Record Reviews

MILES DAVIS ~ IN TOKYO COLUMBIA 519508 ~ USA ~ Jazz This 1964 live recording is the only document in exsistence of the "in-transition" formative period of the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist´ second legendary quintet, which features the work of the giant saxophonist Sam RiversFind albums by this artist. Rivers replaced George ColemanFind albums by this artist (see "In EuropeFind albums with this title") for just a few weeks, which included a Japanese tour where this music was recorded. Rivers´ free-jazz tendencies were not exactly what Miles was looking for at that period, but on this recording Rivers` performance is remarkably "solid" (compared to his other recordings of that period) and beautiful. The Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist / Ron CarterFind albums by this artist / Tony WilliamsFind albums by this artist rhythm section swings and drives the two frontmen like none other and the music is just heavenly. Absolutely essential!

Updated: 11/01/2024Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

PATRICK MORAZ / BILL BRUFORD ~ IN TOKYO WINTERFOLD 011 (Barcode: 604388731220) ~ SWITZERLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1985 Released: 2009 The duo of Swiss keyboardist Patrick MorazFind albums by this artist and British drummer Bill BrufordFind albums by this artist recorded a couple of splendid studio albums in the mid-1980s, playing a unique blend of Jazz and spontaneously invented music. Although both started their international careers as members of the legendary Prog group Yes, they were strongly connected to the Jazz roots, as their recordings as a due prove beyond any doubt. This great and most welcome album presents their work captured live for the first time, which was recorded at the time but remained unreleased for a quartet of a century. Now we can finally enjoy this music thanks to the belated, but most welcome release. The numerous fans of these musicians, both separately and as a duo, will surely enjoy this album immensely. Recommended!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ZAO ~ IN TOKYO MUSEA 4699 (Barcode: 3426300046994) ~ FRANCE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2004 Released: 2007 The legendary French band ZaoFind albums by this artist, formed in 1973 by two ex-MagmaFind albums by this artist members François CahenFind albums by this artist and Yochk`o SefferFind albums by this artist was probably the best and most interesting musical phenomenon on the scene at the time. The band reformed for a short period of time in 1994 to record one album (AkhenatonFind albums with this title) and then again a decade later for a Japanese tour, where this album was recorded live. To make things even more interesting, the Japanese violinist and member of KBBFind albums by this artist, Akihisa TsuboyFind albums by this artist, joined the group to complete the sextet (the original group included the legendary French violinist Didier LockwoodFind albums by this artist). The music is everything one would expect from Zao – breathtakingly beautiful Avant-Garde with strong jazz backbone. The new vocalist fills the difficult role with flying colors and all the musicians perform superbly. The material is a great mixture of older material (newly arranged) and new pieces, all composed by Cahen and Seffer. The lengthy pieces allow for extensive solos by all musicians and the album has a wonderful natural flow to it. In short, people who love improvised modern adventurous music will love this immensely. Essential!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend