Stay updated with breaking news from Jazz volume. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Bandcamp / Buy One of the many hidden narratives of post-WWII Japan is its long-running jazz scene. This taste for the most American of art forms intensified after the war, when a crackdown on what was considered the music of the enemy ended, the interests of stationed U.S. troops helped reignite the scene, and, later, touring legends found a willing market. From the late 1960s to the early 1980s, Japan was a hub of jazz invention, even if much of the music recorded was released on severely limited runs or private presses, meaning it barely traveled within the country, let alone beyond it. A half century later, the period is a cave of wonders for even for the most dedicated genre fanatic. The breadth of it may be beyond full encapsulationâthankfully, collectors Tony Higgins and Mike Peden are giving it a shot. ....
Merch for this release: Compiled by jazz aficionados Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, BBEâs J Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan continues the work of celebrating the music of Japanâs rich jazz history. For the third installment of the series, Peden, Higgins, and the BBE crew continue to peel back even more musical layers, unearthing private pressings and rare cuts. The album opens with Yasuhiro Kohno Trio + Oneâs ambitious composition âSong Of Island.â Kohno sets the stage with some furious and abstract playing, gliding up and down the keyboard with passion and intricate virtuosity before launching into the tuneâs delightfully melodic main theme. Kohsuke Mineâs âMorning Tideâ comes out swinging with hardcore bop soloing and interplay. Hideo Shirakiâs âGroovy Sambaâ and Hiroshi Murakami & Dancing Sphinxâs ecstatic jazz-funk groover âPhoebusâ round it all out, adding to the wide styli ....
Welcome to Seven in Seven, where each Thursday in this space we would typically take a look at concerts coming to the region over the next week. With most shows on hold due to the pandemic, hereâs a look at seven of the best albums being released Feb. 26: Alice Cooper â Detroit Stories Named for the city that launched the original Alice Cooper group on the road to success, Detroit Stories follows last yearâs Breadcrumbs EP as a modern-day homage to the toughest and craziest rock n roll scene there ever was. This time heâs gathered some legendary Detroit musicians and recorded in a Detroit studio. The album was produced by longtime Cooper collaborator Bob Ezrin and features local music legends like the MC5âs Wayne Kramer and the Detroit Wheelsâ Johnny âBeeâ Badanjek, as well as the Motor City Horns. ....