VA - J-Jazz Deep Modern Jazz from Japan 1969-1984 (2018)

‘J Jazz’ includes obscure and sought after rarities like the bass-driven power jazz of Koichi Matsukaze’s ‘Earth Mother’, the holy grail rarity of Aizawa Tohru Quartet’s ‘Dead Letter’ and the loping majesty of Takeo Moriyama’s ‘North Wind’. This collection takes the listener into deep spiritual jazz, post-modal impressionism and fierce dance-floor fusion with material from artists and composers whose names are generally only known to committed collectors of Japanese jazz. Fumio Karashima, Mitsuaki Katayama, Takeo Moriyama and Kiyoshi Sugimoto are among the names featured on an album aiming to shed a little light on the shadowy world of Japanese jazz clubs, tucked away in the neon backstreets. This music demands a wider audience and BBE are excited to deliver a landmark compilation, lifting the veil on this wonderful and mysterious area of the global jazz catalogue.

Track List:

1. Koichi Matsukaze Trio – Earth Mother (11:22)
2. Tohru Aizawa Quartet – Dead Letter (10:11)
3. Eiji Nakayama – Aya's Samba (06:33)
4. Takao Uematsu – White Fire (07:48)
5. Shintaro Quintet – A Blind Man (10:55)
6. Mitsuaki Katayama – Unknown Point (06:33)
7. Takeo Moriyama – Kaze (05:09)
8. Terumasa Hino & Reggie Workman – Ode to Workman (15:19)
9. Fumio Karashima – Little Island (09:04)
10. Kiyoshi Sugimoto – Long Neal (08:26)