What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XIV)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2017
On the eve of a new year, it's time for a new thread.
Last year's thread can be found here:
Hue And Cry - Remote,
More '60s Miles, on '80s vinyl:
Phil Woods - Here's to my lady
Nice straight ahead jazz by Phil Woods and his quartet.
- Phil Woods - Sax, Clarinet
- Tommy Flanagan - Piano
- George Mraz - Bass
- Kenny Washington - Drums
Playing on Cassette on Maxell UL S C60 - Really nice Gene Clark from The Byrds collaberation with Carla Olson
Triple vinyl released 2018 - In the years following World War Two, Japan developed one of the most insatiable, dynamic and diverse markets for jazz. For a crucial period of little over a decade – from the late 1960s to the early 1980s – Japanese jazz culture progressed at an astonishing rate, producing an extraordinary array of artists, recordings and record labels that created some of the most forward thinking and impressive jazz to be committed to tape. This amazing journey is explored on ‘J Jazz’.
This compilation from BBE uncovers some of the most sought after and rare material from this period and pulls together key artists who shaped the post-war modern jazz scene in Japan.
‘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.
None of the tracks featured on ‘J Jazz’ have ever received an official release outside Japan before. The albums the tracks are taken from are extremely hard to find and often fetch huge sums on the collector’s circuit. Originally pressed in small numbers on independent and private labels such as Union, Johnny’s Disk, Whynot, ALM and VAP, these tracks are now available for everyone to enjoy.
Compiled by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, both long-time collectors of Japanese jazz, ’J Jazz’ brings together the very best in modern jazz from Japan, recorded during a critical period of musical and cultural transition that saw composers and musicians not only assert a new artistic identity but also create a lasting musical legacy.
This is a great compilation and if you watch the video below by Tony Higgins it highlights the Japanese Jazz Joints with album photographer Phillip Arneill. It’s a great watch. ????
Playing on Compact Disc - Very mellow hip hop and jazz fearuring all the artists on the cover - A really great album
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Now playing..........
Joe Lovano - Quarters: Live at the Village Vanguard
Joe Lovano (tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, C melody saxophone), Tom Harrell (trumpet, flugelhorn - disc one), Mulgrew Miller (piano - disc two), Anthony Cox (bass - disc one), Christian McBride (bass - disc two), Billy Hart (drums - disc one) and Lewis Nash (drums - disc two).
Streaming on NAS........ A double CD featuring two sets at the Village Vanguard in 1995. A recent purchase and spinning these two CD for the first time to kick off this Wednesday morning and the opening track 'Fort Worth' is sounding sweet!
Playing on Cassette on TDK AD -X 90 - Final Vinyl .....Recorded off Vinyl a compilation issued after they split up - Good selection of old and new Rainbow tracks
Charlie Haden & Jim Hall
This is truly a beautiful album. I can recommend this to everybody who likes small scale / intimate jazz. Just guitar and bass. It’s of a concert they gave in 1990 in Montreal. The playing of (and interplay between) Charlie Haden and Jim Hall is very good.
Thanks to Bob the Builder for pointing me to this release.
Now Playing.......
Sarah Jarosz - Undercurrent
Streaming on TIDAL......... a mention from GRAHAM RUSSELL yesterday had me place this in the TIDAL queue and now taking it out for a spin......... Fantastic opening track, 'Early Morning Light,' with acoustic guitar and sweet vocals! Enjoying this album.......
Some relaxing and mellow sounds from Richard Hawley with his album Hollow Meadows. I've had this a while, but not got round to playing it much, so I am rectifying that now. Sounding very good.
The Rolling Stones - Bridges to Babylon, similar to most later day Stones albums in that its over long , but still some great music 
Bill Fay - Who is the Sender? I saw this favourably reviewed some time ago, but I had never heard of Bill Fay. Turns out he is a singer, pianist and song writer from the late 60s / early 70s who faded from view after being dropped by his label. He has been championed by the likes of Wilco and has made a bit of a comeback.
On ancient s/h vinyl Curved Air's
Why? Classic British prog and, of course, the delightful Sonja Kristina...
steve
This afternoon, great album. Great voice...
Michael Burks an official live recording from his 2011 tour. Never been issued.
Lucinda Wiilliams a series of rough studio mixes from 2005.
Some of which ended up on West and some on the later Little Honey.
A number of traX are unreleased but the whole set could be released as is, sq is very good as it is straight off the studio sbd.
Wooden Shjips - Back To Land
Because on the 'last concerts' thread Nickpeacock had been to see the 'shjips so I just had to get one of their fine psyche rock albums out to play.
Brad Mehldau - Elegiac cycle
Great solo jazz by Brad Mehldau.
