J-Jazz (Japanese Jazz)

bornard said:
but grading is definitely looser than its ever been
Click to expand...
I agree - I’ve bought hundreds (mostly cheap, relatively common jazz that no one wants) of records online from Ella, Face, and Record City over the past 3-4 years. I only buy records with their highest grade. In the past I would get some grading errors here and there, but the last couple months have been bad - basically the same failure rate as buying on US Discogs/eBay.
 
snowwhat said:
I agree - I’ve bought hundreds (mostly cheap, relatively common jazz that no one wants) of records online from Ella, Face, and Record City over the past 3-4 years. I only buy records with their highest grade. In the past I would get some grading errors here and there, but the last couple months have been bad - basically the same failure rate as buying on US Discogs/eBay.
Click to expand...

They probably see US/EU shops selling Japanese records for higher prices and decided they would keep the biggest part of the cake.
Anyway, these are bad news for us as record collectors.
 
So I’m not into a lot of the stuff that gets posted here - as far as jazz goes, I’m mostly into the funky stuff. But for stuff I was looking for - rap, modern soul/boogie, city pop/fusion - Japan was great. I spent 3 weeks there a couple weeks ago. And this was my first time there so I can’t compare to the good old days. I thought Osaka was better than Tokyo.
 
snowwhat said:
I agree - I’ve bought hundreds (mostly cheap, relatively common jazz that no one wants) of records online from Ella, Face, and Record City over the past 3-4 years. I only buy records with their highest grade. In the past I would get some grading errors here and there, but the last couple months have been bad - basically the same failure rate as buying on US Discogs/eBay.
Click to expand...
I’ve mostly bought from RC (Ella & Face are too expensive online), but same with grading. The VG+ used to be super clean, but now I only buy EX and occasionally still get misgrades. I’ve bought a mix of cheap and expensive stuff and tends to happen on the cheaper stuff more. Customer service is great though and make things right.
 
Selection and availability are challenging if you’re not on the site the moment it’s updated each day, but Yusuke at Universounds has kept prices very fair. Grading has been accurate, and he will hold orders so you can bundle shipping, making shipping to the US reasonable if you wait long enough to accrue a bundle (although he raised shipping during the last year bc his costs went up). I’m receiving a delivery of 5 items in the next day or two from Universounds.
 
Last edited:
One of my recent pickups from Universounds is Terumasu Hino’s “Hogiuta.”

Sadly, it’s pricey right now on Discogs (Universounds’ minty copy was $35 plus shipping).

Incredible lineup: Terumasa Hino, Cecil McBee (sounds amazing), Motohiko Hino (drums, percussion), M'tume. The best I can come up with for this music is some mix of spiritual, drone/groove, and a little open-ended/out. It’s super rhythmic (not surprising given lineup), and Terumasa Hino is on his game. I also like this characterization, although I’m in the gummy camp instead of a vaporizer:
This album is totally cosmic. It kicks off with the intense side long title piece that features McBee and the percussionists locking into a groove while Hino does his Miles-like best and it’s pretty damn great. The album has stellar production. If your system is set up right you will hear a deep soundstage with precise placement of intruments. Cool panning effects with throw voices all around. An incredible spacious recording that will really show off your system. This is one of those albums that demands you fire up the vaporizer and dim the lights
Click to expand...
There’s some fat that could be trimmed (it’s not a 10/10 album), but if you find an affordable copy and either description sounds appealing, jump on it. Of course, if you’re looking for a swingin’ good time, this is not it.
 
I'm a big fan of Hino, I've just ordered a copy of this myself last week, I have been on the lookout for a while. Do you have Hi-Nology ?? That's another goodie, Fuji, Wheel Stone, Into Eternity(double album) are also great, any of his stuff from the 70's is very very good, after that he goes into a bit more Smooth Jazz/light fusion stuff that falls well below his 70's stuff for me. Also Kikuchi Masabumi- East Wind with him is superb as well . He's like a Japanese version of Miles. That East Wind label released some amazing stuff .
Portland Sheriff said:
One of my recent pickups from Universounds is Terumasu Hino’s “Hogiuta.”

Sadly, it’s pricey right now on Discogs (Universounds’ minty copy was $35 plus shipping).

Incredible lineup: Terumasa Hino, Cecil McBee (sounds amazing), Motohiko Hino (drums, percussion), M'tume. The best I can come up with for this music is some mix of spiritual, drone/groove, and a little open-ended/out. It’s super rhythmic (not surprising given lineup), and Terumasa Hino is on his game. I also like this characterization, although I’m in the gummy camp instead of a vaporizer:

There’s some fat that could be trimmed (it’s not a 10/10 album), but if you find an affordable copy and either description sounds appealing, jump on it. Of course, if you’re looking for a swingin’ good time, this is not it.
Click to expand...
 
kafunis said:
I'm a big fan of Hino, I've just ordered a copy of this myself last week, I have been on the lookout for a while. Do you have Hi-Nology ?? That's another goodie, Fuji, Wheel Stone, Into Eternity(double album) are also great, any of his stuff from the 70's is very very good, after that he goes into a bit more Smooth Jazz/light fusion stuff that falls well below his 70's stuff for me. Also Kikuchi Masabumi- East Wind with him is superb as well . He's like a Japanese version of Miles. That East Wind label released some amazing stuff .
Click to expand...

People usually go after TBM releases and forget East Wind or Frasco releases, which tend to be a bit more affordable (at least some of them).
 
Portland Sheriff said:
One of my recent pickups from Universounds is Terumasu Hino’s “Hogiuta.”

Sadly, it’s pricey right now on Discogs (Universounds’ minty copy was $35 plus shipping).

Incredible lineup: Terumasa Hino, Cecil McBee (sounds amazing), Motohiko Hino (drums, percussion), M'tume. The best I can come up with for this music is some mix of spiritual, drone/groove, and a little open-ended/out. It’s super rhythmic (not surprising given lineup), and Terumasa Hino is on his game. I also like this characterization, although I’m in the gummy camp instead of a vaporizer:

There’s some fat that could be trimmed (it’s not a 10/10 album), but if you find an affordable copy and either description sounds appealing, jump on it. Of course, if you’re looking for a swingin’ good time, this is not it.
Click to expand...
I was in Universounds today - Ogawa-san is definitely a great contributor to the world of music and a generous fellow with his time - and I did buy a few things today...very stoked on the Ann Young record he's putting out in a few weeks...

but remember that $35 is nearly 5,000yen - that is a lot of money for a record here...
 
kafunis said:
I'm a big fan of Hino, I've just ordered a copy of this myself last week, I have been on the lookout for a while. Do you have Hi-Nology ?? That's another goodie, Fuji, Wheel Stone, Into Eternity(double album) are also great, any of his stuff from the 70's is very very good, after that he goes into a bit more Smooth Jazz/light fusion stuff that falls well below his 70's stuff for me. Also Kikuchi Masabumi- East Wind with him is superb as well . He's like a Japanese version of Miles. That East Wind label released some amazing stuff .
Click to expand...
east winds used to be everywhere here and all between 500-1000 yen for all but the rarest of titles...now I've literally only seen a couple in total - they are all gone, same with the Flying Disks and the Atlas/yupitero early 80s sessions (which across the board are great sounding sessions with great musicians)
 
Yeah, I look at some of the prices now for some things I picked up a few years ago, mental! I’m going back to Japan in Dec for 5 weeks, hopefully I can grab a few things, but I’ll have a great time anyway 🥳
bornard said:
east winds used to be everywhere here and all between 500-1000 yen for all but the rarest of titles...now I've literally only seen a couple in total - they are all gone, same with the Flying Disks and the Atlas/yupitero early 80s sessions (which across the board are great sounding sessions with great musicians)
Click to expand...
 
kafunis said:
Yeah, I look at some of the prices now for some things I picked up a few years ago, mental! I’m going back to Japan in Dec for 5 weeks, hopefully I can grab a few things, but I’ll have a great time anyway 🥳
Click to expand...
Hokkaido? Ski season? Haven't been up there but I bet the shops are less picked over....and the snow....
 
Naaaaaa, I’m not a skier, will spend most of our time down south, a few days in Tokyo when we arrive, then down to Okayama where my wife’s family is, a week travelling round Kyushu while the kids are in school and a few days in Osaka no fought somewhere in there. My brother and his wife are coming as well so we’ll have a bit of time with them which will be great. I was last there late 2019, my wife took our girls back last Xmas to see family and new cousins etc.
 
kafunis said:
I'm a big fan of Hino, I've just ordered a copy of this myself last week, I have been on the lookout for a while. Do you have Hi-Nology ?? That's another goodie, Fuji, Wheel Stone, Into Eternity(double album) are also great, any of his stuff from the 70's is very very good, after that he goes into a bit more Smooth Jazz/light fusion stuff that falls well below his 70's stuff for me. Also Kikuchi Masabumi- East Wind with him is superb as well . He's like a Japanese version of Miles. That East Wind label released some amazing stuff .
Click to expand...
On the East Wind label, I also have The Pentagon and two “Great Jazz Trio” at Village Vanguard, all acquired for little $$. Other T. Hino stuff I have (as leader or not) — Hi-Nology, Live!, East Wind, and Joe Henderson w Kikuchi and Hino “In Concert.” Fuji is on my list

Very sadly, I’ve not been to japan, and i missed the best days of buying cheap from Japan, so I can only deal w/ the current market. So paying $35 for Hogiuta wasn’t ideal compared to not that long ago, but it’s pretty good today.
 
Oh yeah, all those Great Jazz Trio with Tony and Ron are great. You know , swings and roundabouts, I think that the Vinyl prices will fall again, but I have no idea when, I think you just have to have a price in mind and ultimately it’s up to you what you want to spend, but all this stuff is available on digital. I know it’s not quite the same but we can enjoy the music all the same. I certainly wait and think if what I have to spend on a particular record is really good value or not-that is an individual choice and depends on many things, Basically I sell things now and what I have from that I can spend on other purchases.
 
kafunis said:
Oh yeah, all those Great Jazz Trio with Tony and Ron are great. You know , swings and roundabouts, I think that the Vinyl prices will fall again, but I have no idea when, I think you just have to have a price in mind and ultimately it’s up to you what you want to spend, but all this stuff is available on digital. I know it’s not quite the same but we can enjoy the music all the same. I certainly wait and think if what I have to spend on a particular record is really good value or not-that is an individual choice and depends on many things, Basically I sell things now and what I have from that I can spend on other purchases.
Click to expand...
I spoke to an owner of a store today and he said he gets lots of calls for big collections of old(er) guys looking to sell, but all the shops are competing now for these collections and are actually advertising (you can find the DiskUnion want lists online with prices they will pay) with premiums attached to desirable titles...so maybe the records aren't all gone, but I think the prices are never coming back down...
 
bornard said:
I spoke to an owner of a store today and he said he gets lots of calls for big collections of old(er) guys looking to sell, but all the shops are competing now for these collections and are actually advertising (you can find the DiskUnion want lists online with prices they will pay) with premiums attached to desirable titles...so maybe the records aren't all gone, but I think the prices are never coming back down...
Click to expand...
and apologies for my active post/ranting of late about Japan prices/avail and other...but I think I've finally cracked it...Buying records in Tokyo was about digging, going around with the realistic hope that you'll pull something out of the bin that was rare, unusual, crazy cheap or otherwise exciting and that used to be the case pre-pandemic...now the bins are filled with a lot of the same titles (that no one really wants), all the treasures are pulled, really expensive and hard to find...so my ritual of going to Japan to dig and find those exciting titles that you never see anywhere else for money that isn't huge is gone...and that's just a bummer....obvs YMMV and I have a large collection so its not sour grapes, but a bit of the fun/excitement is missing...that being said, still plenty out there...just less of it...

anywho...dig on!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top