Universounds, HMV Record Shop and 180g team up for an exceptional release: from blazing hard bop to free jazz, to introspective saxophone solos and massive big band sounds, renowned Japanese jazz expert Yusuke Ogawa presents an essential 14 track collection of "WaJazz" music taken from the Nippon Columbia vaults. Featuring Jiro Inagaki, Minoru Muraoka, Hiroshi Suzuki, Hozan Yamamoto, Count Buffalo, Takeshi Inomata, and much more!

"Japanese jazz has been recognized and celebrated by music lovers worldwide for decades. The origins of this trend may be traced back to the rare groove movement that flourished in the 1990s, but its current deep and wide popularity seems to be connected to the fact that Japanese people have been reevaluating their own jazz since the mid-2000s, locally referred to as WaJazz ("Wa" meaning Japan but also the Showa emperor period, from 1926 to 1989). Since the bning of the 2000s, there has been a growing trend to move away from the DJ-focused perspective and to appreciate jazz with a deeper understanding. Nowadays, there is more and more interest in the background and roots in which jazz has developed in Japan, with Japanese jazz as a whole now considered as its own distinctive genre.
Of course, even if we speak about "WaJazz" as one genre, there is a truly wide variety of styles within it. However, when Japanese musicians play, there is something uniquely Japanese flowing through that creates a kind of synergy. It may be the melody, the rhythm, or even something deeper, like an inexpressible flicker. I would be happy if some of its charms and secrets 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 second-hand, rare, and collector records. He is also a reissue supervisor, label manager, DJ, and music writer. Known for his vast musical knowledge, eye for detail, and archival skills, Ogawa has worked on more than 250 reissues and compilations – including the highly praised Deep Jazz Reality and Project Re: Vinyl series. He is the co-author of the Wa-Jazz Disc Guide and the Independent Black Jazz of America books.

Vol2
Following the highly acclaimed first volume in the series, Japanese jazz expert Yusuke Ogawa continues the WaJazz exploration with another essential collection of music that contains something uniquely Japanese — focusing this on the King Records catalog. Featuring less music by Isao Suzuki, Toshiaki Yokota, Akira Miyazawa, Takeru Muraoka, Yasuaki Shimizu, Masahiko Togashi, George Otsuka, and more!

"It is my great pleasure to introduce you to the second volume of the "Japanese Jazz Spectacle" series. Following the first compilation which focused on recordings from the Nippon Columbia catalog, this we are digging into the King Records archives. It is almost impossible to capture the whole picture of Wa-Jazz in a couple of compilation albums since it is such a broad and deep genre, however, by extracting tracks from the Nippon Columbia and King Records collections - both labels having an extensive archive of jazz music - we may be able to glimpse a part of its allure and essence. This again, I have made the music selection with this idea in mind. The music in this compilation was recorded between 1962 and 1985 and is a brief history of Japanese jazz on King Records. Listening is believing, so I hope these tracks will capture your heart and that you will enjoy the charms of Japanese jazz." - Yusuke Ogawa

Yusuke Ogawa has been running the Universounds store in Tokyo since 2001, specializing in jazz and second-hand, rare, and collector records. He is also a reissue supervisor, label manager, DJ, and music writer. Known for his vast musical knowledge, eye for detail, and archival skills, Ogawa has worked on more than 250 reissues and compilations – including the highly praised Deep Jazz Reality and Project Re:Vinyl series. He is the co-author of the Wa-Jazz Disc Guide and the Independent Black Jazz of America books.

Tracklist
Vol1
01. Tadaaki Misago & Tokyo Cuban Boys - Sakura Sakura (7:36)
02. Minoru Muraoka with New Jazz Players - Muraiki (3:56)
03. Count Buffalo & The Jazz Rock Band - Mago-Uta (3:45)
04. Kiyoshi Sugimoto Quartet - D-51 (6:09)
05. Toshiyuki Miyama & The New Herd - Adult's Day (9:30)
06. Soul Media - Breeze (4:35)
07. George Otsuka - Sea View (5:07)
08. Hozan Yamamoto, Masahiko Togashi, Yosuke Yamashita - Breath Prologue (5:13)
09. Jiro Inagaki & Soul Media - Do It! (7:30)
10. Hiroshi Suzuki - Romance (5:57)
11. Masahiko Sato - Tochi Mo Kurumi Mo Fukiotose (3:05)
12. Masahiko Togashi - Fourth Expression (6:43)
13. Takeshi Inomata & Sound Ltd. - Mustache (Live) (9:09)
14. Takeo Moriyama - Watarase (6:40)

Vol2
01. Toshiaki Yokota & The Beat Generation - Clair Deluge (7:08)
02. Tadao Sawai, Toshiyuki Miyama & New Herd Orchestra - Constant Rain (4:44)
03. Akira Miyazawa - Yamame (5:50)
04. Various - Ma Mere L'Oye (3:20)
05. Masao Yagi - Blossom In The Water (5:25)
06. Masahiko Togashi, Isao Suzuki - A Day Of The Sun (8:01)
07. Yasuko Nagamine, Yasuaki Shimizu - Summer Wind (6:40)
08. Hideo Shiraki - Sayonara Blues (6:42)
09. Masahiko Togashi & His Improvisation Jazz Orchestra - Desireless (13:25)
10. Takeru Muraoka & His New Group - Lady Boogie (3:05)
11. Yoshio Ikeda - Down To The Sea (10:23)
12. George Otsuka Quintet - Loving You (6:56)



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