Yukiko Hayakawa Trio: Gallery
Yukiko Hayakawa Trio: Gallery Jazz of Japan #135 • Apr 13, 2021 • Brian McCrory Gallery is the 2008 debut release from jazz pianist Yukiko Hayakawa’s trio,...
Arco: Live At Yoncha
Arco: Live At Yoncha Jazz of Japan #134 • Mar 22, 2021 • Brian McCrory The piano and cello duo Arco released Live at Yoncha in 2018, a performance recorded...
Chihiro Yamanaka Trio: Madrigal
Chihiro Yamanaka Trio: Madrigal Jazz of Japan #133 • Mar 14, 2021 • Brian McCrory On her third album Madrigal, jazz pianist Chihiro Yamanaka continues on her...
Layla Tomomi Sakai: Whisper Not
Layla Tomomi Sakai: Whisper Not Jazz of Japan #132 • Mar 8, 2021 • Brian McCrory Whisper Not is vocalist Layla Tomomi Sakai’s debut release from 2016....
Duo Tremolo: Resonance
Duo Tremolo: Resonance Jazz of Japan #131 • Mar 3, 2021 • Brian McCrory Pianist Hideaki Hori and guitarist Takayoshi Baba create beautiful music together on...
Water Me!: Water Me!
Water Me!: Water Me! Jazz of Japan #130 • Feb 26, 2021 • Brian McCrory Inspiring contrasts like strong and warm, comforting and demanding, smoky and silky,...
Yuka Ueda: Dois
Yuka Ueda: Dois Jazz of Japan #129 • Feb 5, 2021 • Brian McCrory On Yuka Ueda’s 2013 release Dois, the Japanese singer assembles thirteen songs from her...
Miki Hirose: Scratch
Miki Hirose: Scratch Jazz of Japan #128 • Feb 1, 2021 • Brian McCrory Trumpeter Miki Hirose’s Scratch from 2013 sizzles with energy, fueled by impeccable...
Takayuki Yagi: New Departure
Takayuki Yagi: New Departure Jazz of Japan #127 • Jan 19, 2021 • Brian McCrory Pianist Takayuki Yagi’s 2018 release New Departure brings him together with...
Akane Matsumoto: Memories of You
Akane Matsumoto: Memories of You Jazz of Japan #126 • Nov 12, 2020 • Brian McCrory As the sentimental mood hints at in the cover photo and album title, Akane...
TCQ: Memories of T
TCQ: Memories of T Jazz of Japan #125 • Nov 7, 2020 • Brian McCrory Memories of T is a 2017 recording from the group TCQ which brings together Japanese and...
Naoko Tanaka Trio: Memories
Naoko Tanaka Trio: Memories Jazz of Japan #124 • Oct 18, 2020 • Brian McCrory A satisfyingly neat outing, Naoko Tanaka Trio’s Memories (2015) leaves a fresh...
Aquapit: Aquapit
Aquapit: Aquapit Jazz of Japan #123 • Sep 19, 2020 • Brian McCrory Jazz organ trio Aquapit’s first album from 2011 sets up the scene for a rollicking jazz...
Masako Kunisada: Wonderful Life
Masako Kunisada: Wonderful Life Jazz of Japan #122 • Sep 13, 2020 • Brian McCrory Masako Kunisada’s spiritual, soulful voice channels truth and joy on her...
Kohsuke Mine Quintet: Major to Minor
Kohsuke Mine Quintet: Major to Minor Jazz of Japan #121 • Aug 19, 2020 • Brian McCrory Kohsuke Mine Quintet’s 1993 album Major to Minor is full of life, a...
Chihiro Yamanaka Trio: When October Goes
Chihiro Yamanaka Trio: When October Goes Jazz of Japan #120 • Aug 13, 2020 • Brian McCrory Chihiro Yamanaka’s second release When October Goes was released...
Fuse: Live Fuse
Fuse: Live Fuse Jazz of Japan #119 • Aug 10, 2020 • Brian McCrory Live Fuse is a 2007 live album from Fuse, a modern jazz quartet headed by Toshihiko Inoue...
Arco: Birth
Arco: Birth Jazz of Japan #118 • May 3, 2020 • Brian McCrory The piano and cello duo Arco released their second album Birth in 2019, two years after their...
Motoi Kanamori: My Soul Meeting
Motoi Kanamori: My Soul Meeting Jazz of Japan #117 • Apr 24, 2020 • Brian McCrory Jazz bassist Motoi Kanamori’s My Soul Meeting from 2018 is his album debut...
Yuka Ueda: Agora
Yuka Ueda: Agora Jazz of Japan #116 • Apr 20, 2020 • Brian McCrory Agora is the 2011 debut release from vocalist Yuka Ueda who specializes in Brazilian samba...
Harumi Nomoto Trio: Belinda
Harumi Nomoto Trio: Belinda Jazz of Japan #115 • Apr 4, 2020 • Brian McCrory Among the modern J-Jazz piano trio mainstays in the collection, Harumi Nomoto...
Bungalow: Metropolitan Oasis
Bungalow: Metropolitan Oasis Jazz of Japan #114 • Mar 26, 2020 • Brian McCrory Jazz quartet Bungalow issued an imaginative and flavorful debut album with...
Baby Brothers: Bb
Baby Brothers: Bb Jazz of Japan #113 • Mar 23, 2020 • Brian McCrory The living music from vocal a cappella groups can be inspiring and soothing in turbulent...
Shunichi Yanagi Trio: Bubble Fish
Shunichi Yanagi Trio: Bubble Fish Jazz of Japan #112 • Mar 17, 2020 • Brian McCrory Jazz pianist Shunichi Yanagi releases a shimmering modern jazz recording...
Yuko Miyawaki: Song of Flower
Yuko Miyawaki: Song of Flower Jazz of Japan #111 • Mar 11, 2020 • Brian McCrory Japanese jazz musician Yuko Miyawaki’s debut album Song of Flower from 2011...
Manabu Ohishi Trio: Gift
Manabu Ohishi Trio: Gift Jazz of Japan #110 • Mar 9, 2020 • Brian McCrory With the jazz album Gift from 2012, pianist and composer Manabu Ohishi reunites the...
Eriko Shimizu: Sora
Eriko Shimizu: Sora Jazz of Japan #109 • Mar 5, 2020 • Brian McCrory Pianist Eriko Shimizu’s Sora is her debut album from 2010 on which she leads her jazz...
Yukari Inoue: Sakura
Yukari Inoue: Sakura Jazz of Japan #108 • Mar 3, 2020 • Brian McCrory Pianist Yukari Inoue’s Sakura from 2016 blooms with colorful variety as she jumps...
Maiko: Solo
Maiko: Solo Jazz of Japan #107 • Feb 28, 2020 • Brian McCrory Jazz violinist Maiko pours her heart and soul out on her 2018 release Solo, brimming with...
Emiko Voice x Suga Dairo: Phase 2
Emiko Voice x Suga Dairo: Phase 2 Jazz of Japan #106 • Feb 26, 2020 • Brian McCrory Vocalist Emiko Voice and pianist Dairo Suga perform jazz standards in...
Ryosuke Hashizume Group: Wordless
Ryosuke Hashizume Group: Wordless Jazz of Japan #105 • Feb 24, 2020 • Brian McCrory Wordless is Ryosuke Hashizume’s first album released in Japan in 2006,...
Chihiro Yamanaka Trio: Living Without Friday
Chihiro Yamanaka Trio: Living Without Friday Jazz of Japan #104 • Feb 21, 2020 • Brian McCrory Jazz pianist Chihiro Yamanaka’s debut album Living Without...
Trio Export 63.1.0.X: Small Pieces for Flying Padre
Trio Export 63.1.0.X: Small Pieces for Flying Padre Jazz of Japan #103 • Feb 19, 2020 • Brian McCrory The album Small Pieces for Flying Padre from Trio...
Miyuki Moriya: Cat’s Cradle
Miyuki Moriya: Cat’s Cradle Jazz of Japan #102 • Feb 17, 2020 • Brian McCrory Miyuki Moriya’s Cat’s Cradle from 2010 is modern jazz album from an alto sax...
Reikan Kobayashi: Gakudan Hitori
Reikan Kobayashi: Gakudan Hitori Jazz of Japan #101 • Feb 13, 2020 • Brian McCrory A novel album in several ways, Gakudan Hitori from musician Reikan...
Fumio Karashima Trio: It’s Just Beginning
Fumio Karashima Trio: It’s Just Beginning Jazz of Japan #100 • Feb 12, 2020 • Brian McCrory Veteran jazz pianist Fumio Karashima was well-known in Japan for...
Daiki Yasukagawa Trio: Trios II
Daiki Yasukagawa Trio: Trios II Jazz of Japan #99 • Feb 10, 2020 • Brian McCrory Similar in concept to Ray Brown’s Some Of My Best Friends Are… album series...
Yudo Matsuo: Bonanza
Yudo Matsuo: Bonanza Jazz of Japan #98 • Feb 7, 2020 • Brian McCrory Bonanza, from 2012, is the debut release from guitarist Yudo Matsuo, whose kinetic...
Hiromi Miura: We Don’t Know Yet
Hiromi Miura: We Don’t Know Yet Jazz of Japan #97 • Feb 5, 2020 • Brian McCrory Modern jazz albums like saxophonist Hiromi Miura’s We Don’t Know Yet occupy a...
Azumi: Almost Like Being in Love
Azumi: Almost Like Being in Love Jazz of Japan #96 • Feb 3, 2020 • Brian McCrory Jazz singer Azumi’s 2010 release Almost Like Being in Love is a cheery and...
Noriko Satomi: A Love Supreme
Noriko Satomi: A Love Supreme Jazz of Japan #95 • Jan 30, 2020 • Brian McCrory Noriko Satomi brings the passion and vibrancy of jazz violin to an acclaimed...
Hideaki Kanazawa & Sumire Kuribayashi: Nijuso
Hideaki Kanazawa & Sumire Kuribayashi: Nijuso Jazz of Japan #94 • Jan 28, 2020 • Brian McCrory Veteran bassist Hideaki Kanazawa and stellar pianist Sumire...
Rabbitoo: National Anthem of Unknown Country
Rabbitoo: National Anthem of Unknown Country Jazz of Japan #93 • Jan 26, 2020 • Brian McCrory The textured sound of Rabbitoo makes a lasting first impression...
Maiko Trio: Live! Three
Maiko Trio: Live! Three Jazz of Japan #92 • Jan 23, 2020 • Brian McCrory Jazz violinist Maiko trio live! Three captures a night in Tokyo in 2016, recorded...
Routine Jazz Sextet: Routine Jazz Sextet
Routine Jazz Sextet: Routine Jazz Sextet Jazz of Japan #91 • Jan 21, 2020 • Brian McCrory Routine Jazz Sextet from 2008 promotes genuine jazz from Tokyo with...
Hideaki Hori Trio: In My Words
Hideaki Hori Trio: In My Words Jazz of Japan #90 • Jan 17, 2020 • Brian McCrory Pianist Hideaki Hori lets his dexterous fingers do the talking on In My Words...
Seiji Tada: Workout!!
Seiji Tada: Workout!! Jazz of Japan #89 • Jan 13, 2020 • Brian McCrory Seiji “Taddy” Tada cooks with bebop, blues, and ballads on Workout!! from 2018. This...
Miki Hayama: Prelude to a Kiss
Miki Hayama: Prelude to a Kiss Jazz of Japan #88 • Jan 9, 2020 • Brian McCrory Jazz pianist Miki Hayama’s 2006 album Prelude to a Kiss features beautiful...
NHORHM: New Heritage of Real Heavy Metal -Extra Edition-
NHORHM: New Heritage of Real Heavy Metal -Extra Edition- Jazz of Japan #87 • Jan 7, 2020 • Brian McCrory An unlikely fusion of heavy metal and modern jazz...
Yako Horikita: Shining Hour
Yako Horikita: Shining Hour Jazz of Japan #86 • Dec 6, 2019 • Brian McCrory Fans of vintage vocal jazz will be drawn to singer Yako Horikita’s debut album...
Mabumi Yamaguchi: Let Your Mind Alone
Mabumi Yamaguchi: Let Your Mind Alone Jazz of Japan #85 • Nov 19, 2019 (rev. May 16, 2024) • Brian McCrory The silvery tones of masterful jazz sax glide and...
Mie Joké: Etrenne
Mie Joké: Etrenne Jazz of Japan #84 • Oct 16, 2019 • Brian McCrory Jazz vocalist Mie Joké’s 2018 release Etrenne is a fun and fancy swing jazz outing, a...
Shinichi Kato: Bass on Cinema
Shinichi Kato: Bass on Cinema Jazz of Japan #83 • Sep 27, 2019 • Brian McCrory With a vintage romantic feel inspired by classic cinema, Shinichi Kato’s 2011...
Minoru Yoshiki Soulstation: Path of Hope
Minoru Yoshiki Soulstation: Path of Hope Jazz of Japan #82 • Sep 10, 2019 • Brian McCrory Special Guest Contribution // Press Release The birth of a world of...