Koichi Matsukaze Trio - 1978 - Earth Mother

Koichi Matsukaze Trio

1978 

Earth Mother

01. Images In Alone
02. Earth Mother
03. Zekatsuma Selbst
04. Round Midnight
05. Don’t Worry About Tenor Saxophone

Bass – Tamio Kawabata
Drums – Ryojiro Furusawa
ano – Toshiyuki Daitoku

Flute, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Koichi Matsukaze

Regarded as one of the most sought-after yet elusive albums from a pivotal era in Japanese jazz, Earth Mother was originally issued in 1978 on ALM, a private label home to some of the most innovative jazz, contemporary classical and free improvisational music released in Japan during the late 70s and early 80s. It was here that Earth Mother found a natural home among the experimental and transgressive, destined to remain in obscurity for decades until the album’s muscular, bass-driven title track was included as the opening cut on BBE’s acclaimed compilation J Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan 1969-1984. It was a fitting way to start such a landmark collection and the track quickly became a favourite among DJs and jazz fans.

Earth Mother sees saxophonist Matsukaze team up once again with legendary drummer and band leader Furusawa Ryojiro; joined by Tamio Kawabata on bass to form the core trio which is augmented by Daitoku Toshiyuki on acoustic piano and Fender Rhodes.

This is a mythic album, seen and heard by very few; often among the top wants for even the most hard-core jazz collectors. The album ranges from heavyweight spiritual jazz and post-bop burners, to Dolphy-esque experimentation (Don’t Worry About Tenor Saxophone) and a singular take on the classic, Round Midnight.