Sumito Oi: Sumitty & The Funfair
Sumito Oi: Sumitty & The Funfair Jazz of Japan #27 • Mar 6, 2018 • Brian McCrory Sumitty & the Funfair is a 2015 release from drummer Sumito Oi and his band...
Sachiko Ikuta Trio: Haru No Kaze
Sachiko Ikuta Trio: Haru No Kaze Jazz of Japan #26 • Mar 4, 2018 • Brian McCrory A jazz pianist who balances lyricism with boldness, Sachiko Ikuta leads a...
Mayuko Katakura: Inspiration
Mayuko Katakura: Inspiration Jazz of Japan #25 • Mar 1, 2018 • Brian McCrory Pianist Mayuko Katakura’s 2009 debut album Inspiration immediately impresses....
Sohnosuke Imaizumi: Rin
Sohnosuke Imaizumi: Rin Jazz of Japan #24 • Feb 27, 2018 • Brian McCrory Drummer Sohnosuke Imaizumi lays down impressive foundations with his debut album...
Toshihiko Inoue: Vayu
Toshihiko Inoue: Vayu Jazz of Japan #23 • Feb 26, 2018 • Brian McCrory Vayu captures a solo saxophone performance from veteran jazz player Toshihiko Inoue in...
Ryosuke Hashizume: Needful Things
Ryosuke Hashizume: Needful Things Jazz of Japan #22 • Feb 23, 2018 • Brian McCrory Four accomplished musicians reunite for Needful Things, a live recording...
Rie Taguchi: The Gift
Rie Taguchi: The Gift Jazz of Japan #21 • Feb 21, 2018 • Brian McCrory Vocalist Rie Taguchi leads a swinging sextet on her first full-length album, The Gift....
Koichi Sato: Melancholy of a Journey
Koichi Sato: Melancholy of a Journey Jazz of Japan #20 • Feb 20, 2018 • Brian McCrory Pianist and composer Koichi Sato’s 2016 release Melancholy of a Journey...
Seiji Endo: Circle for Peace
Seiji Endo: Circle for Peace Jazz of Japan #19 • Feb 18, 2018 • Brian McCrory Seiji Endo, a poet at the piano, plays his original compositions for solo piano...
Takuji Yamada: Lite Blue
Takuji Yamada: Lite Blue Jazz of Japan #18 • Feb 17, 2018 • Brian McCrory Takuji Yamada is a professional jazz musician who takes care with his jazz. His...
Mayuko Katakura: Faith
Mayuko Katakura: Faith Jazz of Japan #17 • Feb 16, 2018 • Brian McCrory Faith is the second album from Mayuko Katakura, an amazing jazz pianist with an...
Junichiro Ohkuchi Trio: Invisible
Junichiro Ohkuchi Trio: Invisible Jazz of Japan #16 • Feb 13, 2018 (rev. Mar 1, 2024) • Brian McCrory Accomplished pianist Junichiro Ohkuchi leads a trio of...
Keisuke Nakamura: Humadope
Keisuke Nakamura: Humadope Jazz of Japan #15 • Feb 12, 2018 • Brian McCrory Trumpeter Keisuke Nakamura leads a group of contemporary jazz musicians called...
Hitomi Nishiyama Trio: Many Seasons
Hitomi Nishiyama Trio: Many Seasons Jazz of Japan #14 • Feb 11, 2018 • Brian McCrory With a clean, clear pianist’s touch melding jazz with classical and a...
Satoshi Kosugi: Bass on Times
Satoshi Kosugi: Bass on Times Jazz of Japan #13 • Feb 8, 2018 • Brian McCrory Bass on Times is a 2009 album from jazz bassist Satoshi Kosugi, a well-known...
Kaori Vibes Quartet: Flying Mind
Kaori Vibes Quartet: Flying Mind Jazz of Japan #12 • Feb 3, 2018 • Brian McCrory Kaori Vibes Quartet is a jazz quartet centered around the lovely ringing...
Hiroco Nagano: Okurimono
Hiroco Nagano: Okurimono Jazz of Japan #11 • Feb 1, 2018 • Brian McCrory Okurimono is a two-track release from vocalist Hiroco Nagano with pianist Seiji...
Akiko Suda: Flowers On The Hill
Akiko Suda: Flowers On The Hill Jazz of Japan #10 • Feb 1, 2018 • Brian McCrory Flowers On The Hill is a beautiful album of tender and impeccably delivered...
Sayaka Kishi: Featuring Te
Sayaka Kishi: Featuring Te Jazz of Japan #9 • Jan 31, 2018 • Brian McCrory Featuring Te, a 2014 release from pianist Sayaka Kishi, is a fun and bright...
Arco: Asymmetry
Arco: Asymmetry Jazz of Japan #8 • Jan 31, 2018 • Brian McCrory Pianist Sayaki Kishi and cellist Mayumi Sano released their first album together under the...
Yasumasa Kumagai: J-Straight Ahead
Yasumasa Kumagai: J-Straight Ahead Jazz of Japan #7 • Jan 30, 2018 (rev. Sep 20, 2025) • Brian McCrory The jazz style of pianist/composer Yasumasa Kumagai...
Ryosuke Hashizume Group: Incomplete Voices
Ryosuke Hashizume Group: Incomplete Voices Jazz of Japan #6 • Jan 30, 2018 • Brian McCrory Incomplete Voices is the latest release from the Ryosuke Hashizume...
Emiko Voice: Carta
Emiko Voice: Carta Jazz of Japan #5 • Jan 30, 2018 • Brian McCrory An elegant package inside and out, brimming with atmosphere. The outer package is a slim...
Bungalow: You Already Know
Bungalow: You Already Know Jazz of Japan #4 • Jan 30, 2018 • Brian McCrory On Bungalow’s fourth album You Already Know (2017), the modern jazz group does...
Ayumi Koketsu: Art
Ayumi Koketsu: Art Jazz of Japan #3 • Jan 30, 2018 • Brian McCrory Alto saxophonist Ayumi Koketsu released a sophisticated tribute to Art Pepper on her album...
Akane Matsumoto: Night & Day
Akane Matsumoto: Night & Day Jazz of Japan #2 • Jan 30, 2018 • Brian McCrory Fun and buoyant bebop jazz in the style of Oscar Peterson and Phineas Newborn...
Kazumi Ikenaga: Niwatazumi
Kazumi Ikenaga: Niwatazumi Jazz of Japan #1 • Jan 26, 2018 (rev. Nov 17, 2023) • Brian McCrory Niwatazumi is a wonderful modern jazz record from drummer...
About
Welcome to Jazz of Japan This site is dedicated to showcasing modern jazz albums from Japan and Japanese musicians. On Jazz of Japan, my motivation is to...