ahead…

Here's a track — yes just the one — that is close to my heart. For sound and obvious reasons...