CHRISTMANN - SCHÖNENBERG QUINTET "TOKYO 1979"

 

Günter Christmann, trombone
Yoshiaki Fujikawa, alto saxophone
Keiki Midorikawa, cello
Detlef Schönenberg, drums
Yoshisaburo Toyozumi, percussion


1. unknown title  9:14
2. unknown title 16:18
3. unknown title 15:10


Recorded on April 7, 1979 at Jazzclub Taro in Tokyo, Japan.
(audience rec.)

Thanks to jazzrita. 

ITARU OKI TRIO ‎– TRUMPET IN MODERN JAZZ (TOSHIBA RECORDS, 1970)

A1. パラビアソ (Par Avion)
A2. テンダリー (Tenderly)
A3. 永遠の詩 (The Song Remains The Same)

B1. ムード (Mood)
B2. ステップ・ワン (Step One)
B3. Manha De Carnaval


Itaru Oki, trumpet
Keiki Midorikawa, double bass
Hozumi Tanaka, drums
Kosuke Mine, alto saxophone (B2-3)
Takeshi Kamachi, piano (A2, B2-3)

All compositions by Itaru Oki, except A2 (Walter Gross) and B3 (Luiz Bonfá)

This is an all time favourite from Itaru Oki, from the early days of Japanese free jazz. There were a rush of tracks that they released around this time :-

Satsujin Kyoshitsu - LP on the Jazz Creaters label, recorded in Tokyo in February 1970, currently available on CD - Bridge (049) from Japan Improv

Mood, recorded live Shibuya Public Hall, on April 30, 1970 and included on "Sensational Jazz '70", which was recently re-released on CD by Columbia and available at Japan Improv (with other tracks by Mototeru Takagi, Masahiko Sato, Terumasa Hino, New Herd, etc).

Four Tracks on Trio By Trio + 1, recorded  live at Yamaha Hall, Ginza, Tokyo, May 20, 1970, also re-released on CD on Think! Records: 1 side Yosuke Yamashita Trio, 1 side Itaru Oki Trio, 1 side Yuji Ono Trio and 1 side Itaru Oki + Yuji Ono + Kimiko Kasai.

This all preceded a live recording of October Revolution, on Inspiration & Power 14 Free Jazz Festival 1, from 1973.

This LP was in a box set of 10 LPs by Japanese jazz artists. I think it was mainly sold to people buying Toshiba audio equipment.

Great, historic music and 40 years out of print.


Toshiba Records ‎– TW-6045

Vinyl Rip

YORIYUKI HARADA ‎– MIU (BETTER DAYS, 1982)

A1. Meta
A2. Hen Tai 7
A3. There'll Be Comeback
B1. Wana Oki
B2. Miu
B3. Y's March


Yoriyuki Harada, piano, ocarina, clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone
Keiki Midorikawa, cello (A3)
Hideaki Mochizuki, double bass (A3, B2, B3)
Ryojiro Furusawa, drums (A1, B1)
Tony Koba, drums (A1, A2, B1)
Sabu Toyozumi, drums, percussion (A3, B2, B3)
Tetsu Yamauchi, electric bass (A1, A2, B1)
Hiroshi Hatsuyama, vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel, xylophone, harmonica



Recorded and mixed at Nippon Columbia Studios 1, 3 and 4, Aug 20 - Oct 6, 1980.

Better Days ‎– YF-7040-N

Vinyl Rip

MASAHIKO TOGASHI - C.P.U. – “COSMIC PULSATION UNITY” (DENON, 1975)

This LP was already posted by Flux'us in 2007 - see here - here's an upgrade courtesy Nick.



C.P.U. – “COSMIC PULSATION UNITY”

Masahiko Sato, piano
Keiki Midorikawa, bass, cello
Masahiko Togashi, drums, percussion

A.  Seki-Ran  20:57
B.  A-Un      19:11

Recorded at Nippon Columbia’s 1st studio in Tokyo, Japan on December 10, 1975.

DENON/NIPPON COLUMBIA YX-7530-ND

Note: The labels refer to "Cosmic Pulsation Unit", rather than "Unity".

F.M.T. (FREE MUSIC TRIO) “TANGO” (ALAGOAS, 1997)

 

F.M.T. (FREE MUSIC TRIO)  “TANGO”

Keiki Midorikawa, cello
Sabu Toyozumi, drums
Yoshiaki Fujikawa, saxophone

1. Gravity Always Wins
2. Tango
3. All Things Flow
4. Nana's Dance
5. Anohi
6. Xanthochroi
7. Unfortunately I Won't Invite You
8. Yin & Yan

Recorded in Tokyo, 17 and 18 December 1997.

ALAGOAS Disk – ALADI 001

...this one is a contribution from Nick...

FMT (FREE MUSIC TRIO) "YOU GOT A FREEDOM" (ALM-URANOIA, 1978)

First I didn't know about this group - then Riccardo made his really exciting blindfold test

Now - thanks to Nick - we are able to hear their first (only?) official release (OOP!) - ENJOY!

... and say thanks to Nick for his generous contributions over the last months - I certainly DO!






FMT (FREE MUSIC TRIO) "YOU GOT A FREEDOM"


Yoshiaki Fujikawa,saxophone, flute, etc.
Keiki Midorikawa, cello, etc.
Yoshisaburo Toyozumi, drums, percussion, etc.



A1. You Got A Freedom 09:11
A2. Summer Day 06:13
A3. Drunken Pipers 05:36
B1. Hattrick 06:48
B2. Lethe 08:02
B3. Minha Marcia E Meu Alexis 04:34
B4. Gamemba 02:13



Recorded on 27 & 28 June 1978 at Tachikawa, Shakai-Kyoiku Kaikan, Japan.
The group's acronym was taken from the first letters of the members'
surnames (Fujikawa, Midorikawa, Toyozumi),
but it also stood for Free Music Trio.

ALM URANOIA UR 1

(lp rip)

.

KEIKI MIDORIKAWA "FIVE PIECES OF CAKE" (OFFBEAT, 1975)

One more gem from the rich japanese (Free) Jazz -Scene of the seventies - solo/duo/trio and quartet >


Nick is back with an excellent rip from:



KEIKI MIDORIKAWA "FIVE PIECES OF CAKE"



Keiki Midorikawa, bass(A2, B1, B2), cello(A1, A2, B3)
Yoshiaki Fujikawa, alto saxophone(A2, B1), flute(A2, B3)
Hiroaki Katayama, tenor saxophone(A2)
Tadashi Yoshida, trumpet & marimba(A2)
Shoji Nakayama, drums(B1, B2)


A1. Soi-Di'Sant 11:51
A2. Harmonious-Outcast 10:48
B1. Involved Elevation 07:46
B2. Transit 04:44
B3. Message 08:14

Composed by Keiki Midorikawa.



Recorded: April 19/20, 1975 at the New Meguro Studio, Tokyo, Japan.

OFFBEAT RECORDS ORLP-1002

(lp rip)


.

STEVE LACY SEXTET "THE WIRE" (DENON , 1977)

Lacy's ,Greatest Japanese lp (IMO, not that i've heard them all), and a very strong Contender for Best Lacy record period !

this was without a doubt one of his very best bands, the searing ecstatic almost unbearable intensity of most of this set ,is unusual and not often found in Lacys ouevre
Even on 'Free'classics like forrest and the zoo,and Roba, lacy is often restrained ,dry analytical , and sounding slightly detached.

Here we have some of his most violently expressionistic gestural playing on record, all while maintaining the spacious and uncluttered character of this sequence of Japanese records...

This definitive version of Deadline ,  is incredibly haunting ,Ikeda, Yoshizawa and Midorikawa hazily shimmering beneath some opiated distant glimpse of a slowly submerging dissapearing floating world ..

Unique and very beautiful....

S


"This album has a very dark mood, especially with the arco basses and the dissonant piano. The percussion too adds to the mood.
Every one plays well and interprets Lacy's composistions in a way that works exclusively with the selected sideman. If the album was recorded with his regular group at the time (Abei, Potts, Few, Carter, Johnson) it would have been completely different."
'prospectus', (from the comments to our initial mp3 post)


Steve Lacy Sextet-THE WIRE,
1/ The Twain (Lacy) 6:31
2/ Esteem (Lacy) 8:40
3/ The Owl (Lacy) 4:17
4/ The Wire (Lacy) 4:58
5/ Cloudy (Lacy) 6:12
6/ Dead Line (Lacy) 8:06

Recorded at Nippon Columbia's 1st Studio, Tokyo, June 18, 1975
Steve Lacy: soprano saxophone
Masahiko Satoh: piano
Masahiko Togashi: percussion
Keiki Midorikawa: cello, bass
Yoshio Ikeda: bass
Motoharu Yoshizawa: bass

1977 - Denon Jazz (Japan), YX 7553 (LP) 
Note: (3) is a duo with Steve Lacy and Masahiko Togashi.

ANTHONY BRAXTON "FOUR COMPOSITIONS (1973)" (NIPPON COLUMBIA, 1973)

Here's Anthony Braxton's first japanese adventure - upon request.


ANTHONY BRAXTON "FOUR COMPOSITIONS (1973)"


Anthony Braxton, sopranino & alto saxophone, clarinet, contrabass clarinet, flute
Masahiko Sato, piano
Keiki Midorikawa, bass
Hozumi Tanaka, percussion (only track 4)

1. Composition 23N 11:45
2. Composition 23P 08:32
3. Composition 23M 10:55
4. Composition 23(O) 10:30


Recorded in Tokyo, Japan on 11th January, 1973.

DENON NIPPON NCB 8504-N

MASAHIKO TOGASHI TRIO "MOTION" (DENON, 1977)

MASAHIKO TOGASHI TRIO "MOTION"


Masami Nakagawa, alto & soprano saxophone, flute
Keiki Midorikawa, bass
Masahiko Togashi, drums, percussion

1. Wonder Bird 14:17
2. Passing 05:03
3. Ballad 10:44
4. Playing Beat 06:11


Recorded on January 30-31, 1977 at Nippon Columbia 1st Studio, Tokyo.

Denon Jazz/Nippon Columbia YX-7514-ND

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MASAHIKO TOGASHI QUARTET "SKETCH"

Here's more from Masahiko Togashi's delicate art of percussion.


MASAHIKO TOGASHI QUARTET "SKETCH"

Masami Nakagawa,as,fl,perc
Takashi Kako,p,perc
Keiki Midorikawa,vc,b,perc
Masahiko Togashi,dr,perc


1. Sketch 3 (09:57)
2. Sketch 4 (06:50)
3. Sketch 2 (06:58)
4. Sketch 1 (10:49)


Nippon Columbia Studio 1, Tokyo between June 7-9, 1977

DENON JAZZ/NIPPON COLUMBIA YX-7516-ND

MASAHIKO TOGASHI "GUILD FOR HUMAN MUSIC" & "ESSENCE"

Two recordings from Masahiko Togashi's "Guild for Human Music".



MASAHIKO TOGASHI "GUILD FOR HUMAN MUSIC"


Shigeo Suzuki,woodwinds
Hideo Miyata,woodwinds
Masami Nakagawa,woodwinds
Masahiko Sato,keyboard[1]
Keiki Midorikawa,vc,b[2]
Yoshio Ikeda,b
Yoshisaburo Toyozumi,perc
Tatsuji Yokoyama,perc
Masahiko Togashi,dr,perc

1. First expression (TOGASHI) [2] 07:59
2. Second expression (TOGASHI) [2] 04:20
3. Third expression (TOGASHI) [2] 08:10
4. Fourth expression (TOGASHI) [1] 06:38
5. Fifth expression (TOGASHI) [2] 02:44
6. Sixth expression (TOGASHI) [1] 10:21

May, 23-24, 26-27, 1976 : Nippon Columbia 1st Studio, Tokyo

Denon Jazz/Nippon Columbia YX-7504-ND







MASAHIKO TOGASHI's Guild for Human Music "ESSENCE"


Masami Nakagawa,Shigeo Suzuki,fl / Masahiko Sato,p
Yoshisaburo Toyozumi,marimba / Tatsuji Yokoyama,perc
Masahiko Togashi,dr,perc
1. Turning point 09:29

Masahiko Sato,p / Yoshisaburo Toyozumi,Tatsuji Yokoyama,perc
Masahiko Togashi,dr,perc
2. Miror 03:46

Masami Nakagawa,Shigeo Suzuki,ss / Keiki Midorikawa,vc
Masahiko Togashi,dr,perc
3. Anecdote 05:57

Masami Nakagawa,fl / Masahiko Togashi,dr,perc
4. Essence 06:11

Masahiko Sato, Yoshisaburo Toyozumi, Tatsuji Yokoyama,perc
Mieko Togashi,wine-glass / Masahiko Togashi,dr,perc
5. Direction of the wind 03:57

Masami Nakagawa,as / Masahiko Sato,p
Yoshisaburo Toyozumi,Tatsuji Yokoyama,perc
Masahiko Togashi,dr,perc
6. Bonfire 05:49


All music by M.Togashi
November 3-6, 1976 : Nippon Columbia 1st Studio, Tokyo

Denon Jazz/Nippon Columbia YX-7513-ND

MASAHIKO TOGASHI "VOICE FROM YONDER" (1978) & "STORY OF WIND BEHIND LEFT" (1975)

These two marvelous recordings are coming to you in one post. The reason is more trivial - I do not own this LPs - and it seems to be impossible to find the cover-art or even more than a few photographs from Togashi himself in the net.
(Finally I've found also the second cover - in February 2015)

The music itself is percussion heavy with gorgeous results. Hope it will enchant you as it does to me!



MASAHIKO TOGASHI "STORY OF WIND BEHIND LEFT"


Masahiko Togashi, percussion
Mototeru Takagi, soprano saxophone, percussion
Yoshisaburo Toyozumi, percussion
Yoshio Ikeda, bass, percussion
Keiki Midorikawa, bass, cello

1. Premonition Of Wind's Coming 04:21
2. Reunion 12:17
3. And then 02:11
4. Life Story Of Wind 09:27
5. Those Passing Things 07:13
6. Things That Will Come Again 05:04

Nippon Columbia 1st Studio, Tokyo on September 2-3,5,1975


Columbia YQ-7515-N

Note: Unknown recording staff also play bells on tr.6

(vinyl rip)


-------------------          ---------------------            -----------------            -----------------

MASAHIKO TOGASHI "VOICE FROM YONDER"


Yoshiaki Fujikawa, reeds, percussion
Takashi Kako, piano, percussion
Keiki Midorikawa, cello, bass, percussion
Masahiko Togashi, drums, percussion


1. Voice From Yonder 13:30
2. Silence 02:07
3. Welcome 03:09
4. Travelers 11:59
5. It's Time 03:38
6. Farewell 02:44


Nippon Columbia 1st Studio, Tokyo on Frebruary 2-3, 1978


Denon/Nippon Columbia YX-7519-ND

(vinyl rip)

A Blindfold Test

The question is : who are the three musicians (alto sax-bass/cello-
drums)?

Probably you don't have many chances of answering the question but,
certainly, will be able to give a more objective judgment about the music.