WaJazz : Japanese Jazz Spectacle Volume I - Deep, Heavy and Beautiful Jazz from Japan 1968-1984 - The Nippon Columbia Masters - Selected By Yusuke Ogawa (Universounds)

Description

Universounds, HMV Record and the 180g label are joining forces for an exceptional release: from flamboyant hard bop to free jazz, including spiritual jazz with introspective saxophone solos and the massive sounds of big bands. The renowned Japanese jazz expert Yusuke Ogawa presents an essential collection of 14 "WaJazz" tracks drawn from the rich catalog of “Nippon Columbia.” Featuring Jiro Inagaki, Minoru Muraoka, Hiroshi Suzuki, Akira Ishikawa, Hozan Yamamoto, Takeshi Inomata, and many more!
"Japanese jazz has been recognized and celebrated by music lovers around the world for decades. The origins of this trend can be traced back to the rare groove movement that flourished in the 1990s, but its current, deep, and broad popularity seems to be linked to the fact that the Japanese have been reevaluating their own jazz since the mid-2000s, locally referred to as WaJazz ("Wa" meaning Japan but also the era of Emperor Showa, from 1926 to 1989). Since the early 2000s, there has been a growing trend away from the DJ-centered perspective and towards a deeper appreciation of jazz. Nowadays, there is an increasing interest in the context and roots in which jazz developed in Japan, with Japanese jazz as a whole now considered a distinctive genre in its own right. Of course, even though we speak of "WaJazz" as a single genre, there is a very wide variety of styles within it. However, when Japanese musicians play, there is something uniquely Japanese that circulates and creates a kind of synergy. It may be the melody, the rhythm, or even something deeper, like an unexpressed sparkle. I would be happy for some of its charms and secrets to emerge from the fourteen tracks included in this collection." (Yusuke Ogawa) Yusuke Ogawa has been running the Universounds store in Tokyo since 2001, specializing in jazz and used, rare, and collectible records. He is also a reissue supervisor, label director, DJ, and music writer. Known for his vast musical knowledge, attention to detail, and archiving skills, Ogawa has worked on over 250 reissues and compilations, including the highly regarded Deep Jazz Reality and Project Re:Vinyl series. He is the co-author of the Wa-Jazz Disc Guide and the books Independent Black Jazz of America.