Mps Japan

Yosuke Yamashita Trio - Chiasma (1975) {MPS Japan POCJ-2552 rel 1998}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 267 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 97 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 102 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1975, 1998 MPS Records / Polygram Japan | POCJ-2552
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Piano

Leader & founded by pianist Yosuke Yamashita, most references encountered refer to him as “The Japanese Cecil Taylor”! Taylor has clearly been a tremendous inspiration for Yosuke who has frequently eulogized him & lavished his idol with the highest of adulation as well as sharing at least one performance together. But Yosuke & indeed his trio are no epigone or second-rate plagiarists.

Cecil Taylor - Live In The Black Forest (1978) {MPS Japan Mini LP, UCCU-9014 rel 2003}
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© 1978, 2003 MPS / Universal Japan | UCCU-9014
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Piano

A leader in the revolution that overtook jazz in the late 50’s and early 60’s, pianist Cecil Taylor’s ‘Unit’ groups reflect the move towards total ensemble Play. The concept of soloist and accompanist is abolished; instead, the improvisations consist of a continual interchange of ideas between players. Alto saxophonist Jimmy Lyons played with Taylor from 1961 until Lyon’s death in 1986. Heavily influenced by Charlie Parker, his lyrical style helped tie Taylor’s style to more traditional jazz roots.

Legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans is most often thought of as a "trio" player, as most of his albums have been piano/bass/drums, with the occasional solo or duo album. But he did record a select few albums with orchestras, and that's what makes SYMBIOSIS a special and unique entry in Evans' hugh catalog. Recorded in 1974, it was released in 1994 on CD for the first time. Further, this albums contains no standards or Evans originals–the title piece is a multi-part suite composed, arranged and conducted by Claus Ogerman (who also collaborated with Stan Getz and Frank Sinatra, among many others).

The biggest volume so far in the Spiritual Jazz series from Jazzman Records – and maybe the best as well! This fantastic collection looks at the huge legacy of spiritual jazz that flowed from the Japanese scene in the postwar years – sounds that had their initial expression around the same time that the modal jazz of Miles and Coltrane was bursting forth in the US, but which also too so many twists and turns of its own – with some very strong influences along the way from Japanese folk and culture! Much of this music was initially restricted only to release on Japanese labels – and even later, as some of the artists attained fame, the global circulation of their music only happened with more commercial recordings.

Clarke-Boland Big Band - Handle With Care (1963) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit WPCR-27294}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 262 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 81 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 111 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1963, 2013 Atlantic / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27294 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Modern Big Band / Progressive Jazz

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Great work by this legendary hard swinging band – an early 60s American album issued on Atlantic Records, in the years before the Clark Boland Band's legendary run on MPS! Despite the early date, the album's got all the core elements of the band's sound in place – soaring rhythms, sharp-edged frontlines, and some great solo work by players who include Benny Bailey, Derek Humble, Jimmy Woode, Shahib Shihab, Idrees Sulieman, and Fats Sadi – coming together in a brilliant trans-Atlantic meeting of jazz talents! Tracks include "Long Note Blues", "Speedy Reeds", "Sonor", and "Om Mani Padme Hum".

Shorty Rogers and His Giants - Jazz Waltz (1962) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27458}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 281 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 96 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 129 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1962, 2013 Reprise / WEA / Warner Japan | WPCR-27458 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / Bop / Trumpet

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Don't think "waltz music", think "modal jazz" – because the version of jazz waltz that Shorty Rogers serves up here is a great precursor to the great grooves to come on the European scene – especially the work from the artists at MPS Records! Tunes all have this great rhythmic pulse – a way of leaping into a groove that has the piano and bass dancing together wonderfully – often with some cool vibes from Emil Richards, and loads of great reed lines from Bud Shank and Paul Horn! Some tracks feature a small combo, some feature a larger group – and the whole thing is wonderful – with energy that almost rivals the Clarke Boland Big Band with Gigi Campi. Titles include "Be As Children", "Walk On The Wild Side", "Jazz Waltz", "Terrence's Farewell", and "A Taste Of Honey".

Jasper van 't Hof - Eyeball (1974) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 279 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 108 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 227 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1974, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6397
Jazz / Post Bop / Modern Post Bebop / Fusion / Jazz Funk / Keyboards

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. A really nice mix of modes from keyboardist Jasper Van'T Hof – as some cuts feature the heavy electric modes we know from his MPS recordings of the 70s – but others feature a much more personal approach on acoustic piano! As with other records from the time, Jasper plays a range of keyboards here – from piano to Fender Rhodes to organ – and the group shifts a bit from track to track, depending on the mood – and features Wim Overgaauw on guitar, John Lee on bass, Zbigniew Seifert on violin, and Gerry Brown on drums. Lee and Brown kick in heavily on the jamming cuts, but lay back more on the mellower ones.