barnaba.siegel

Misleadingly I thought that two albums by trumpeter Shunzo Ohno - "Anteres" and "Quarter Moon" - where from East Wind label. In fact it was a Electric Bird label. They also have recently quite vast batch of reissues, but I checked some performers (like guitarist Katsutoshi Morizono or keyboardist Toshiyuki Honda) but its mostly average smooth jazz with some platitude themes. Although the 2 aformentioned Shunzo Ohno albums are really fine, reminding me a lot of lat 70s Lonnie Liston Smith. There re even Marcus Miller and TM Stevens. But I'm hugely disappointed by the lack of artworks. I always thought that any Japanese edition = best quality. I was surprised after finding that it has NO back cover or inner sleeve replicas at all.... and sad when I checked, that original albums has very nice photos of musicians from the sessions. In fact there are some vinyl-replica SHM-CD's and I believe those has every original graphic, but they're far too expensive as for just nice funky, smooth jazz.

Any recommendations for more spiritual-oriented Lake albums? There's a nice package from Black Saint/Soul Note, but this are mostly late recordings, not much from 70s http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oliver-Lake-Complete-Remastered-Recordings/dp/B00DQF1YSS/

Jaco and McCann are available on CD, Jaco also on vinyl. Yes, their eclectic. Maybe too eclectic - like you don't know what would be next. I guess everybody prefers label on which you'll find something fine each time you check what's new. Here is another interesting album from the field of jazz: http://omnivorerecordings.com/music/worlds-around-the-sun/ I'd ordered it from Amazon recently (by coincidence through Amazon's recommendations) and it's very credible spiritual-jazz set with electric touch.

I haven't heard about this label until last year when a news about Jaco's full Criteria Session poped out. http://omnivorerecordings.com/press-release-jaco-pastorius-modern-american-music-period-the-criteria-sessions/ I'v bought it and it's really fine treat for Jaco fans. Not a top quality studio recording, but sound like a good "A-" soundboard bootleg, and it really shows Jaco's creativity, his filled with freedom style. Those who have read and enjoyed biography by Bill Milkowski will surely dig it. But except "tha Jaco thing" it's also interesting discovery from the field of Rhodes-driven jazz-rock. And it comes with nice booklet, which is fine. Recently Omnivore released rare Les McCann's album "Invitation to Openess" which is the only one in his vast discography, that aims into style of Mileses "Bitches Brew". Well, it's no masterpiece, in fact sometimes it's rather dull, oneiric playing, but still a rather must-have gem for any fusion lover that is into the early jazz-rock period and with "never enough Rhodes" attitude. There is also a bonus, a live track "Compared To What", but it's nothing suprising, just a regular cut from Passport's Klaus Doldinger "Jubilee" '75 album. http://omnivorerecordings.com/music/invitation-to-openess/ There're more jazz stuff, maybe someone will be interested.

A knew I missed something

Veteran Groover - thanks for the full list Vista is a great news, as the previous editon gone quite expensive. I was quite shock after founding that Harold Budd was involved and that Marion was playing on Budd's ambient-bliss "The Pavilon of Dreams". Any other suggestions for the "non-obvious" albums (meaning other than Trane, Shepp, Szabo, Ayler)?

Hello guys. As a 70s fusion lover I'd done some "research" on East Wind re-releases . In general - albums with white background are acoustic and those with photos - electric (with some exceptions, like Terumasa Hino, who's mostly all acoustic). Second though - music from East Wind label is, on most cases, strongly inspired by John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock or Lonnie Liston Smith... sometimes too strongly, but if you're into classic albums of those mentioned, mostly everthing from EW reissues will be fine for you. From many interesting album here're the list of those, I'd recommend: Shunzo Ohno - Antares, Quarter Moon, Somethin' Comin'. Those are absolutely best jazz-rock albums from this label. Jazz trumpeter was cathing realy good ideas of US fusion, with Milesian "Somethin Comin'" to more colorful, rich and funky "Quarter Moon" and "Antares". You may also consider "Bubbles", which is a smooth, laid-back album, though sometimes a bit boring (so dull melodica solo in first "Bubbles"). Sadao Watanebe - Pamoja, Recital Well, he didn't play jazz-rock per se, but he's absolutely top Japanese instrumentalist every his album is at least very, very fine. I love his sax style and the type of ethnical arrangements he often uses. I've taken "Pamoja" and "Recital", but resigned to tak "I'm Old Fashioned" There also fresh Sony Japan releases, "Sadao Watanabe" and "Open Road", which are also fantastic! Kohsuke Mine (or Kosuke Mine) - Sunshower, Solid First one is a very... solid jazz-rock album with 4 satisfying cuts. Solid is a live gig, with on 20-minutes composition reminding "Get Up WIth It" and some tracks from "Bitches Brew"-"Big Fun" era. Second and third are more calm, but still it's good music. There is also acoustin "Out of Chaos" and it's ok, but it's a bit of a big rip-off from Coltrane's early 60s albums. Isao Suzuki - Hip Dancin' More electric-jazz than jazz-rock album. Very clever and well played, have an interesting, unusuall vibe. Mikio Masuda - Mickey's Mouth Mikio was a good keyboard players, but I think he was trying to copy American keyboardist too much. "Mickey's Mouth" is the only LP one I'd really enjoyed. "Corazon" has only 2-3 good tracks, but the rest is embarassing. Kochi - Wishes A one-album collective with Masabumi Kikuchi and a pack of Milesian musicians - Steve Grossman, Dave Liebman, Reggie Lucas, Mtume. And Anthony Jackson. Though the line-up is outstanding, the music is rather a spontaneous session with a goal of cathing spirit of 1973-75 Davis music. Another interesting LP, not a great one, but it's good to have it Ryo Kawasaki - Prism, Eight Mile Road Fine guitarist. I don't find his playing style as a memorable, but he played a healthy, mature fusion. "Prism" is probably better (as always - the earlier fusion, the better), with some guitar freak-outs. "Eight Mile Road" hits more funky-smooth style, but it's ok. And from non-Japan musician: Reggie Lucas - Survival Themes Good cut from Miles Davis stable musician. Few good tracks plus 20-minutes experiments on guitar. Not a masterpiece, but interesting Air Pocket - Fly On This one is a BOMB! Short-living band consisting of big bunch of Fowler brothers (with Bruce & Tom, who played on Zappa's jazz-rock oriented albums). Many short composition, but each one is outstanding. Lot's of very fine horns, some guitar licks and crazy synth space sounds. This is a must have! Sam Morrison - Dune Morrison made a very brief career, so you may not recognise him. He played with last '75 line-up's of Miles Davis and probably because of this he get a chance to make some noise in Japan. This album is very solid, nice mix of jazz-rock and spiritual jazz (luckily without an obvious influences) What about the rest? Frankly speaking - I didn't like it. Hubert Eaves's "Esoteric Funk" was really disappointing, most acoustic album (like Terumasa Hino's) not as original as I thought. Although I hope I helped a bit thos fusion-heads who where wondering what to chose Cheers