Craftman

Replica reissue of one of the rarest free jazz LP ever made: Masayuki Takayanagi's Flower Girl. Supposedly released in a limited run of 100 copies in 1968, this incredibly rare record - released as a promotional album, and never marketed - gets its first vinyl reissue via Craftman Records.

Craftman Records presents Shuko Mizuno's "Jazz Orchestra '73". Recorded August 23, 1973 (Part 1), and September 2, 1973 (Part 2). Alto Saxophone – Isao Kimura, Kazumi Oguro, Baritone Saxophone – Shigeru Hirano, Drums – Isao Yomoda, Electric Bass – Masaaki Ito, Tenor Saxophone – Mamoru Mori, Seiji Inoue, Trombone – Masamichi Uetaka, Takahide Uchida, Takashi Hayakawa, Teruhiko Kataoka, Trumpet – Kazumi Takeda, Shuji Atsuta, Shin Kazuhara, Yoshikazu Kishi.

The New Herd of Toshiyuki Miyama was one of the greatest large ensembles in Japanese jazz during the 70s – and here, they've got an extra-special sort of sound, thanks to the presence of guitarist Kozaburo Yamaki – who not only solos on all tracks, but also wrote some great original material for the record! Yamaki's tunes have this rising sort of majesty that makes the Herd sound even more powerful than usual – some spiritual currents they don't always have, and which are underscored both by the guitar lines, and the way the rhythms build nicely on the longer tunes. Titles include "Sunday Thing", "Friends", "Plain Song", "Sweet Heart Blues", "Soft Rain", and "Memories".

The New Herd of Toshiyuki Miyama was one of the greatest large ensembles in Japanese jazz during the 70s – and here, they've got an extra-special sort of sound, thanks to the presence of guitarist Kozaburo Yamaki – who not only solos on all tracks, but also wrote some great original material for the record! Yamaki's tunes have this rising sort of majesty that makes the Herd sound even more powerful than usual – some spiritual currents they don't always have, and which are underscored both by the guitar lines, and the way the rhythms build nicely on the longer tunes. Titles include "Sunday Thing", "Friends", "Plain Song", "Sweet Heart Blues", "Soft Rain", and "Memories".

Really lovely piano work from Masaru Imada - a player who's a bit gentler than some of his Japanese contemporaries of the early 70s, but who also works with this wonderfully lyrical tone! Imada does a great job of balancing a sense of flow with a punctuated approach to the keys - never overdone, and often with this spacious sensibility - but more pointed than a Bill Evans style as well. The first half of the album is solo material, and the second features a trio - bass is by Isoo Fukui and drums are by Mashiko Ozu - both players who step into Imada's world in a way that's subtle, but extremely effective.

This album is dedicated to Duke Ellington, and it features Duke Ellington tunes - but overall the set is a very personal moment from pianist Masaru Imada - maybe one of his strongest dates of the 70s! The music opens up with that beautifully creative Japanese piano trio approach of the 70s - lots of new ideas and new styles brimming forth throughout, but always in a way that's respectful of tradition while pushing things forward - swinging back to familiar modes one minute, then soaring forth with a personal spirit the next. Masaru's trio-mates here are a great match - the excellent Isoo Fukui on bass and Tetsujiro Obara on drums.