Terumasa Hino

Masabumi Kikuchi - Wishes/Kochi (1976) {2015 DSD Japan East Wind Masters Collection 1000}
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© 1976, 2015 East Wind Music / Universal Japan | UCCJ-9173
Jazz / Post Bop / Fusion

An excellent mid 70s Japanese fusion set, led by the Gil Evans protege Masabumi Kikuchi – with a very similar group to the one on his awesome Susto LP! The vibe isn't quite as funky on this outing – in fact it's a bit more reminiscent of Miles' spacey electric explorations – though there are some pretty hard groovin' moments should definitely appeal to fans of funky fusion. Steve Grossman and Dave Liebman play some nice coloristic lines on reeds, and Terumasa Hino is in fine form on trumpet. The rest of the group is rounded out by Reggie Lucas on guitar playing some hard choppy accompaniment to Kikuchi's synths and electric piano, Mtume on percussion, Al Foster on drums and Anthony Jackson on bass. We're especially keen on the dark and heavy "Auroral Flare", the spacious "Pacific Hushes" which opens with a beautiful line played by Hino and the set's closer "Alone".

Elvin Jones - Earth Jones (1982) {Quicksilver QSCD4015 rel 2003}
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© 1982, 2003 Quicksilver | QSCD4015
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Drums

On this interesting but unfortunately out of print LP, the immortal drummer Elvin Jones teams up with four advanced but very different improvisers: Dave Liebman (doubling on soprano and flute), cornetist Terumasa Hino, pianist Kenny Kirkland and bassist George Mraz. Other than a lyrical version of "Never Let Me Go," the songs were contributed by either Jones ("Three Card Molly") or Liebman, whose "Day and Night" is not surprisingly based on the chord changes of "Night and Day." The solos are unpredictable but logical, and the blend between the lyrical Hino and Liebman is appealing.

Masabumi Kikuchi - Susto (1980) {Blu-spec CD2 Sony Music Japan SICP 30310 rel 2013}
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© 1980, 2013 Columbia / Sony Music Japan | SICP 30310 | Legacy Recordings Series
Jazz / Fusion / Jazz Funk / Keyboards

The latest DSD remaster. Features the high-fidelity Blu-spec CD2 format (compatible with standard CD players).A great album of funky Japanese fusion – one that features a variety of keyboards from Masabumi Kikuchi, plus work by Terumasa Hino on trumpet, Steve Grossman and Dave Liebman on saxes, and James Mason on guitar! The best cuts have a funky feel that's in the CTI/Kudu mode – perhaps mixed with a bit of Herbie Hancock keyboard jamming – and the album's a surprisingly lost funky gem in the Columbia catalog of the early 80s, with a much harder edge than some of the other work on the label at the time! Titles include "Circle/Line", "New Native", "Gumbo", and "City Snow".

Sadao Watanabe - Dedicated To Charlie Parker (1969) {Denon-Nippon Columbia 32C38-7689 rel 1985}
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© 1969, 1985 Denon / Nippon Columbia | 32C38-7689
Jazz / Bop / Post-Bop / Saxophone

1985 Japanese edition of a classic featuring Terumasa Hino on trumpet and Sadao Watanabe on alto sax, recorded live at Ginza Yamaha Hall, Tokyo on March 15, 1969.