Shigeharu Mukai - 1978 - Spacing Out

Shigeharu Mukai 

1978 

Spacing Out

01. Dawn ~ Turbulence 16:13

02. Just Smile 4:45

03. Cumulonimbus 8:50

04. Focus Express 3:54

05. Spacing Out 5:43

Bass – Tamio Kawabata

Clavinet – Toshiyuki Daitoku

Congas – Tatsuji Yokoyama

Drums – Ryojiroh Furusawa

Guitar – Kazumi Watanabe

Piano, Electric Piano – Kazuhide Motooka

Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Yasuaki Shimizu

Trombone – Shigeharu Mukai

Shigeharu Mukai's masterpiece has been released on CD. I'm happy to hear this good news after I was having trouble with the condition of the vinyl records. Anyway, the

Opening, a suite-like piece called "Dawn - Turbulence" that lasts for over 10 minutes, is a must-listen. Yasuaki Shimizu's sharp solo is also excellent. The image of the title pops up from the whirlpool of rhythms that Tatsuji Yokoyama beats out. All of the members credited (some of whom are deceased) were driving forces in Japanese jazz at the time and today.

As an aside, I'm happy that the jacket is also original. Mukai smiles as he holds the JJ Johnson model trombone he had just acquired at the time (although he was told it didn't sound good...). It's a masterpiece.