Japanese Jazz Revisited

[clifford_thornton]

I don’t know anyone who is lukewarm on Takayanagi — you either think he’s brilliant or can’t stand his music. I’m obviously in the former camp. It took time and a lot of close listening to understand some of what he was up to, but the respect was always there even if I didn’t get it at first. 
 

There are multiple approaches at work across his discography. One is the Bauer/Tristano-inspired concept. Another is Mass Hysterism. Mass Projection and Gradual Projection are others, and then there’s Action Direct (which is loop-heavy and minimal). And I think there are a few more beyond those. Blank Forms put out a bunch of translated interviews that are a great read, very informative and very intense. The man certainly had opinions and was exacting with respect to how they were put out into the world.

[T.D.]

Is Masahiko Togashi (pre-accident) the drummer in this film clip from 1968 release? See 1:37f, 3:32ff.

I think so but am not sure.

 

Edited August 28, 2023 by T.D.

[clifford_thornton]

Weird. I did look in a couple of 1967-era album jackets (pre-accident) and it does look like him, before he grew his hair long and started wearing shades.

[Rabshakeh]

What is the film?

[T.D.]

6 hours ago, Rabshakeh said:

What is the film?

Apparently Good-bye Moscow (1968). Seems rather obscure.

https://trakt.tv/movies/good-bye-moscow-1968

I'd never heard of it until a Youtube algorithm suggested the above clip, and even then had to search.

There's a soundtrack album:

https://www.discogs.com/release/3394257-Various-さらばモスクワ愚連隊-Good-bye-Moscow-Original-Soundtrack

Edited August 29, 2023 by T.D.

[Д.Д.]

Boy is this a smoking live date: Motohiko Hino Quartet + 1 (recorded 1976)!

Who is playing the first Billy Harper-ish tenor solo on the first track - is it Mabumi Yamaguchi or Yasuaki Shimizu (I'm not familiar with either)?

And Watanabe on guitar like an edgier version of Jerry Hahn.

Listening to it again - man..!

[Д.Д.]

Just released: a new remastered reissue of Togashi - Takahashi - Lacy "Hall Egg Farm 2000":

https://www.discogs.com/release/28669684-富樫雅彦-Steve-Lacy-高橋悠治-富樫雅彦-Steve-Lacy-高橋悠治

[clifford_thornton]

Eggsellent... I have a CDR but would like to pick this up.

[T.D.]

I just ordered it. Had some cdjapan coupons and combined it with a bunch of other items. 

It's on Youtube:

 

Edited November 6, 2023 by T.D.

[ghost of miles]

Enjoying the latest in this series:

[T.D.]

On 10/22/2023 at 8:02 AM, Д.Д. said:

Just released: a new remastered reissue of Togashi - Takahashi - Lacy "Hall Egg Farm 2000":

https://www.discogs.com/release/28669684-富樫雅彦-Steve-Lacy-高橋悠治-富樫雅彦-Steve-Lacy-高橋悠治

This just arrived. Excellent and very well recorded (or remastered?), outstanding sound quality.

On 11/7/2023 at 9:07 PM, ghost of miles said:

Enjoying the latest in this series:

First listen currently. So far it seems a little too fusion-oriented for my taste.

Edited November 14, 2023 by T.D.

[T.D.]

New BBE J-Jazz book (large format, premium price) announced for Mar. 2024

https://bbemusic.bandcamp.com/merch/early-bird-price-ends-08-12-24-j-jazz-free-and-modern-jazz-from-japan-1954-1988-pre-order-shipping-march-1st-2024

I'd consider this if there is significant text, but AFAICT it seems to be a book of album covers.

Edited December 2, 2023 by T.D.

[HutchFan]

17 minutes ago, T.D. said:

New BBE J-Jazz book (large format, premium price) announced for Mar. 2024

https://bbemusic.bandcamp.com/merch/early-bird-price-ends-08-12-24-j-jazz-free-and-modern-jazz-from-japan-1954-1988-pre-order-shipping-march-1st-2024

I'd consider this if there is significant text, but AFAICT it seems to be a book of album covers.

Looks very interesting. 

Hopefully, Dusty will stock it, since shipping is $38 from the UK to the US.   

 

[Rooster_Ties]

2 minutes ago, HutchFan said:

Looks very interesting. 

Hopefully, Dusty will stock it, since shipping is $38 from the UK to the US.   

They’re on it!!

https://www.dustygroove.com/item/157799/Various:J-Jazz-Free-and-Modern-Jazz-From-Japan-1954-to-1988

[HutchFan]

1 minute ago, Rooster_Ties said:

They’re on it!!

https://www.dustygroove.com/item/157799/Various:J-Jazz-Free-and-Modern-Jazz-From-Japan-1954-to-1988

Thanks Rooster! 

 

[Rooster_Ties]

Just now, HutchFan said:

Thanks Rooster! 

I’ll probably wait to hear some reviews before I made a decision — but I imagine it’s gonna be pretty damn tempting to get, I must confess.

[T.D.]

3 minutes ago, HutchFan said:

Looks very interesting. 

Hopefully, Dusty will stock it, since shipping is $38 from the UK to the US.   

 

I'm getting mixed signals from DG on this and other BBE items. The Waldron/Hino Reminiscent Suite recording and this book (thanks, Rooster) both show as "Coming Soon", but preorder is not available.

I really prefer the preorder option, because I can't count the number of times I've clicked on a DG "arrival notice" and been greeted with "Just Sold Out!" 😧

 

[HutchFan]

Just now, T.D. said:

I really prefer the preorder option, because I can't count the number of times I've clicked on a DG "arrival notice" and been greeted with "Just Sold Out!" 😧

Yeah, I've had the same experience.  Not sure why there's a pre-order option sometimes and not others.

 

[Rooster_Ties]

13 minutes ago, HutchFan said:

Not sure why there's a pre-order option sometimes and not others.

I assume that it’s because some of their sources can’t always guarantee 100% order fulfillment.  And (I’m guessing) that doesn’t mean some of their vendors end up completely having zero item-availability on certain titles — but, rather, that Dusty might order 10 copies of a title, but only get 6.

If a vendor has a history of superior fulfillment, then pre-orders would be allowed.  But (I imagine) some titles with limited availability might be a LOT more problematic to allow pre-orders of.

That’s ALL conjecture — every bit of it — but it just makes sense (which, of course, doesn’t guarantee it’s true).

Anyway, that’s my theory, and I’m sticking with it.

Edited December 2, 2023 by Rooster_Ties

[HutchFan]

2 minutes ago, Rooster_Ties said:

I’ll probably wait to hear some reviews before I made a decision — but I imagine it’s gonna be pretty damn tempting to get, I must confess.

I agree 100%.   It seems like there's relatively little info available (in English) on J-Jazz.   So I can scarcely imagine not taking the plunge on this book.

 

8 minutes ago, Rooster_Ties said:

Anyway, that’s my theory, and I’m sticking with it.

Makes sense to me.

 

[T.D.]

Damn, maybe one of "The Bastards" has been reading this thread.

The Waldron/Hino Reminiscent Suite CD showed as preorderable (is that a word?) today and I went for it.  Perhaps the book will follow suit.

[HutchFan]

On 12/4/2023 at 10:36 PM, T.D. said:

The Waldron/Hino Reminiscent Suite CD showed as preorderable (is that a word?) today and I went for it.

I'm just now seeing this, T.D. -- but I did the same thing on Monday.   

[T.D.]

This is good, but pretty free/outside if that matters. With Togashi (drums), Kako (piano).

[mjazzg]

13 hours ago, T.D. said:

This is good, but pretty free/outside if that matters. With Togashi (drums), Kako (piano).

That's been on my want list for a long time

[T.D.]

Mine too, but finally located a copy.

Just found this on eBay. Listened on Youtube and was greatly impressed, so I ordered.

With Itaru Oki (tp, flh, bamboo flute), Kent Carter (b), Oliver Johnson (perc), Claude Bernard (as).