The vast sea of J-Jazz can be hard to navigate, but this is as good a place as any to start. While American players were being swept into the splintered spiritual jazz, fusion and jazz-funk scenes in the 70s, Japanese players stayed busy perfecting and combing over the harmonic possibilities of bop and modal jazz. On pianist Ryo Fukui’s debut session as a bandleader, he tackles a handful of standards, making them sound humongous despite playing in the pared-down trio format alongside Satoshi Denpo on bass and Toshinori Fukui on drums. Check out their dextrous take of “It Could Happen To You,” or the incredibly moving rendition of Trane’s “I Want To Talk About You.” This recording of “Autumn Leaves” might be the definitive version for our ears. One of the finest moments on offer is a cover of j-jazz contemporary Hideo Ichikawa’s avant-garde “Early Summer,” first recorded just two years prior - Ryo’s huge chords, Denpo’s insane handling of the bass and a jaw-dropping drum solo from Toshinori are quite literally soundtracking our early summer over here. If the first five tunes pass your jazz snob checklist, consider the lone original composition “Scenery:” calm, calculated, but dripping with soul. Once upon a time, this record was a secret weapon of j-jazz enthusiasts, but after people got hipped to it being sampled by the likes of Roni Size and Knxwledge over the years, original copies have crossed that inevitable $300 threshold. Turntable Lab exclusive transparent vinyl edition of 1200, recommended!

• Turntable Lab exclusive pressing released as part of the Turntable Lab x WRWTFWW Collection
• limit (2) per customer
• transparent colored vinyl
• remastered at half-speed from the original analog tapes
• limited edition of 1200
• featuring Ryo Fukui (p), Satoshi Denpoh (b), Yoshinori Fukui (d)
• original release year: 1976
• music label: We Release Jazz 2023
• TTL Editions 089

reviewed by sunrise mart 05/2018