Review: Various Artists - J Jazz Vol. 5: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan 1970-1988 (BBE MUSIC)

Tony Higgins and Mike Peden announce that pre-orders available now forJ Jazz volume 5: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan 1970-1988, BBE Music’s celebrated J-Jazz compilation series reaches its fifth and final volume in early 2026, culminating in a track list that maintains the exceptionally high standard first set with volume one back in 2018.

This final volume features a selection of tracks that is as diverse as it is deep, reflecting the rich and varied Japanese jazz scene that spanned from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, a golden era of innovation and creativity. J Jazz volume 5 sees compilers Tony Higgins and Mike Peden dig ever deeper into their respective record collections to reveal tracks that encompass myriad styles including white hot jazz funk fusion from Toshiyuki Honda ('Eastern Legacy') and Mikio Masuda ('Sonic Barrier'), super rare ethnic jazz crossover by Crystal Zone - their one-off 45 promo release from 1971, 'Rai Rai' (ライ・ライ), a deconstructed and abstract jazz classic by Yasuhiro Kohno with his solo piano rendition of 'My Favourite Things', and Mile and Half’s skin-tearing, shredding freak-out from their mega rare private press album. A track that is so relentless, it leaves the listener in need of oxygen and a Valium.

These hand-picked selections sit alongside other specially chosen numbers that embrace hard-driving samba (Seiichi Nakumura’s Judy’s Samba), epic head-nodding soul jazz (Masaru Imada’s World Line), psychedelic private press fusion (Aoyama Gakuin 101’s Fervor), angular post-bop tear-ups (Akia Miyazawa’s Nijimasu), intense and insistent fusion (Motohiko Hino’s Olive Step), serene cinematic pianism (Hideo Ichikawa’s On the Trade Wind) and tripped-out hallucinogenic tribal funky jazz (Garandoh) 

With almost 7000 words of extensive sleeve notes, J Jazz volume 5 comes in a triple 180g vinyl set  inside deluxe gatefold sleeve with obi strip, and comes with a 4- page insert, with photographs from the renowned Tokyo Jazz Joints project. Mastered with love @thecarverystudio

BUY LINK/PRE-ORDER (3LP and 2CD) bbemusic.bandcamp.com/album/j-jazz-volume-5-deep-modern-jazz-from-japan-1970-1988

Artist: Varous Artists

Title: J Jazz Vol. 5: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan 1970-1988

Release date: (Shipping 20 March 2026)

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number :  BBE731

BBE 3xLP vinyl / 2xCD / Digital (bbemusic.com) & Bandcamp .

Review - Higgins / Peden - J Jazz - Free and Modern Jazz Albums From Japan 1954 - 1988 (BOOK)

As an accompaniment to the amazing J-Jazz 'Free and Modern Jazz Albums From Japan 1954 - 1988' book by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, BBE have gone the extra mile and produced a compilation CD of even more J-Jazz goodness.

So what started out a specialist project in 2018 as a compilation, has grown into its own 'genre' of rare and exclusive Japanes jazz that only 'heads' like Higgins and Peden have the knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to get this documented for a far wider audience that the music (some very limited vinyl/some CD only) re-mastered and onto brand new vinyl; with the obligatory OBI strips.

After 28 albums, where could/what more could our intrepid j-jazzers do? Well this tomb of a book is the answer and it's definitely pièce de résistance (it's the same in Japanese apparently) at 400 large format pages and cover the golden era of Japanese jazz post war when the Japan were on a huge economic and cultural up-swing.  Initially the jazz musicians were thought of mere copyists but as more US musicians toured Japan, notably with the release in 1962 of The Horace Silver Quintet's 'The Tokyo Blues' (the one with the Japanese ladies on the cover), they could see that there was something special going on.   And if you still think Horace Silver is 'Hard Bop' - check out the CD/digital download that starts with Tohru Aizawa Quartet's monster 'Philosopher's Stone'.

Understandably, there's a small limited print run of 2000 copies so don't delay to get your mits on this unique book.

Note: The book now comes with a digital download of the accompanying CD. If you have previously pre-ordered the book and would like the digital download of the album, please contact us for a download once the book is released.

Artist: Higgins / Peden 

Title:  J Jazz - Free and Modern Jazz Albums From Japan 1954 - 1988 (BOOK)

Release date: 5th July, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE634  Order from Bandcamp 

 

Review: Tatsuya Nakamura - Locus (J-Jazz Masterclass Series) (BBE Music)

Back in 1984, there was probably little interest inside or outside of Japan for what was seen as a jazz-rock album even though the band leader was drummer, Tatsuya Nakamura.

Now, nearly 40 years on, Nakamura's album 'Locus' is latest in the Tony Higgins/Mike Peden curated J-Jazz Masterclass Series to be re-issued on BBE Music.

Originally only four tracks, 'Ballad' and the previously unreleased shorter version of 'Ballad' as a bonus is more reflective of the album artwork than the actual title track that over the 12 minutes wanders from synth/electronic intro to full on Miles fusion rock-off including obligatory drum solo.

At times, you might think this is any of the Miles fusion supergroups especially where Airto Moreira and Chick Corea are present which says much for the group joining Nakamura (drums, percussion); there's Shinobu Fujimoto (trumpet), Jun Fukamachi (keys), Hedeto Kanai (electric bass), Kazumasa Akiyama (electric guitar) with more percussion by Tatsuji Yokoyama and Yuji Sakai.

'Wow' is more of a showcase for Fukamachi who, in addition to being a jazz-fusion composer, pianist/keyboards was a synthesizer pioneer and played with many of the US leaders in the 70s.

And talking of the 70s, in '79, Nakamura's debut album 'Where Is The Quarter?' contained a 5 minute track called, '¼ Samba' (with a different line-up) so by the time of the recording of 'Locus' the operandi (you could say) had progressed to '¼ Samba II' which made an re-appearance as the near 12 minute version on the compilation 'J Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan (Volume 3)' a couple of years ago.

And if you do recall, it's monsterously mad sh*t jazz bonkers and needs to be any collection of anyone that loves jazz or J-jazz or even hates jazz; 'Ballard' is a well timed cool down after that!

Many thanks to Messrs Higgins and Peden for their combined dedication to this series and bringing to the BBE fan club music that would normally be totally unobtainable to us mere mortals.

My informants tell me that the J-Jazz team have a special announcement coming soon so consider me to be on the case and we'll bring it to you as soon as we can. In the meantime, 'Locus' awaits to thrill and entertain you.

Artist: Tatsuya Nakamura 

Title: Locus

Release date: 15th September, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE6 1XLP vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp .

Review: Yasuhiro Kohno + One - Song Of Island (BBE Music)

You may recall that the title track to 'Song Of Island' appeared on the BBE J-Jazz compilation Volume 3: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan 1969 - 1983 and in a collection of such "heavy... bop", this track was the odd-80s recording, sounding like the 60/70s with a  "touch of the spiritual". 

Pianist, leader of the trio + 1, Yasuhiro Kohno has the love and feel of a Hancock/Corea/Tyner as he controls the thrust of 'Song of Island' for nearly 11 minutes with the '+1' of Masahiro Kanno on vibes doing his best Milt Jackson/Gary Burton that you'd never know 1. this was an all Japanese line-up and 2. Recorded live on August 28th and 29th 1985 at "Live House Again" - no overdubs/no re-takes/just 'live'. 

A one off track you might think? Not on this album! All five tracks are pretty lengthy which is really great news in this case. If you thought you'd already heard enough versions of 'Love For Sale' that you'd never need to hear another in your life, stick with this as it swings with attitude (as someone might have said) and I'll say it, best version of the standard I'm ever likely to hear. And the perfect follow-on to the softer 'Time For Peace' before we get into the other two original compositions, 'Mr Nilson' (a little avant-modal blues walk at 13 minutes) and the best in the set, jazzdance head and feet at the ready, 'Village Festival' (12 minutes). 

Originally a private pressing (so rare as!), it's re-issued with original/translated sleeve notes plus a new Tony Higgins interview as well. Fans are already saying 'Corker ain't it !!' and it must be up there for re-issue of the year. Thank you everyone involved in making this happen, from original label ASCAP to BBE and the J-Jazz conception dynamic duo of Mike Peden and Higgins; you'll never be able to see Yasuhiro Kohno +1 at their 1985 peak ever again so this is the next best thing and yet another essential in the J-Jazz series - go Yasuhiro GO! 

Artist: Yasuhiro Kohno + One

Title: Song of Island

Release date : 18th November, 2022

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE665

Format: LP / CD / Digital

Review: Masaru Imada Trio + 1 - Planets (BBE MUSIC)

If you ever wondered what it's like to be trendier than Shuya Okino, Yoshihiro Okino or Gilles Peterson, well walk a mile in Tony Higgins and Mike Peden's shoes (perhaps that should be 1960's to 1980's sandals) as this pair are still prooving that there's no end of obscure/brilliant/privately pressed jazz albums that nobody else has heard off for decades. 

Of course, the key to the success of these two currating the BBE's J-Jazz series of re-issues is that they are "brilliant" as rarity itself is no silver bullet for success. 

It also helps in the case of the latest in the series is that this 1977 recording of the Masaru Imada trio (Masaru leading on piano which 'Blueroad' is worth buying the album for alone) with Tetsujiro Obara (d) and Kunimitsu Inaba (b) together with the '+1' of Yuji Imamura on percussion. It's these four that perform the tour de fab with the extended version, being nearly 17 minutes long, of 'Sea's Pasture' which is as spiritual Japanese modal peace garden in a storm as you can get. Destinations of timeless calm it is not but there's a 'radio edit' as a bonus track that's equally perfect and a great accompliment to the mellower and beautiful title track, 'Planets'. 

So much more than a one track album, and get those jazz shuffle sandals out as I'll take the blueroad.

Artist: Masaru Imada Trio + 1 

Title: Planets

Release Date : 28th October, 2022

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE664

Format : LP/CD/Digital

 

Review: Per Husby Septett - Peacemaker (BBE MUSIC)

It's clear from the BBE J-Jazz series that Mike Peden does love a rare record but in addition to tracking down the best of the rare in the land of the rising sun, this time he's got a gem from the land of the midnight sun with a super rare LP (original only 500 so an instant collectors item) from the Per Husby Septett. 

With covers of tracks by the be-and-post-boppers Kenny Wheeler, Cedar Walton and Charlie Parker you'd thought that'd be enough to covert this album (that features the finest of Norway's Jazz musicians that's led by pianist & arranger Per Husby) but the title track is a killer (erm, let's try 'is a peacemaker'). 

Getting back to Peden, he does like 100mph bop and 'Au Privave / Bloomdido' is that. And then, by contrast, 'Nokve' has the pace and vibe of a 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes' whilst the Kenny Wheeler compositions 'Smatta' and 'Introduction To No Particular Song' hark back to Peden's usual sidekick, Tony 'Impressed' Higgins and his Brit-Jazz revival [this release being Peden's equivalent to Higgins' recent BBE post bop re-issue release on BBE, Shamek Farrah & Norman Person 'Live' - get the feeling these guys are in friendly competition?]. 

So jazz-heads and dancers will know 'Fantasy In D' (the Walton track) , 'Confirmation' (Parker) and 'Lush Life' (Strayhorn) that are all impecable interpretations in both small and big band arrangements. 

What really stands out is the title track, 'The Peacemaker' written by Harold Land. Perhaps we just need to give peace a chance today (bearing in mind this set was recorded back in 1976) along with Per Husby's own 'Adgang F.'. 

And then the original artwork is kinda Monty Pythoneaque and Per Husby has done some new sleeve notes for what is now a 2xLP/CD/Digital release thus making this a necessary addition to any record collection. 

Nice one Mike, lets hope there's more to follow in a series.

BBE Music · Per Husby Septett - The Peacemaker

Artist: Per Husby Septett

Title: Peacemaker

Release date: 21st October 2022

Label: BBE Music

Cat. No: BBE641

Format: 2xLP / CD / Digital