Japanese releases 9/2007 - 10/2007

[J.A.W.]

The following CDs are scheduled for release.

* = cardboard mini-LP sleeve

On September 19, 2007

SICP 1560 McLaughlin,John(g)/The Essential(2 CD) 3780

SICP 1567 Holiday,Billie(vo)/Remix & Reimagine 2520

SICP 10070(Hybrid) Hino-Kikuchi Quintet/Counter Current* 3045

SICP 10071(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/V.S.O.P.(2 CD)* 3990

SICP 10073(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Head Hunters* 2730

SICP 10074(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Future Shock* 2730

SICP 10075(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Flood* 2730

SICP 10076(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Tempest in the Colosseum* 2730

SICP 10077(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Live Under the Sky(2 CD)* 3990

SICP 10079(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Five Stars* 2730

SICP 10080(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Live in the USA* 2730

VRCL 2015 T-Square/The Square Live 2625

VRCL 2027 T-Square/Natural - U.S. Version 2310

VRCL 2031 T-Square/Farewell & Welcome 2625

VRCL 2036 T-Square/Megalith 2625

VRCL 2043 T-Square/Miss You in New York* 2625

On September 22, 2007

RBCS 2240 Aoki,Karen/Grrovin' Jazz Night Presents Karen 2100

On September 26, 2007

KICP 1265 Edelman,Joshua(p)/Dreaming on the Fire Escape - Lava's Concept For Latin Jazz 2800

ABCJ 428 Ellington,Duke(p)/Vol.3 2500

ABCJ 429 Zimmermann,Richard(p)/Roots of Ragtime 2500

ABCJ 430 Barber,Chris(tb)/Chris Barber 2500

ABCJ 431 Ammons,Gene(ts)/Baby Sax 2500

On October 3, 2007

GNCL 1125 Okino,Syuuya/United Legends Replayed by Sleep Walker(2 CD) 3150

On October 5, 2007

PCD 4385 V.A./Return of Jazz Funk: Killer Jazz Funk from Mainstream 2 2000

PCD 23938 Afrique/Soul Makossa 2415

PCD 23939 Mitchell,Blue(tp)Many Shades of Blue/ 2415

PCD 23940 Terry,Buddy(ts)/Lean on Him 2415

PCD 23941 Miles,Barry(key)/Scatbird 2415

PCD 23942 Wilkins,Ernie(leader)/Hard Mother Blues 2415

On October 10, 2007

KICJ 523 V.A./World Bass Heroes 2500

On October 11, 2007

VICJ 61528 Kokubu,Hiroko(p)/Title Undecided 3000

VICJ 61529 Kokubu,Hiroko(p)/Artumn Collection 3000

On October 17, 2007

TKCV 35409 Higgins,Eddie(p)/Secret Love 2800

On October 24, 2007

VICJ 61471 Williamson,Claude(p)/'Round Midnight* 2520

VICJ 61472 Nichols,Herbie(p)/Love Gloom Cash Love* 2520

VICJ 61473 Knepper,Jimmy(tb)/Swinging Introduction* 2520

VICJ 61474 Adams,Pepper(bs)/Motor City Scene* 2520

VICJ 61475 Winding,Kai(tb) +J.J. Johnson/Kai + J.J. +7* 2520

VICJ 61476 Rosolino,Frank(tb)/I Play Trombone* 2520

VICJ 61477 McGhee,Howard(tp)/Return Of* 2520

VICJ 61478 Ervin,Booker(ts)/Book Cooks* 2520

VICJ 61479 McKusick,Hal(as)/Hal Mckusick Quartet* 2520

VICJ 61480 Mann,Herbie(fl)/Herbie Mann with Sam Most Quartet* 2520

Edited August 9, 2007 by J.A.W.

[brownie]

  J.A.W. said:

ABCJ 431 Ammons,Gene(ts)/Baby Sax 2500

Intrigued by that item

Any idea what's on it?

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

  brownie said:

  J.A.W. said:

ABCJ 431 Ammons,Gene(ts)/Baby Sax 2500

Intrigued by that item

Any idea what's on it?

Me too!!!

Also, I'm glad to see Afrique's "Soul makossa" in there.

MG

[Peter Johnson]

Does anyone know anything about these?

SICP 10079(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Five Stars* 2730

SICP 10080(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Live in the USA* 2730

[Kevin Bresnahan]

  J.A.W. said:

SICP 10070(Hybrid) Hino-Kikuchi Quintet/Counter Current* 3045

SICP 10071(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/V.S.O.P.(2 CD)* 3990

SICP 10073(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Head Hunters* 2730

SICP 10074(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Future Shock* 2730

SICP 10075(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Flood* 2730

SICP 10076(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Tempest in the Colosseum* 2730

SICP 10077(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Live Under the Sky(2 CD)* 3990

SICP 10079(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Five Stars* 2730

SICP 10080(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Live in the USA* 2730

Are my eyes deceiving me?? "Hybrid"? No way! SACD hybrids? I'm there. How many can I afford... hmmm.

Kevin

[Kevin Bresnahan]

  Peter Johnson said:

Does anyone know anything about these?

SICP 10079(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Five Stars* 2730

SICP 10080(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Live in the USA* 2730

These are V.S.O.P. live dates.

[Kyo]

  Kevin Bresnahan said:

  Peter Johnson said:

Does anyone know anything about these?

SICP 10079(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Five Stars* 2730

SICP 10080(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Live in the USA* 2730

These are V.S.O.P. live dates.

Five Stars is the one V.S.O.P. Quintet release that I don't have yet.

Live in the USA is the same album that's just known as The Quintet, right?

The one from July 1977 that has One of a Kind, Third Plane, Jessica etc.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

  brownie said:

  J.A.W. said:

ABCJ 431 Ammons,Gene(ts)/Baby Sax 2500

Intrigued by that item

Any idea what's on it?

Hiroshi reports that the session with Howard McGhee - "House warmin'" - is included. I don't know if there are additional tracks. Anyone who hasn't got this session on LP should get the CD - it's one of Jug's finest.

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

  The Magnificent Goldberg said:

  brownie said:

  J.A.W. said:

ABCJ 431 Ammons,Gene(ts)/Baby Sax 2500

Intrigued by that item

Any idea what's on it?

Hiroshi reports that the session with Howard McGhee - "House warmin'" - is included. I don't know if there are additional tracks. Anyone who hasn't got this session on LP should get the CD - it's one of Jug's finest.

MG

Just received confirmation from Hiroshi - this CD is only the "House warming" session; there are no extra tracks.

Is this the first time this has been issued on CD?

MG

[brownie]

  The Magnificent Goldberg said:

Just received confirmation from Hiroshi - this CD is only the "House warming" session; there are no extra tracks.

Is this the first time this has been issued on CD?

MG

Looks like this album has not made it to CD yet!

'Baby Sax'? some people are really weird

Edited August 10, 2007 by brownie

[mikefok]

V.S.O.P are something I am hunting for.

[riverrat]

  The Magnificent Goldberg said:

I'm glad to see Afrique's "Soul makossa" in there.

MG

Please talk to me about this session!

I'm a big fan of afro-beat and afro-jazz type stuff.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

  riverrat said:

  The Magnificent Goldberg said:

I'm glad to see Afrique's "Soul makossa" in there.

MG

Please talk to me about this session!

I'm a big fan of afro-beat and afro-jazz type stuff.

"Soul makossa" was originally recorded by Manu Dibango, a jazz saxophonist from Cameroun, for a French label, Societe Francais du Son. It was a huge hit in Europe (but not the UK). When it was released in America (by Atlantic), it was a big hit, making #21 on the R&B chart and #35 on the pop chart. But it had competition from the Afrique version, which was released simultaneously, and entered the R&B chart at the same time, making #33 on the R&B chart and #47 on pop.

From what I can remember from those days, the Manu Dibango version, which I've got, was a bit better than the Afrique version. But there wasn't much in it. I didn't realise that the organist in the Afrique version was Charles Kynard, or I'd have bought it anyway. Afrique was a bunch of west coast Soul Jazz musicians put together in the studio by Bob SHad, specifically in order to cover this obvious hit. (But the Manu Dibango version was also made by a scratch bunch of jazzmen who were hanging around the studios in Paris.)

This is what AMG says about the Afrique album:

  Quote

Review by Thom Jurek

Now here's an odd one. The track "Soul Makossa" was a hit for Manu Dibango in early 1973. After it was issued, a lot of folks sought to cover it — most badly. But, in this case, that single track spawned a band of studio musicians hell bent on creating not only a club and jukebox 45 hit of the Dibango original, but an entire set of groove-driven instrumentals that could be issued as 45s for the juke market. Afrique, which was comprised of organist Charles Kynard, guitarist David T. Walker, bassist Chuck Rainey, Joe Kelso and Paul Jeffery on saxophones, drummer Ray Pounds, and a host of percussionists including, Chino Valdes and baritone honker Steve Kravitz. There were 13 members in all for this one-off. So the deal is simple: this LP, the only Afrique title, is a hell of a slab of lost funk. Sure, there's a groovin' greasy version of the title track, but the real gems lie in "House of the Rising Funk" on side two, the "Mustang Sally" knockoff "Sleepwalk," the tripped out sax ballad "Kissing My Love," the dirty, chunky funk of "Hot Doggin," and the lubricious "Let Me Do My Thing." There is plenty of wah-wah excess, saxist angst, and drunken careening rhythm to propel a soul train from one end of the continent to the other. And if you can dig the guitar breaks against Kynard's hammering, contrapuntal cut up chords on "Slow Motion," than you are ready for anything. For those for whom groove is everything, this album is to be procured at any cost.

Sounds like one of Dusty Groove's reviews, don't it?

Manu Dibango's personnel included Georges Arvanitas (p), Malekani Gerry & Pierre Zogo (g), Joby Jobs (d), Long Manfred (b), Freddy Mars (perc). Some tracks have Hal "Cornbread" Singer doing his stuff on tenor.

If you're getting the feeling that this isn't much like what you think of as Afrobeat, I'd agree with that assessment. Both albums are basic, funky, greasy, Soul Jazz.

MG

[David Ayers]

  brownie said:

  The Magnificent Goldberg said:

Just received confirmation from Hiroshi - this CD is only the "House warming" session; there are no extra tracks.

Is this the first time this has been issued on CD?

MG

Looks like this album has not made it to CD yet!

'Baby Sax'? some people are really weird

This had a release under Ammons name on Upfront UPF 116 as 'Nothin' But Soul' and also on 'Winley Records' (?) LP 6005 under the same title. Who knows where the 'Baby Sax' title (and presumably cover) came from?

[riverrat]

  The Magnificent Goldberg said:

Sounds like one of Dusty Groove's reviews, don't it?

Manu Dibango's personnel included Georges Arvanitas (p), Malekani Gerry & Pierre Zogo (g), Joby Jobs (d), Long Manfred (b), Freddy Mars (perc). Some tracks have Hal "Cornbread" Singer doing his stuff on tenor.

If you're getting the feeling that this isn't much like what you think of as Afrobeat, I'd agree with that assessment. Both albums are basic, funky, greasy, Soul Jazz.

MG

Thanks for the info MG!

[Claude]

  Kevin Bresnahan said:

  J.A.W. said:

SICP 10070(Hybrid) Hino-Kikuchi Quintet/Counter Current* 3045

SICP 10071(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/V.S.O.P.(2 CD)* 3990

SICP 10073(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Head Hunters* 2730

SICP 10074(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Future Shock* 2730

SICP 10075(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Flood* 2730

SICP 10076(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Tempest in the Colosseum* 2730

SICP 10077(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Live Under the Sky(2 CD)* 3990

SICP 10079(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Five Stars* 2730

SICP 10080(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Live in the USA* 2730

Are my eyes deceiving me?? "Hybrid"? No way! SACD hybrids? I'm there. How many can I afford... hmmm.

Kevin

From a sonic point of view, "V.S.O.P", "Flood", "Tempest in the colosseum", "Live under the sky" and "Live in the USA" are not worth SACD or any other audiophile treatment IMHO. These large stage live recordings sound muddy and distant.

Concerning the music, my favourites are "Flood" and the second disc of "V.SO.P.". Great Headhunters stuff.

"Five stars" is a short (30 minutes) direct-to-disc studio session by the V.S.O.P. band. That's probably the only one I will get.

I would have loved to see the other Headhunters studio albums "Thrust" and "Sextant" on SACD.

Edited August 12, 2007 by Claude

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

  brownie said:

  The Magnificent Goldberg said:

Just received confirmation from Hiroshi - this CD is only the "House warming" session; there are no extra tracks.

Is this the first time this has been issued on CD?

MG

Looks like this album has not made it to CD yet!

'Baby Sax'? some people are really weird

It's 'Heavy Sax'.......although CD Universe and others still have it incorrectly listed.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

  Son-of-a-Weizen said:

  brownie said:

  The Magnificent Goldberg said:

Just received confirmation from Hiroshi - this CD is only the "House warming" session; there are no extra tracks.

Is this the first time this has been issued on CD?

MG

Looks like this album has not made it to CD yet!

'Baby Sax'? some people are really weird

It's 'Heavy Sax'.......although CD Universe and others still have it incorrectly listed.

Much better title - though I don't see what's wrong with "House warming".

MG

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

SICP 10071(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/V.S.O.P.(2 CD)* 3990

SICP 10073(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Head Hunters* 2730

SICP 10074(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Future Shock* 2730

SICP 10075(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Flood* 2730

SICP 10076(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Tempest in the Colosseum* 2730

SICP 10077(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Live Under the Sky(2 CD)* 3990

SICP 10079(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Five Stars* 2730

SICP 10080(Hybrid) Hancock,Herbie(p)/Live in the USA* 2730

Bummer that they didn't add in the 'Trio' (1981).

[Clunky]

Just received "Heavy Sax", it's an ok bluesy sort of date, brief at 34 mins. On the Everest label - a budget outfit I think. Sound is adequate but not upto the best. Lots of R'n'B riffs over which sax and trumpet purr. Buy with caution.