{"product_id":"isao-suzuki-quartet-2-orangutan-2024-reissue","title":"Isao Suzuki Quartet + 2 - Orang-Utan (2024 Reissue)","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e— The Analog Vault \/\/ Essential Listening —\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eThe Japanese jazz scene of the 1970s is often lauded for its audacious experimentalism, and Isao Suzuki’s \u003cem\u003eOrang-Utan\u003c\/em\u003e, released under the iconic Three Blind Mice label, stands as one of Japanese jazz-funk's cult favourite releases.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eOrang-Utan\u003c\/i\u003e captured the bassist and cellist leading a 1975 session for the label with flexibility and fire. Kenji Mori’s reeds, Kazumi Watanabe’s guitar and Kunihiko Sugano’s piano\/organ pivot between modal lyricism and wiry fusion, while Shinji Mori’s drums and Osamu Kawakami’s bass provide firm grounding. Long forms allow space to stretch: “Blue Road” develops patiently, “Where Are You Going?” swings with subtle vocals from Mari Nakamoto, and “My One and Only Love” recasts a standard with reverie. TBM’s famed close-miking highlights every nuance, turning \u003ci\u003eOrang-Utan\u003c\/i\u003e into one of the label’s defining landmarks. \u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e— \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/theanalogvault.mom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eThe Analog Vault\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eDespite being a well-regarded and sought-after slice of Japanese jazz-funk and contemporary jazz perfection, \u003cem\u003eOrang-Utan\u003c\/em\u003e has never previously been released outside of Japan. Given that original copies of the album regularly fetch three-figure sums online, this global reissue is arguably well overdue. Recorded by Japanese scene stalwarts Isao Suzuki Quartet (with the addition of two guest musicians) in April 1975, the set is topped and tailed by two long, up-tempo workouts, of which fizzing, funk-fuelled opener \"Blue Road\" stands out (though hardcore jazz-heads may prefer the title track). In between, you'll find two relaxed, laidback affairs where Japanese jazz-rock legend Kazume Watanabe's languid solos come to the fore. Bassist Isao Suzuki's popularity shot up to stratosphere with the release of \u003cem\u003eBlow Up\u003c\/em\u003e from the Three Blind Mice label. By the time he recorded this, fourth album for the label, he was actually the winner of the Swing Journal Readers' Poll. And this rather strangely titled album doesn't disappoint.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSuzuki had a knack for surrounding himself with superb musicians and playing brilliant, groovy music that is firmly rooted in the jazz tradition. This time, he picked as the all-important horn player Kenji Mori whose superb playing on alto sax, bass clarinet and flute strongly remind us of Eric Dolphy. The guitar genius Kazumi Watanabe turns in wonderfully nuanced performances in every setting. Also, not insignificantly, Mari Nakamoto--one of the best female jazz vocalists Japan has ever produced--appears as a guest and sings Shirley Horn's \"Where Are You Going?\" with excellent results. \u003cspan\u003e— (via\u003c\/span\u003e Birdland)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—\u003cbr\u003e2024 Japan reissue.\u003cbr\u003e- 180g Vinyl Premium Limited Edition.\u003cbr\u003e- Remastering \u0026amp; Cutting: Bernie Grundman.\u003cbr\u003e- Original reprint liner notes.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"100%\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/h2wJJ2-CifE?si=HTMRDbLeUgtM2EEK\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e↓\u003cbr\u003eLabel: Sony Music, Three Blind Mice \u003cbr\u003eSeries: Three Blind Mice\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue\u003cbr\u003eReissued: 2024 \/ Original Release: 1965\u003cbr\u003eGenre: Jazz, Funk \/ Soul\u003cbr\u003eStyle: Jazz-Funk, Contemporary Jazz\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFile under: Japanese Jazz\u003cbr\u003e⦿\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Three Blind Mice","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44578712486046,"sku":"4547366681291","price":70.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0584\/5434\/3838\/files\/a0330426541_10.jpg?v=1732696534","url":"https:\/\/theanalogvault.mom\/products\/isao-suzuki-quartet-2-orangutan-2024-reissue","provider":"The Analog Vault","version":"1.0","type":"link"}