J-Jazz (Japanese Jazz)

Im not sure if you guys have been following the fantastic magazine series by Katsumasa Kusonose? Essentially he was researching, photographing and writing articles on some of Japan's Jazz Kissa (or 'Kisssaten') for a book but when the pandemic hit he had to put it on hold. He decided to release what he had in magazine formats (3 being released so far) and this 4th is essentially a coffee table book of photos. Its full of really interesting and aesthetically stunning photos. Incredibly, it took just 3 days to arrive to the UK from Japan as well, which has been the average time for each of the series so far, crazy fast!

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Dear Santa... 😇
 
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I have J-Jazz - Deep Modern Jazz from Japan 1969-1984 in digital now, there are some good tracks but I found the recording quality to be average. Would there be any advantage of having it on vinyl ? It's not exactly cheap. Thanks J Jazz crew.

 
Not really, but there are 3 extra tracks on the LP’s -so there is that.

I have J-Jazz - Deep Modern Jazz from Japan 1969-1984 in digital now, there are some good tracks but I found the recording quality to be average. Would there be any advantage of having it on vinyl ? It's not exactly cheap. Thanks J Jazz crew.

 
Im not sure if you guys have been following the fantastic magazine series by Katsumasa Kusonose? Essentially he was researching, photographing and writing articles on some of Japan's Jazz Kissa (or 'Kisssaten') for a book but when the pandemic hit he had to put it on hold. He decided to release what he had in magazine formats (3 being released so far) and this 4th is essentially a coffee table book of photos. Its full of really interesting and aesthetically stunning photos. Incredibly, it took just 3 days to arrive to the UK from Japan as well, which has been the average time for each of the series so far, crazy fast!

View attachment 115516View attachment 115517View attachment 115519View attachment 115518View attachment 115520
A article you may also like @Selaws
 
Im not sure if you guys have been following the fantastic magazine series by Katsumasa Kusonose? Essentially he was researching, photographing and writing articles on some of Japan's Jazz Kissa (or 'Kisssaten') for a book but when the pandemic hit he had to put it on hold. He decided to release what he had in magazine formats (3 being released so far) and this 4th is essentially a coffee table book of photos. Its full of really interesting and aesthetically stunning photos. Incredibly, it took just 3 days to arrive to the UK from Japan as well, which has been the average time for each of the series so far, crazy fast!

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Looks quite interesting. Any particular place to order these from?
 
Looks quite interesting. Any particular place to order these from?
I have been getting them all direct from Jazz City Store, although a handful of copies have slowly been appearing in specialist magazine shops in other countries.

The first 2 volumes of the Gateway To Jazz Kissa were about £10 inc postage, the Jazz Kissa 2014 photo 'book' was around £23 inc postage, and there is also a #VINYL which is also by Katsumasa Kusonose and was also around £10. The postage is incredibly fast, some have arrived within 3 days of my order being placed.

Jazz Kissa 2014 Vol 1 - Here's the main link, although I think the #VINYL has long been sold out as the link looks to be dead.

Gateway To Jazz Kissa Vol 1 & 2 - Heres the specific link to the 2 vols of the Gateway To Jazz Kissa releases so far.

With all of these (apart from the Jazz Kissa 2014 Vol 1 photo book) remember to double-check that you order the English Language version, unless you can read Japanese.
 
Anyone have experience ordering from HMV&Books online? I've been trying to contact their customer support for issues with my order for 2 wks and response, curious what the wait time typically is.
 
I am almost in disbelief but Discogs released its top selling lps of 2021 and Ryo Fukui's Scenery was listed as number 22.


The jazz revival continues to amaze me.
👋👋 I had been waiting for "Scenery" for a long time. But I thought I was maybe one of 20 people in the country.
 
👋👋 I had been waiting for "Scenery" for a long time. But I thought I was maybe one of 20 people in the country.
Just consider some Discogs stats:

163 claim to have the original (myself included)
913 have the 2007 reissue,
2000+ have the limited 1/2 speed master from 2018 (myself included), and
3000+ have the regular 2018 issue!

Those are insane numbers for a piano trio record from outside the USA.
 
Just consider some Discogs stats:

163 claim to have the original (myself included)
913 have the 2007 reissue,
2000+ have the limited 1/2 speed master from 2018 (myself included), and
3000+ have the regular 2018 issue!

Those are insane numbers for a piano trio record from outside the USA.
truly... recent jazz reissue series are selling more copies on release date than they had in their lifetime up til now

I have both the 1/2 speed and 2017 Japanese reissues and I swear they sound the same...I can imagine the originals sound much better - that Trio records house sound is always so relaxed and natural.
 
Fumio Karashima's post Whynot work is just exceptional and incredibly well recorded...this is one of those blank spaces in the J-Jazz collector price-gone-nuts and if you see these sides on Trio/FullHouse/Etc, they are highly recommended, they are all rather reasonably priced and just fantastically recorded - these should all be easy to source at this point.

His Whynot work has now become truly expensive and while they are both great sides, I think the increases are more about collecting the Whynot label. Ok go!
 
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