Jazz quartet Bungalow issued an imaginative and flavorful debut album with Metropolitan Oasis in 2011. Striking and singular, the songs reward repeat listens by offering creative jazz compositions with stimulating blueprints. The songs ebb and flow with energy, grooves, and … Continue reading Bungalow: Metropolitan Oasis
The textured sound of rabbitoo makes a lasting first impression on their debut album national anthem of unknown country from 2014, a fusion of jazz, rock, and electronica influences. The five-piece group led by guitarist and primary songwriter Motohiko Ichino … Continue reading rabbitoo: national anthem of unknown country
Routine Jazz Sextet from 2008 promotes genuine jazz from Tokyo with the flavor of 1950/60’s era jazz giants such as Horace Silver and Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers. Not just a throwback, the band honors the musical legacy while … Continue reading Routine Jazz Sextet
Like the expansive cover depicting a peaceful blue ocean and sky, jazz bassist Daiki Yasukagawa’s trio on Kanmai creates a mood of a rolling deep and lofty grace. The album includes nine modern jazz tunes, most being original compositions from … Continue reading Daiki Yasukagawa Trio: Kanmai
Music that takes you places, Visible/Invisible from the Ryosuke Hashizume Group presents six works of art from the saxophonist/composer, perfectly executed by the five musicians, through mellow, warm electric guitar, grooving and smooth electric fretless bass, organic and emotive piano, … Continue reading Ryosuke Hashizume Group: Visible/Invisible
Tokuhiro Doi’s Amalthea from 2011 presents a modern jazz quartet from Japan led by the deep, dark, and fantastical tones of jazz clarinet – perhaps a striking difference from the light and bouncy big-band sounds of swing dance music a … Continue reading Tokuhiro Doi Quartet: Amalthea
Utopia is the debut leader album for pianist Koichi Sato, who reaches for high standards in his original compositions and impressive performances. This is stimulating modern jazz performed by a piano trio not limited by standard jazz conventions, based in … Continue reading Koichi Sato: Utopia
Drummer Ko Omura leads the listener on his voyage of introspection on his debut album Introspect, portraying the colors and maps of his musical mind. This 2011 recording features eight tracks: six original songs from Omura in his detailed, catchy … Continue reading Ko Omura: Introspect
The jazz group Bungalow displays their original approach to modern art jazz on their second album, Past Life, from 2013. As a jazz quartet featuring an airy alto sax and piano, double bass, and drums, the group incorporates creative musical … Continue reading Bungalow: Past Life
Sumitty & THE FUNFAIR is a 2015 release from drummer Sumito Oi and his band of merry music makers, producing an original work of creatively poppy jazz. Not circus clown tomfoolery, but, rather, light and glittery music played with a … Continue reading Sumito Oi: Sumitty & THE FUNFAIR
Pianist/composer Koichi Sato releases his latest album with a distinctive sextet, clarinet and guitar adding modern groundedness, cello providing graceful maturity. The main theme was conceived while traveling in Norway and viewing a certain painting: Art Rolfsen’s “The Big Station”, … Continue reading Koichi Sato: Melancholy of a Journey
A simply wonderful collection of carefully conceived modern jazz compositions. Close attention is paid to the harmonic and rhythmic layers in the music, resulting in climactic resolutions and a striking construction of moods. The songs develop creatively and allow the … Continue reading Ryosuke Hashizume Group: incomplete voices
An elegant package inside and out, brimming with atmosphere. The outer package is a slim booklet, containing photography, a poem, and an essay. The music itself is a modern take on classic jazz songs with Japanese words and flavor sprinkled … Continue reading EMiKO VOiCE: Carta
On You Already Know (2017), the fourth album from this imaginative Japanese group, Bungalow does what they do best in modern, creative jazz, as well as incorporating new ideas and sounds into the mix. Rich with ideas and catchy music, … Continue reading Bungalow: You Already Know