Window Pane Three Blind Mice Tbm 4002 Japan

In 1973, a new jazz club called "Misty" opened its doors in Tokyo, and young Tsuyoshi Yamamoto became its "house" pianist in January 1974. TBM producer Takeshi Fujii fell in love with Yamamoto's bluesy and lyrical playing, and decided to record his trio's first album. Recorded in March 1974, this album would become the "most exported" of all Three Blind Mice (TBM) titles. Beloved by jazz fans all over the world, this disc captures the trio's brilliant performance in superb sound quality. The of-the-moment realism of Yoshihiko Kannari's recordings and production aesthetic of producer and label head Takeshi "Tee" Fujii have been the benchmark to match. It earned the Best Engineering Award and Jazz Disc Award of Swing Journal in 1974. Don't miss out on this opportunity to add this very rare, limited SACD edition to your collection.

In its many iterations, bassist Isao Suzuki's Blow Up has been used as a demonstration disc at many audio shows and audio shops ever since it was released in 1973. The piano trio (and occasionally a quartet with Suzuki playing cello) plays soulful and energetic jazz.

Masaru Imada is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer. "Now!!" was the second album released by the fledgling Three Blind Mice, and the pianist's first leader album for the label. All four tunes are Imada's original compositions. The two slow numbers - "Nostalgia" and "The Shadow of the Castle" show his lyrical, "quiet but emotional", qualities. "Alter" is an adventurous tune whose focus is on free improvisation while "Gehi Dorian" is a modal composition as the title suggests.

Japanese jazz is one of jazz's best-kept secrets. But, it would be a a huge loss to miss “Mine”, the sublime first album of Kosuke Mine Quintet, released in 1970 on the legendary Three Blind Mice label. The record, made of 4 long pieces where Kosuke Mine’s sax (alto and soprano) and Hideo Ichikawa’s fender Rhodes never stop to respond each other is a monument of dense and spiritual jazz.

Hiroshi Fukumura is a Japanese jazz trombonist. He played with Sadao Watanabe for much of the 1970s, excepting a period where he studied in the United States at the New England Conservatory of Music. Fukumura led his own quintet, which included Shigeharu Mukai as a sideman, for this studio recording and a live release in 1973. He also was a member of Native Son and also worked with Takehiro Honda, Gil Evans, Hidefumi Toki, and others.

Shigeko Toya was considered a rising star in jazz singing when she made this debut album for the Three Blind Mice label in 1972. Classically trained pianist, she had taken voice lessons and developed her unique, soulful style. Unfortunately for her fans, she made only albums before getting married and retiring completely.

When this album was recorded in 1975, Yoshiko Goto had been singing for 20 years. As is always the case, she could have made more money singing pops, but she would rather not sing at all if she was not singing jazz. In this, another memorable vocal album from Three Blind Mice, Goto is paired wih a quartet led by bassist Takashi Mizuhashi, with young pianist Junichiro Ohashi (this was his recording debut) and alto saxophonist Yoshio Otomo providing romantic solos and counterpoints.

Hidehiko "Sleepy" Matsumoto was one of the best jazz sax players in Japan. His nickname was given by an American soldier when he was playing in a US military camp after the war. A true giant on tenor and flute, his contributions to the jazz industry of Japan were many and recognized by many awards and honors. This record, made in 1976 in a one-horn quartet setting, showcases Matsumoto's brilliant playing on both tenor saxophone and flute. He is a true master of both instruments and it is a great pleasure to hear him beautifully recorded by the people of Three Blind Mice label. A masterpiece, with great sound.

Hidefumi Toki is one of the prominent alto saxophonists in Japan. Born in 1950, he had formal and classical musical education on clarinet in high school and saxophone in college. Although he eventually quit school to become a full-time jazz musician, some say that his classical training helped him acquire his beautiful tone. Recorded in 1975 for Three Blind Mice, this debut album featured his superb regular group at the time, a pianoless quartet including the incredible Kazumi Watanabe on guitar, Nobuyoshi Ino on bass and an American expat Steve Jackson on drums.

The sixth album released by Three Blind Mice turned the spotlight on Hideto Kanai a veteran bassist who had been pursuing a very progressive, unique and uncompromising kind of jazz since the early 1960s. With his passion for educating young musicians and adventurous nature, Kanai has drawn some comparisons to another great leader, Charles Mingus, whom he respected.