High-energy standards include “You and the Night and the Music”, “Mr. P.C.”, and “Un Poco Loco”, Bud Powell’s well-known Afro-Cuban jazz standard. Balancing this energy, Karashima also strikes lyrical, introspective moods, particularly on “Haunted Heart” and “Mother Of Earl”, two songs that Bill Evans famously played and on which Karashima summons Evans’ beautifully sensitive touch. Along with a swinging version of “All Of You”, it definitely feels as if Bill Evans was on the mind.

Three of Karashima’s originals are also included, with a funky Herbie Hancock-esque “Comrade”, a lyrical waltz-time “Rain”, and the title track, straight-ahead modern jazz with invigorating playing.

Audio and Video

• Fumio Karashima Trio performing “You and the Night and the Music”, the first track on this album:

• Excerpt from track #5: “ミスター・Ｐ．Ｃ． (Mr. P.C.)”

J-Straight Ahead was released in 2015 and is Kumagai’s fourth album release as a leader. It is preceded by his albums I Need a Change, Too (2008), Ol’ School Jazz (2009), and Yasumasa Kumagai: Pray (2010) and followed by Last Resort (2020).

As always, Kumagai’s energetic and exciting piano jazz trio is on display, where his great compositions and an at-times edgy attitude are the surfaces covering a sensitive and deep sense of musicality. Like a engrossing conversation, Kumagai’s piano solos often start simple and build with fiery drama while bassist Yosuke Inoue and drummer Masahiko Osaka stir up some boiling rhythms.

Aside from jazz recording, teaching, and keeping an active performance schedule, Kumagai has also been productive online with his newsletter, blog, and his YouTube channel related to J Jazz with interviews, jazz piano technique lessons, and live performance videos. Recently, he’s even started his JAZZY BEAR product line of branded goods like designed hats and shirts. (The name Kumagai starts with the kanji for bear, 熊 kuma.) He released J-Straight Ahead on his label of the same name.

Obi Notes

The first album release in five years! The more evolved sound of Kumagai explodes with a powerful rhythm section!

Yasumasa Kumagai / J-Straight Ahead

Born in 1979 in Mito, Ibaraki. He began playing piano at three years old and started his self-study of jazz piano during middle school. Moved to the US in 1998, and entered Berklee College of Music. Graduated in 2000 and moved to New York. Studied under Robert Glasper. He returned to Japan in 2003 and is currently active throughout the country with a base of Tokyo. His previous releases include the leader albums I Need A Change,Too, Ol’ School Jazz’, and Pray. In 2015 he released his long-awaited work on his own JAZZY BEAR label.

Audio and Video

• Promotional video for “Chill Out” (track #4):

• Live performance of “Draft Beer” (track #1) with Motoi Kanamori on bass and Akira Yamada on drums:

• Live performance of “Moonlight” (track #2) with Keisuke Furuki on bass and Akira Yamada on drums:

• Excerpt from track #1: “Draft Beer”