Sunday, December 28, 2014

Sadao Watanabe - Sadao Plays Bacharach & Beatles


Year : 1969
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Pop, Soul Jazz, Jazz Rock,

As title suggests, "Sadao Plays Bacharach & Beatles" is a compilation album of their best known songs. It brings together three studio recordings and six live recordings from the Sadao Watanabe's 1968 performance at Sankei-Hall, Tokyo, featuring Terumasa Hino, Kazuo Yashiro, Yoshiaki Masuo, Hiroshi Suzuki & Yoshio Ikeda. Titles include some famous Burt Bacharach's pop songs (Look Of Love, Walk On By) and from The Beatles, including three tracks from their "Magical Mystery Tour" album, all played in the Soul Jazz/Rock styles. All tracks of the side B are studio recordings whose a over 14 min variation of George Harrison's "Blue Jay Way" including free rock expressions.

MUSICIANS : Sadao Watanabe - alto saxophone, sopranino - Yoshiaki Masuo - guitar- Yoshio Ikeda - bass - Isao Eto - electric bass - Fumio Watanabe - drums - Yuji Imamura - percussion- Kazuo Yashiro - organ, electric piano, hapsicord -  Terumasa Hino & Tetsuo Fushimi - trumpet - Hiroshi Suzuki - trombone - Yasushi Ichihara - baritone trombone


Sadao Watanabe & Brazilian 8 - Sadao Meets Brazilian Friends

LISTEN SAMPLE
 
 
Year : 1968 
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series 
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz 
Style : Bossa Nova, Samba

"Sadao Meets Brazilian Friends" is the first studio recording outside Japan for the main actor of the japanese Bossa Nova 'boom' during the sixties decade. Recorded in 1968 at Sao Paulo, it features the Brazilian 8 aka "Brazilian Octopus", in which evolved a famous brazilian latin jazz pianist, Hermeto Pascoal. Titles include the standards of Bossa Nova composed by its masters João Gilberto (Bim Bom), Djamel Ferreira (E Nada Mais), João Donato (Muito A Vontade), Chico Buarque De Hollanda (Carolina) and three original compositions of Sadao Watanabe whose the two samba "Ritmo". All tracks arranged by Sadao Watanabe.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Brazilian Tapestry ~ Bossa Nova And Other Favorites



Essential grooves from Bossa Nova, Psychedelic rock & others Samba beats of Brazil recorded between 1966-1971 and performed by Jazz musicians, main actors of the Tropicália movement, Samba Singers, the Kings & Queens of Brazilian Pop featuring Gal Costa, Erasmos Carlos, Elis Regina, Wilson Simonal, Chico Buarque, Jorge Ben, Gilberto Gil & many more... Compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Caetano Veloso - Caetano Veloso (Tropicália)

 
Year : 1968
Label : Philips
Serie : DeLuxe
Genre : Latin, Rock, Latin Jazz
Style : MPB, Bossa Nova, Samba, Psychedelic

After his debut Bossa Nova album, "Domingo" (1967), which launched Gal Costa's career in Brazilian Pop Music, the committed artist Caetano Veloso, gets involved into the Tropicália movement in becoming one of its famous leaders with among others artists such as Gilberto Gil, Os Mutantes, Maria Bethânia or Tom Zé. This protest movement started in the late sixties, formed by a community of musicians, political activists, songwriters and poets who wanted revolutionize the brazilian culture involving an assertive social awareness against Brazilian military dictatorship (Gil & Veloso were held for several months in 1969 before to be forced to leave the country). They have searched in introducing largely some influences, spirit, writing style & attitude from the Beat Generation, folk & psychedelic music as performed by the Jefferson Airplane, Bob Dylan, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. Also called the "Tropicalia" album, it was recorded with the ambition to make it the equivalent of the "Sgt. Peppers" album for Brazil, co-written & composed with the poet José Carlos Capinan, his friend Gilberto Gil, Ferreira Gullar, the songstress Gal Costa and Rogério Duprat in charge of the arrangements (himself involved in several albums of the Tropicália movement),  Titles include the two anthems "Tropicália" & the freedom song "Alegria, Alegria" (often referred to as the Brazilian hymn of 1967), "Ave Maria" from the Franz Schubert version & "Clara" featuring Gal Costa.

George Otsuka Trio - Page 2


Year : 1968
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Post Bop, Modal

Essential jazz record, volume 2 of three discs serie recorded between 1967-1969, by one of the most famous japanese jazz trio featuring pianist Hideo Ishikawa & bassist Masaoki Terakawa. The trio was actives from 1965 to 1969, recording the others jazz masterpieces that are "Page 1""Last Summer - 3" and Akira Miyazawa's "Now's The Time". "Page 2" which received in 1969 the Grand Prix from the Japan Jazz Awards, is part of Sleep Walker's influences, a japanese Nu-Jazz quartet. Titles include the iconic dancing jazz tune "Hot Cha!" (Junior Walker) and the jazz standards "On Green Dolphin Street", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "Blues By Five" (based on a version recorded in 1956 by the Miles Davis Quintet), "Lament".


Groove Holmes - American Pie


Year : 1972
Label : Groove Merchant
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk

"American Pie" is representative of influences to the British Acid Jazz movement in the nineties, whose the fatherhood could be return to Holmes. An album in the same way as his previous "Comin' On Home" released on Blue Note records, including stoned-soul grooves and heavy funk, his first recording for the label of Sonny Lester, "Groove Merchant". Titles include "American Pie" by Don McLean, the Sonny Rollins' standard, "St. Thomas", the demonstrative "Fingers" and a variation of the Jimmy Van Heusen's "Here's That Rainy Day". 

MUSICIANS : Richard "Groove" Holmes - organ - Larry Willis - electric piano - Gerald Hubbard - guitar - Jerry Jemmott - bass - Kwasi Jay Ourba - drums, congas, bongos

Lou Donaldson - Say It Loud !


Year : 1969
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

More pop language for Lou Donaldson, using the varitone process, an amplification system for saxophone. Lou Donaldson Quintet featuring Charles Earland, Blue Mitchell, Jimmy Ponder, and his sideman, Idris Muhammad, play under the Blues/Boogie mode, making of "Say It Loud!" one of his funkiest album. The first side is devoted to covers songs including the opening track, the iconic protest song of James Brown and two great jazz standards, "Summertime" revisited in a latin variation and "Caravan", while the other side consists on two originals (Snake Bone, Brother Soul) composed by Lou Donaldson.

MUSICIANS : Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone - Blue Mitchell - trumpet - Charles Earland - organ - Jimmy Ponder - guitar - Idris Muhammad - drums

Friday, October 24, 2014

Zito Righi E Seu Conjunto - Alucinolândia

 
Year : 2014/1969
Label : Superfly Records/Hot
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : MPB, Bossa Nova

Zito Righi is an multi-instrumentalist, best known as saxophonist, arranger and band leader, in charge of three others albums known to date, recorded in the early sixties : "Sax De Ouro" (1961) ; "The Song Is You" ; "Ribamar & Zito Righi" (1963). Originally released on label Hot, this obscure gem from Brazilian Latin Pop Music was reissued by Superfly Records, itself based on a japanese re-press (Production Dessinée). "Alucinolândia" is a brazilian tapestry, not really an ode to psychedelia (as the title and the front cover suggest), than a sophisticated blend of versatile rhythms as well as Boogaloo, Bossa Nova, Samba & Mambo. Titles include instrumental tracks, various songs recorded in english & portugese featuring Sonia Santos, the classic of George Gershwin, "Love Here To Stay" and the djs favorites "Birimbau" (selected for Via Brasil compilation, 2001) & "Poema Ritmico Do Malandro"  All tracks recorded, led & arranged by Zito Righi.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Takehiro Honda & His Orchestra - What's Going On


Year : 1971
Label : Trio Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk

"What's Going On" is the sixth studio album and the first recorded in the U.S.A. by jazz pianist Takehiro Honda with arranger Teddy Adams, his first incursion in the R&B genre. The Takehiro Honda's orchestra is based on japanese-american line-up featuring Ken Lawson, James Cheek, Kohsuke Mine & Tetsuo Fushimi. "What's Going On" includes iconic funk/soul gems from the Impressions (Check-Out Your Mind), James Brown (Ain't Funky Now), Marvin Gaye (What's Going On), Otis Redding (Dock Of The Bay), jazz covers from Eddie Harris (Sham Time) by the Crusaders (Greasy Spoon) and variation on "Ain't Tell You A Good Way But" composed by Takehiro Honda. All tracks arranged by Terry Adams.

MUSICIANS : Takehiro Honda - organ, piano & electric piano - Teddy Adams - trombone - Ken Lawson - guitar - James Cheek - drums - Tamio Kawabata - bass - Yuji Imamura - congas - Takuji Kusumoto - drums - Kohsuke Mine - alto saxophone - Kazunori Takeda - tenor saxophone - Tetsuo Fushimi, Shuzo Morikawa - trumpet

Monday, September 15, 2014

Norio Maeda Trio - Alpha Ray


Year : 1969
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Contempory Jazz, Post Bop, Modal

The Norio Maeda's jazz masterpiece, among the best "Takt Jazz Series" albums ever recorded featuring bassist Tatsuro Takimoto & drummer Takeshi Inomata from The West Liners. "Alpha Ray" is played in up-tempo mode including Hard Bop, Modal (Fifth Column) & Avant-Garde Jazz (Infinite). Titles include four original compositions by Maeda, the jazz standards from Ray Henderson (Bye Bye Blackbird), Gene DePaul (Star Eyes), "Maria" taken from West Side Story played in the samba mode and the explosive opening track "Alpha Ray", which was included in the Shibuya Jazz Classics (Sleep Walker Collection - Columbia Issue), compilation gathering the influences of the japanese avant-garde Nu-Jazz band, Sleep Walker. All tracks arranged by Norio Maeda.

LISTEN SAMPLE

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Ace 7 - Latin Rhapsody

   
Year : 1968 
Label : RCA 
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz 
Style : Easy Listening, Afro Cuban Jazz

"Ace 7" was formed by the japanese jazz giant pianist, Hachidai Nakamura, former member in the late fifties of the first incarnation of legendary jazz quartet led by drummer George Kawaguchi, "The Big 4", featuring Hidehiko Matsumoto & Mitsuru Ono. The Ace 7 are among legends of japanese jazz musicians including "Sleepy" Matsumoto (sax), Isao "Jazz Godfather" Suzuki (b), Shungo Sawada/Sadanori Nakamure (g), Akira "Count Buffalo" Ishikawa (ds), Akira Nakano (tp), Takashi Onodera (per) & Seiji Hiraoka (vibes). Their singularity is to produce showcase albums highlithing cinema ("Ciné Jazz", "Memories Of American Movie Themes") or jazz standards ("Modern Jazz Best"). "Latin Rhapsody" is a tribute to Latin music and its own declinations like Bolero (Quizas, Quizas, Quizas, Besame Mucho), Tango (El Choclo), Rumba (Rumba Rhapsody), including classics from Cuba, Mexico passing by Argentina & Spain. All tracks arranged by Hachidai Nakamura.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

M. Sato + J. Inagaki & His Big Soul Media - Bridge Over Troubled Water


Year : 1971
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Master Sonic Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Free Rock

Masahiko Sato started as professional musician in the sixties joining the Masaaki Fujita Quintet  and  the Toshiyuki Miyama's New Herd Big Band, before to enter in the Berklee College of Music in order to become arranger. From 1968 to 1971, he formed his most famous jazz combo, the Masahiko Sato Trio with the bassist Yasuo Arakawa & drummer Masahiko Togashi (the trio won the Japan Jazz Award in 1970, in the best debut album category for "Palladium"). Prolific pianist, Masahiko Sato has left his indelible mark on the japanese jazz history, with various experimental iconic projects ("Amalgamation", "Tri-Piano" with Norio Maeda), Free Jazz albums such as "Holography" or "Astorama" (with french violinist Jean-Luc Ponty) and soundtracks as "Belladonna" for Tezuka Productions"Astorama", recorded in 1970, opens the way to his future international collaborations, as composer & arranger, in considerable recordings from Nancy Wilson, Wayne Shorter, Roy Haynes, Gary Peacock, Art Farmer, Hank Jones passing by his fellow countryman Yohsuke Yamashita. Satoh enrolled the Jazz Rock band "Soul Media", in joint project with Jiro Inagaki featuring Ryo KawasakiYasuo Arakawa plus Tadayuki Harada, Shunzo Ohno & Takeshi Inomata from the Sound limited. Titles include the killer groove "Sniper's Snooze", the psychedelic soul tune "Love & Peace", the pop ballad "Bridge Over Troubled Water" from Simon & Garfunkel & the bluesy "Somethin Goin On" from Al Kooper. All tracks arranged by Masahiko Sato.

MUSICIANS : Masahiko Sato - piano & electric piano - Jiro Inagaki - tenor saxophone - Tadayuki Harada - baritone saxophone - Shunzo Ohno - trumpet - Tadataka Nakazawa - trombone - Ryo Kawasaki - guitar - Yasuo Arakawa - bass - Takeshi Inomata & Hajime Ishimatsu - drums - Seiji Tanaka - percussion

Saturday, August 30, 2014

George Otsuka Quintet - Go On


Year : 1972
Label : TBM
Genre : Jazz
Style : Hard Bop, Modal 

The first steps on the Three Blind Mice label by the great japanese drummer George Otsuka featuring Mabumi Yamaguchi, Takashi Mizuhashi, Toshiyuki Daitoku & the soulful expressions of Shunzo Ohno. After evolved in the Toshiko Akiyoshi's Cozy Quartet and the Hidehiko Matsumoto Quartet from 1961 to 1964, George Otsuka formed with Hideo Ichikawa & Masaoki Terakawa, his first legendary trio, actives from 1965 until 1969, with whom he recorded the famous trilogy "Page 1", "Page 2" & "Last Summer - Page 3", all released on the Columbia Takt Jazz Series. In 1968, he recorded "Groovin' With My Soul Brother" alongside Roy Haynes & Ichikawa, later evolved in the Mabumi Yamaguchi Quintet and was recruited by Isao Suzuki for his "Blow Up" in 1973, also on the TBM catalogue. During the seventies, George sharing stage with Elvin Jones or Nana Vasconcelos, and was sideman for various frontmen such as Hampton Hawes, Jack Dejohnette, Phil Wood or Miroslav Vitous. Titles include the jazz standard "Here's That Rainy Day" by Jimmy Van Heusen, the cover song "Isotope" from original composition of Joe Henderson, the title-track by Shunzo Ohno and two original compositions by Mabumi Yamaguchi.

MUSICIANS : Shunzo Ohno - trumpet & flugelhorn - Mabumi Yamaguchi - soprano & tenor saxophone - Toshiyuki Daitoku - piano - Takashi Mizuhashi - bass - George Otsuka - drums

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Nobuo Hara And Sharps & Flats - Double Exposure


Year : 1970
Label : Liberty
Genre : Jazz
Style : Big Band, Modal, Funk/Soul, Folk

A project mixing Jazz with Oriental expressions by the most famous Japanese Big Band featuring the great "Lady of Jazz", pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi as arranger and composer. As the Count Basie Orchestra, "Sharps & Flats" has been a springboard for many outstanding japanese jazz musicians like Hiroshi Suzuki (tb), Takao Naoi from The Count Buffalos (eg), Toshihiko Ogawa (p), Hiroshi Takeuchi (b), Koji Suzuki (as) or Teruyuki Fukushima (tp), all playing on "Double Exposure". Toshiko brings her contribution with four own compositions : "Let's Roll In Sake" including dynamic drums breaks, the oriental piece "Sumie", "Fool" & the extended bluesy tune "Double Exposure". Titles also include "Ostinatism" & "Lonely Girl Of East" composed by Eiichi Fujii.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Harold Alexander - Sunshine Man


Year : 1971
Label : Flying Dutchman
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz, Funk/Soul

Soul Jazz masterpiece including the two iconic "Mama Soul/Sunshine Man" tracks by saxophonist/flutist Harold 'Jazzbo' Alexander featuring pianist Neal Creque, drummer Bernard Purdie, percussionist Richard Landrum & bassist Richard Davis. Harold Alexander shared stage alongside Elvin Jones, Jimmy Davis or Eric Dolphy, session musician in groups Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers with Neal CrequeRichard Landrum, and was sideman for organist Big John Patton during the "Understanding" & "Boogaloo" sessions recordings. He released two others albums during this period, "Are You Ready ?" (live recording at the Montreux Jazz Festival) and the "Raw Root" in 1974, before leave the world of music. All tracks composed & arranged by Harold Alexander.

Buddy Rich - Roar Of '74


Year : 1974
Label : Groove Merchant
Genre : Jazz
Style : Big Band, Contempory Jazz, Funk/Soul

The "Roar of '74" is the first of five albums released by the Buddy Rich Big Band on the crossover jazz label, "Groove Merchant", founded by band leader Sonny Lester. Drummer Buddy Rich goes on his Rhythm & Blues orientation (started in 1971 with "A Different Drummer" album), featuring guitarist Joe Beck, bassist Tony Levin, pianist Buddy Budson & soloist saxophonist Pat LaBarbera. Titles include jazz covers from Horace Silver (Nutville) with insane drum breaks, Duke Ellington (Prelude To A Kiss), the heavy funk "Big Mac", "Kilimanjaro Cookout" to the african expressions (arranged by Manny Albam), and the two pure Big Band style "Waltz Of The Mushroom Hunters" & "Senator Sam". All tracks produced by Sonny Lester.

Michel Legrand - Archi Cordes

Year : 2009/1964 
Label : Vadim Music/Philips
Genre : Jazz, Pop
Style : Big Band, Easy Listening
 
Pop-Jazz album including scat songs with strings ensemble conducted & performed by Michel Legrand Et Son Orchestre featuring Elek Bacsik, famous guitarist on Serge Gainsbourg's "Confidentiel" album released the previous year. This iconic album is returned to the light in 1996, thanks to the track "Di-Gue-Ding-Ding" which was selected for the easy-listening compilation "Inflight Entertainment". The french maestro pianist who enrolled Miles Davis, Bill Evans & John Coltrane for his legendary album "Legrand Jazz" recorded in 1958, was arranger for Maurice Chevalier, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz. But Legrand is best known as composer of over 100 films music and television (The Thomas Crown Affair, Summer 42, Never Say Never Again...), popular among french filmmakers from the New Wave, in particular, Jean-Luc Godard, Jacques Demy, Agnès Varda, Chris Marker or Claude Chabrol. Titles include only compositions by Michel Legrand except Orange Blossom Special by Ervin T. Rouse.

Masaru Imada Quartet - Now!


Year : 1970
Label : Three Blind Mice
Genre : Jazz
Style : Modal, Post Bop, Free Jazz

Essential Japanese Jazz album recorded on TBM, second as a leader by pianist Masaru Imada featuring saxophonist Ichiro Mimori, bassist Takashi 'Gon' Mizuhashi & drummer Masahiko Ozu. Masaru Imada is one of these Japanese Jazz masters who evolved in various "figurehead" groups of the Japanese Jazz, at the dawn of the 70s. Masaru played in groups Takeshi Inomata's West Liners (alongside Ichiro Mimori), Tadayuki Harada's group, Bingo Miki's Inner Galaxy Orchestra and was a former member of the iconic jazz rock band Jiro Inagaki's Soul Media. The bassist Takashi Mizuhashi was sideman for Sadao Watanabe, George Otsuka, Isao Suzuki, Terumasa Hino and also member of the legendary George Kawaguchi's Big 4 & Kosuke Mine Quintet. Titles include only original compositions arranged by Masaru Imada including Modal Jazz & free improvisations.


Various - Mobilisation Générale : Protest And Spirit Jazz From France


Year : 2013
Label : Born Bad Records
Genre : Jazz
Style : Modal, Free Jazz, Avant-Garde

Music from the revolutionaries inspired by the Beat Generation & the counterculture featuring Art Ensemble Of Chicago, Brigitte Fontaine, Full Moon Ensemble, Michel Roques, François Tusques Le Collectif Du Temps Des Cerises. Great spiritual jazz associated to poetry, spoken words & african/arabic rhythms, performed by various French underground artists in the Paris '70 which polarized african culture & the protest spirit during this decade. The whole of a generation politically committed & anti-militarist influenced by the Free Jazz movement with for main inspirations John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Fela Kuti, Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler or Pharoah Sanders. All tracks are selected by JB Born Bad Julien Achard Digger's digest, released for French label, Born Bad Records.

DISC 1: Alfred Panou & Art Ensemble Of ChicagoJe Suis Un Sauvage / Brigitte Fontaine & Areski BelkacemC'est Normal / Atarpop 73 & Le Collectif Le Temps Des CerisesAttention... L'Armée / RK NagatiDe L'Orient A L'Orion / Frédéric Rufin & Raphaël LecomteLes Eléphants / François TusquesNous Allons Vous Conter... (Intercommunal Blues)

DISC 2 :MahjunNous Ouvrirons Les Casernes / Full Moon EnsembleSamba Miaou / Baroque Jazz TrioOrientasie / Michel Roques - Le Cri / Chêne NoirHey / Beatrice ArnacAthée Ou A Te

Astrud Gilberto - Beach Samba

 
Year : 1966
Label : Verve
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova, Pop

Astrud Gilberto surrounded by orchestra conducted by Don Sebesky featuring flutist Hubert Laws & Toots Thielemans (guitar, whistle), rhythm section including bassist Ron Carter, drummer Grady Tate, Marcos Valle (guitar) and Georges Devens (vibraphone). "Beach Samba" was cut for international audience (like the Marcos Valle's "Samba '68"), benefiting of the Eumir Deodato and Don Sebesky's arrangements to the jazz pop orientation. Titles include a songs alternation in portuguese and english lyrics, "The Face I Love" by Marcos Valle, the jazz standard "My Foolish Heart", the banda "Parade" by Chico Buarque, two covers of Luiz Bonfa ("Oba Oba", "Dia Das Rosas") and Deodato contribution's with "Canoeiro" & "Não Bate O Coração". All tracks produced by Creed Taylor. "Beach Samba" is included in the "1001 Discs To Listen Before Die" book.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Marcos Valle by Be Hard Bop - Máximo Valle ~ Selected Works



Marcos Valle & his brother Sergio have left their mark on Brazilian music with their compositions and participated to its expansion during the sixties and the seventies. This versatile musician has explored most of the existing musical styles from Bossa Nova, Contemporary Jazz, Rhythm&Blues as well as Funk/Soul, Rock and Pop. He contributed to do emerge various brazilian Rock & Jazz bands such as O Têrço, Som Imaginario or Azimuth by recruiting them on "Marcos Valle" '70, "Garra" (1971), "Vento Sul" (1972) & "Previsão Do Tempo" (1973). Most of his albums recorded during this period, have become great classics of Brazilian music. Since his first album "Samba Demais" released in 1963, the Valle's work divides into three distinct periods : his early Bossa Nova years (1963-1968), the Psychedelic years (1969-1972) and finally the Jazz Funk in 1973. This compilation brings together some of his finest compositions from 1963 to 1973 including the Bossa standards "Gente", "Samba De Verao" & "Os Grilos". Compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Gal Costa - Gal Costa

 
Year : 1969  
Label : Philips
Genre : Jazz, Latin, Rock
Style : Samba, MPB, Psychedelic

Essential album by the iconic brazilian songtress of Tropicália mixing psychedelic rock, funk/soul including samba rock featuring special guest Gilberto Gil. It's the second collaboration with singer/lyricist Caetano Veloso after her first steps on duet album "Domingo", released in 1967. All tracks are arranged by Rogério Duprat, the brazilian maestro considered as the 'George Martin' of Tropicália movement. Titles include featurings with Gilberto Gil (Sebastiana, Namorinho De Portão), Caetano Veloso (Que Pena, Baby) and compositions from Roberto Carlos/Erasmo Carlos (Se Você Pensa, Vou Recomençar), Jorge Ben (Deus È O Amor), Veloso (Não Identificado, Saudosismo). 

Vladimir Cosma - Ultra Pop-op

LISTEN SAMPLE
 
Year : 1970   
Label : Sylvester Music Company/MPI
Serie : Sounds Pop
Genre : Jazz, Rock
Style : Jazz Rock, Psychedelic, Pop   

Vladimir Cosma is a French/Romanian composer, conductor and violinist in various music genres during over fifties years, collaborating with Michel Legrand and likewise jazz giants  Chet BakerPepper Adams or Toots Thielemans. He was in charge of numerous french film music scores, whose the most famous are "Les Aventures De Rabbi Jacob" and "Le Grand Blond Avec Une Chaussure Noire" (starring Louis De Funès and Pierre Richard). Originally released under N° 27 of the "Musique Pour L'Image" (French music library label) including background music & psychedelic soundscapes, "Ultra Pop-Op" back in the spotlight thanks to the track "Black Flowers" selected by french Hip-Hop producer Michaël Darmon (Kif records, Jazz Liberatorz) for the French jazz compilation released in 2002, "Mélodie En Soul Sol". 

Minoru Muraoka - Bamboo


Year : 2014/1970
Label : Superfly Records/King Records
Serie : New Emotional Work Series
Genre : Jazz, Folk
Style : Folk, Jazz Rock, Min'yō

Minoru Muraoka was probably the best known shakuhachi player (traditional bamboo flute), with Hozan Yamamoto & Toshiaki Yokota (Sound Limited, The Beat Generation). He was among the first to mix Japanese folk with popular music, playing in particular with Herbie Mann ("Surprises" & "Gagaku And Beyond" in 1976). "Bamboo" is a crossbreeding between jazz, pop and Japanese folk music, recorded with a large ensemble of traditional instruments among shakuhachi, koto, biwa, shamisen and taiko, all performed by the New Dimension Group, featuring percussionists  Hiromitsu & Kisaku Katada (Original Soundtrack From Lupin The 3rd), Masako Hirayama on biwa, Kimiko Yamanouchi on koto. The album is divided in two parts with  first side that showcases the traditional Japanese instruments (in particular the percussions), while the other side opens on Pop/Rock orientation including an other rhythm section, The New Emotions, featuring Akira Ishikawa (ds), Yusuke Higuchi (org), Sadanori Nakamure (eg) & Jun Suzuki (eb). Titles include jazz standard "Take Five" (Paul Desmond), three original compositions with the folk song "Nogamigawa Funauta", his masterpiece "The Positive And Negative" (most sampled Minoru Muraoka's song), the iconic "Soul Bamboo", and various pop cover songs from The Beatles to The Animals by Simon & Gartfunkel.

Yuzo Hayashi & Salon '68 - Life As A Cinema


Year : 2002
Label : April Records
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Easy Listening, Bossa Nova, Acid Jazz

Sweet lounge music recorded in 2002 by an obscure japanese keyboarder/conductor & his group featuring scat singing performances by Minako Kasahara (former member of Reggae Disco Rockers) & Mayumi Chida. In 2006, with the same formation, Yuzo Hayashi was in charge of the soundscape for the josei animated serie, "Honey & Clover", and recorded a tribute to the italian actress, Monica Vitti (Memory Of Monica Vitti) in the same line. "Life As A Cinema" is somehow the reminiscent of the classics Italian soundtracks, reminding the famous reissues & compilations from the italian Music library label, "Easy Tempo" (Piero Umiliani or Stefano Torossi), but also the Konishi Yasuharu productions with his Pizzicato Five group. "Life As A Cinema" attemps to recreate a vintage & erotic atmosphere from the glorious days of the french/italian riviera from the mid-sixties including Bossa Nova (Kaigantōri To HanauriErotica Mibōjin), french Pop (Sasowarete 63) & Acid Jazz (Kyū Shigai No Zawameki). All tracks composed & arranged by Yuzo Hayashi.


Saturday, May 24, 2014

Samurai Champloo Music Record by Be Hard Bop ~ The Sons Of A Battlecry



"Samurai Champloo" is one of the best japanese animated serie broadcast in the 2000s on TV screens, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe (also director of famous "Cowboy Bebop" serie), produced by the Studio Manglobe for FUJI TV in 2004. In order to create the perfect soundscape, the studio recruited some of the finest japanese producers & beatmakers featuring Nujabes, the electronic duo "FORCE OF NATURE" (KZA & DJ Kent), Tsutchie (former member of Shakkazombie) and Fat Jon from the american Hip-Hop band "Five Deez" including japanese rappers Shing02 (in charge of the opening), Suiken & S-Word from Nitro Microphone Underground and Azuma Riki from Small Circle Of Friends. Four volumes have been released to date plus one compilation especially produced for US. Compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.

Marcos Valle - Marcos Valle


Year : 1970
Label : Odeon
Genre : Jazz, Latin, Pop
Style : Bossa Nova, MPB, Psychedelic Pop

"Marcos Valle '70" is best known as "The Bed Album" featuring brazilian progressive rock group Som Imaginário, backing band of Milton Nascimento. Following his previous "Mustang Cor De Sangue" in 1969 introducing a psychedelic approach, "Marcos Valle '70" incorporates modern Rock & Soul influences from The Beatles, psychedelic music and the Afro-American culture. Before turning to the psychedelic pop, Marcos evolved over 10 years in the Bossa Nova style since his first album, "Samba Demais" in 1963 and contributed to its expansion with the latin jazz standards "Summer Samba" (Samba De Verão) and "Os Grilos". Titles include the finest pop ballad "Quarentão Simpático", the protest song "Dez Leis", new recording of "Os Grilos", "Esperando O Messias" feat. the Golden Boys, the waltz "Pigmalião", "Ele E Ela" & "Freio Aerodinâmico" feat. Ângela Valle (sampled by Jay Z on "Thank You" from "The Blue Print 3" in 2009) and experimental baroque suite "Suíte Imaginária". The line-up consists of Marcos Valle (vo, p), Novelli, Luiz Alves (eb), Nelson Ângelo, Tavito (eg), Wagner Tiso (keys), Robertinho Silva (ds) and Ângela Valle (backing vocals).

Count Buffalo & The Jazz Rock Band - Soul & Rock


Year : 1969
Label : Denon
Genre : Jazz
Style : Jazz Rock, Modal

Free Jazz Rock album including cover songs and original compositions recorded by the Count Buffalo band, pioneer of the Japanese Jazz Rock style featuring jazz giant pianist/arranger Masahiko Satō. The second album of Akira Ishikawa under the Count Buffalo nickname, who was actives since the mid-fifties as prolific percussionist and most famous jazz drummer with Motohiko Hino, Takeshi Inomata & George Kawaguchi. Titles include free forms of Jazz & psychedelic rock from The Beatles (Michelle, Hey Jude), the Motown's iconic song "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" which was performed by The Supremes, The Temptations & Stevie Wonder, the negro spiritual "Deep River", two compositions of Masahiko Satō "The Cougar" & "No More Than A Drop". All tracks arranged by Hiromasa SuzukiMasahiko Satō.

MUSICIANS : Akira Ishikawa - drums - Masaoki Terakawa - bass - Masahiko Satō - piano - Hiromasa Suzuki - electric piano - Kiyoshi Sugimoto - guitar - Takeru Muraoka - saxophone


Hiroshi Suzuki=Masahiko Togashi Quintet - Variation


Year : 1969
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz
Style : Modal, Free Jazz, Avant-Garde

Essential jazz album among the influences of the future-jazz quartet Sleep Walker by trombonist Hiroshi Suzuki. "Variation" is a joint project including the legendary jazz drummer Masahiko Togashi featuring pianist Yuji Ohno, saxophonist Jun Suzuki and trumpeter Tetsuo FushimiMasahiko Togashi was a major figure alongside Masahiko SatoMasayuki Takayanagi and Yosuke Yamashita in the blooming of free jazz in Japan in the late sixties whose "Variation" is one of the iconic masterpiece. Masahiko Togashi started in 1957, when he joined the Sadao Watanabe Quartet, which will bring him to play for various legends of Jazz as pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi, Helen Merrill, Masayuki Takayanagi, Yosuke Yamashita or Charlie Mariano and also in jazz big bands such as the famous Toshiyuki Miyama's New Herd. He recorded various free jazz sessions in 1969, with the Masahiko Sato Trio, several solo projects (the first "We Now Create"), and the same year, formed his best known quintet, the J.J. Spirits. Titles include "Castle Cats" selected in the  "Shibuya Jazz Classics - Sleep Walker Collection", compilation released in 2003.

LISTEN SAMPLE

Monday, April 28, 2014

Various - Nippon Girls : Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1967-1969


Year : 2013
Label : Big Beat International
Genre : Rock, Pop, Jazz
Style : Bossa Nova, Beat

Sweet sugar pop & Rock 'N Roll spirit from the "land of the rising sun" compiled by Sheila Burgel for Big Beat International. It brings together some of the greatest hits performed by the queens of the japanese pop in twelve incredible songs released between 1967-1968, featuring Jun MayuzumiMieko HirotaReiko OharaMie Nakao or Sayuri Yoshinaga. Most of the tracks selected was composed following the GS (for Group Sounds) wave, a japanese rock genre influenced by the US Rock & British Pop music which introduced the japanese pop in a modern era. Titles include pure rock songs (Black Room, Sharock No.1, Kiiro No Sekai), Jazz pop-oriented songs (Peacock Baby,  Watashi No Inori) and Bossa Nova tunes (Tsukikage No Rendezvous,  Ame Agari No Samba).




SIDE A : Jun Mayuzumi - Black Room / Mie Nakao - Sharock No. 1 Keiko Mari - Tsukikage No Rendezvous / J Girls - Kiiro No Sekai / Reiko Ohara - Peacock Baby / Mieko Hirota - Nagisa No Tenshi

SIDE B : Rumi Koyama - Watashi No Inori  / Nana Kinomi & Leo Beats - Suki Sa Suki Sa Suki Sa / Miki Obata - Hatsu Koi No Letter  / Ryoko Moriyama - Ame Agari No Samba / Ayumi Ishida - Taiyou Wa Naite Iru / Sayuri Yoshinaga With Schoolmates - Koi No Yorokobi

Yuji Ohno - Lupin The 3rd TV BGM Collection Vol. 2


Year : 1981
Label : Nippon Columbia
Genre : Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style : Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

Part II of the TV Original Soundtrack BGM Collection series, recorded for the fourth and final season of "Lupin The 3rd" animated serie broadcast between 1979-1980. This compilation includes new recordings of the previous tracks composed for the first season from 1977 to 1978 (Midnight Chasers & Active Guys), unreleased & alternative takes (The Memory Of Mysterious Journey). Various songs were extracted for background music recorded for the "Cagliostro No Shiro" movie (1979), later gathered in two compilations released in 1983 & 1994. All tracks composed & arranged by Yuji Ohno, performed by You & The Explosion Band.

Side A : Lupinland (also known as "On The Sunny Street") - A Fogcircle - Run! Run! Run! The Game Of Chase (new version of Midnight Chasers - 1977) - A Man's Man (variation of Super Hero - 1978) - Christal So Christal Nightmare - Teardrops - Dangerous Temptation (new version of Active Guys M9 - 1977) - Darkness And Shadow - Don't Be Shy, Zenigata

Side BLupin In The Trap - The Memory Of Mysterious Journey (variation of Mysterious Journey) - Strange Sensation (from Cagliostro No Shiro) - Fire Treasure (instrumental version from Cagliostro No Shiro) - Sneakin' (from Cagliostro No Shiro) - Lone Wolf (from Cagliostro No Shiro) - Uncanny Night (from Cagliostro No Shiro) - Leave You (instrumental version)
                               

Chris Joss - Sticks


Year : 2009
Label : Eighteenth Street Lounge Music
Genre : Electronic, Pop
Style : Acid Jazz, Soul Jazz, Psychedelic

Fifth album from french multi-instrumentalist & DJ, Chris Joss (organ, bass, sitar) featuring german saxophonist Praful, norwegian pianist Alexander Von Mehren (vibraphone) & Cosmika (voices). "Sticks" is an instrumental album inspired by the swinging London sixties era including Psychedelic Rock, Soul Jazz and Indian Folk influences. An oriental atmosphere hovers on the album emphasized by the regular use of sitar which take us in a psychedelic journey. Titles include pure dancing tracks (Danger BudsZingy Twangs feat. Cosmika), Afrobeat (Root JuiceTea Age Sea Feat. Alexander Von Mehren), psychedelic pop grooves (CharmerMelisma Mercury Feat. Praful, A Soft Reprise) & cinematic atmosphere with "Night Scare" feat. Cosmika . All tracks composed, performed & produced by Chris Joss.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Ain't It Funky Now ? ~ The Deepest Soul Expressions Of Jazz



The deepest Jazz grooves when Jazzmen speak to the Soulmen in sixteen tracks featuring some of the best performers from the crossover Jazz/Funk scene including Bernard Purdie, Idris Muhammad, Freddie Hubbard, Eumir Deodato, Billy Cobham, Harvey Mason, Roy Ayers & many more... All tracks recorded between 1969-1975, compiled & mixed by Be Hard Bop.
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