A wonderfully wide-ranging look at the more unique aspects of Japanese jazz from the 60s onward – a set that mixes together spiritual tracks, bossa nova, and some surprisingly soulful tracks too – all from records that were only ever issued in Japan! If you've heard the great first volume, you'll know what to expect here – but we can also say that the scope of work here might even be better, and there's some great surprises along the way – especially on cuts that show the way these Japanese jazz musicians have taken some inspiration from American music, then really run far in their own new directions with the work. Titles include "Yamame" by Akira Miyazawa, "Loving You" by George Otsuka, "Down To The Sea" by Yoshio Ikeda, "Clair Deluge" by Toshiyaki Yokota & The Beat Generation, "Saynoara Blues" by Hideo Shiraki, "Blossom In The Water" by Masao Yagi, "Day Of The Sun" by Masahiko Togashi & Isao Suzuki, "Summer Wind" by Yasuko Nagamine & Yasuaki Shimizo, "Desireless" by Masahiko Togashi, "Lady Boogie" by Takeru Muaroka & His New Grup, "Constant Rain" by Tadao Sawai & Toshiyuki Miyama, and "Ma Mere L'Oye" by Jun Date & Masayki Takayanagi. ~ Dusty Groove
A hell of a record from the great Andrew Cyrille – and one that lives up to his key legacy of solo percussion records from back in the day! Cyrille's very first date as a leader was a solo percussion set – and for years, he's continued to be one of the best performers in the mode – as musical as he is rhythmic, with a touch on the instruments that's been groomed in so much other work with others, but which has this sense of warmth and personality in a solo setting that seems to go far beyond anything else that Andrew ever does! The set has a nicely large array of percussion instruments – all woven together into a wonderful tapestry of sound by Cyrille – on titles that include "Water Water Water", "Jumping In The Sugar Bowl", "Enter From The East", "Bernard Albert Wilkinson", "Thruway", and "Tambourine Cocktail". ~ Dusty Groove
Drummer Tim Carman is best known for his work in the bluesy trio GA-20, but here he's in much more of a jazz-based mode overall – leading a trio that features some stunning organ work from Ken Clark, a player we don't know at all, but who clearly knows how to channel the best soul jazz styles of the 60s! There's a fierce, freewheeling vibe to the cuts – not funk, but more classic organ jazz – supported throughout with equally strong work on guitar from Steve Fell. If we had to come up with a reference for the vibe, we might go back to the 60s trio work of Don Patterson with Pat Martino and Billy James – and that's a heck of a compliment from us! Titles include "Blues For Bob", "Buster Rides Again", "Insomnia", "Sonnymoon For Two", "Not A Tear", "Key Lime", and "Scoochie". ~ Dusty Groove
A really great collection of jazzy groovers – one that effortlessly combines older material and newer recordings, all with a great ear that never tires in its pursuit of the groove! The blend of old and new is a bit like some of the collections we used to love from Gilles Peterson back in the last century – but Paul Murphy definitely has his own style and way of choosing a tune, and like Peterson, he has a great way of setting a new sort of fire with jazz – one that will burn strongly for generations to come! Titles include "Yatra-Ta" by Terje Terasmaa, "African Mailman" by Rhythmagic Orchestra, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Blue Mode, "Foot In The Door" by Onward International, "Zombie" by Art Ensemble Of Chicago, "Emnete (live)" by Imperial Tiger Orchestra, "4 Beat Cha Cha Cha" by Lucas Van Merwijk & His Cubop City Big Band, "Tribute To Mulatu" by Patchworks, "Koumba Fri Fri" by Mamelon, "Sorrow Tears & Blood" by Shola Adisa Farrar & Florian Pellissier Quartet, and "Mambo De La Pinta" by Art Pepper. ~ Dusty Groove
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