Live from BODY&SOUL, The golden jubilee
Limited Edition Vinyl
BODY&SOUL, established in 1974, has been the epicenter of Tokyo’s jazz culture for half a century. Kyoko Seki’s vision transformed the club into a home for both Japanese legends and international stars. By releasing this series on vinyl, we ensure that the acoustic signature of the club remains accessible to future generations of jazz listeners long after the physical gates close.
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Title: Live from BODY&SOUL - The Golden Jubilee, Capturing the Spirit of Kyoko Mama.
2 VINYLS - Recorded Live from BODY&SOUL Club, Tokyo, Japan
VINYL 1
Side A (1/2)
New Friends 1 | Yuya Wakai Young Trio
Author：中村海斗 - Kaito Nakamura
Universal | Patrick Bartley's DREAMWEAVER
Author: Patrick Bartley Jr.
Side B (2/2)
Air of Northland | Shunsuke Umino Acoustic Mirage Trio
Author：海野俊輔-Shunsuke Umino
Kukulkan | Yoko Suzuki Quintet
Author： 小美濃悠太 -Yuta Omino
About the vinyl
VINYL 2
Side C (1/2)
The Circle of Color Emotions | Mayuko Katakura Quintet
Author： 片倉真由子 - Mayuko Katakura
Determination | THE REAL Veleria
Author： 武本和大-Kazuhiro Takemoto
Side D (2/2)
Don't Be Silly | Shigeo Fukuda Trio
Author：福田重男 - Shigeo Fukuda
春の雪解け | Akane Ezawa Quartet
Author： 江澤茜- Akane Ezawa
Funky Chu | Uniquely 5
Author： 江藤良人-Yoshihito Eto
The artists: Yuya Wakai Young Trio
Yuya Wakai - Piano
Keisuke Furuki - Bass
Kaito Nakamura - Drums
Yuya Wakai is one of the most imaginative and promising jazz pianists of his generation. Yuya strives for creativity and freedom in his music, regardless of genre. His style show influences from jazz legends like Art Tatum, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, as well as classical giants including Bach , Chopin, Wagner, Rachmaninov, Ravel and others.
Yuya is also making efforts in education, helping to develop talented musicians in Japan. This trio is a collection of up-and-coming young members, and it may be that Mr. Wakai is pursuing a new world of sound.
The artists: Patrick Bartley's DREAMWEAVER
Patrick Bartley - Alto Saxophone
May Inoue - Guitar
Takafumi Suenaga - Piano
Yuji Ito - Bass
Hiroshi Kimura - Drums
Dreamweaver, band led by Patrick Bartley Jr., an American musician renowned for his global appearances and innovative spirit, a Tokyo-based band bringing together some of the most exciting musicians from the vibrant Japan jazz scene. With May Inoue on guitar, Hisashi Suenaga on piano, Yuji Ito on bass, and Hiroshi Kimura on drums, this dynamic group pushes the boundaries of jazz, blending it seamlessly with the energy and melodies of modern jazz.
The artists: Shunsuke Umino Acoustic Mirage Trio
Shunsuke Umino - Drums
Jun Miyakawa - Piano
Kunpei Nakabayashi - Bass
The leader trio of Shunsuke Umino, a drummer born in 1979 who has gained the trust of young and experienced musicians alike, makes its first appearance at BODY & SOUL. He began playing professionally while still in college, and after graduation he began his career in earnest, performing with top musicians such as Vladimir Shafranov, Jon Hendricks, Yosuke Yamashita, Kosuke Mine, and Takao Uematsu, among others. The "Mirage Trio" is a trio with organ and saxophone, and has gained a growing fan base with new pieces and live performances featuring a wide variety of guests. This time, the band is an acoustic trio with a bassist, and expectations are high for a return to their roots with acoustic piano by Jun Miyagawa, who plays organ in Mirage Trio, and a bassist with Kohei Nakabayashi, whose new work is also a hot topic. This time, the band is an acoustic trio with a bass guitar.
The artists: Yoko Suzuki Quintet
Yoko Suzuki - Piano
Shunya Nakabayashi - Alto Saxophone
Tomo Serizawa - Tenor Saxophone
Yuta Omino - Bass
Hiroki Kitazawa - Drums
Suzuki graduated at the top of her class from Berklee College of Music in 2020. During her studies, she received prestigious awards for young composers, such as the 43rd Annual Student Music Award from the American jazz magazine "DOWNBEAT" and the Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award from ASCAP.
After returning to Japan in 2020, she began performing in the Tokyo area and composed music for events like the Island Torch Festival in Taiwan, expanding her career as a composer and arranger across various genres from chamber music to big band.
This time, she performs with her quintet, which won both the Grand Prix and the Audience Vote Award at the Asakusa Jazz Festival. The concert was an exciting stage filled with original numbers she has crafted so far, showcasing the talent of this next-generation composer who is attracting attention from around the world.
The artists: Mayuko Katakura Quintet
Mayuko Katakura - Piano
David Negrete - Saxophone
Yusuke Sase - Trumpet
Takumi Awaya - Bass
Gene Jackson - Drums
Mayuko Katakura is a pianist with a world-class musical background, one of the top jazz musicians in Japan. She is known for her thorough stage presence, and her compositional preparation and team bookings are flawless.
She received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, where she performed with Christian Scott and Dave Santoro. In 2006, she won the Mary Lou Williams Women In Jazz Piano Competition, and the following year she led her trio to perform at the Jazz Festival. She was also a semi-finalist in the 2006 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition.
This time, Mayuko Katakura leads the two- wind quintet on this valuable stage.
The artists: Shigeo Fukuda Trio
Shigeo Fukuda - Piano
Motoi Kanamori - Bass
Shingo Okudaira - Drums
Shigeo Fukuda is one of the best jazz pianists in Japan. He plays with a clear-edged crystal tone and an outstanding rhythmic sense, creating superbly constructed, beautiful improvisations. Highly versatile and expressive, Fukuda adapts equally well to acoustic jazz and fusion music. In this concert he plays with his regular trio, Motoi Kanamori on bass and Shingo Okudaira on the drums.
Fukuda occupies an important place among original jazz composers. His compositions range from modal tunes to lyrical ballads and contain an elegance and ‘song’ that are sometimes missing from contemporary jazz music. Moreover, his original compositions provide the best material for his impressive improvisations
The artists: Akane Ezawa Quartet
Akane Ezawa - Alto Saxophone
David Bryant - Piano
Takumi Awaya - Bass
Gene Jackson - Drums
Akane Ezawa, an alto saxophonist of note in the Japanese jazz scene, will perform with her leader band for the first time at Oh! Jazz
Born in 1992. Raised in Kanagawa Prefecture. She started playing saxophone in junior high school and has been at the forefront of the scene since she was a student in the jazz course at Showa University of Music. 2019 saw her participate as a leader band in the Perth International Jazz Festivel in Western Australia, where she received great acclaim. Her rich improvisations with a thick midrange has a good reputation and her first album, "Thaw," released in 2021, attracted a lot of attention. This time, she leads top-level members David Bryant, Takumi Awaya, and Gene Jackson on stage. Her original numbers are also a highlight of the show, and you can enjoy her unique alto tone and her rich sense of composition at the same time.
The artists: Uniquely 5
Kazuhiko Kondo - Alto Saxophone
Wataru Hamasaki - Tenor Saxophone
Yutaka Shiina - Piano
Yosuke Inoue - Bass
Yoshihito Eto - Drums
Uniquely 5, a collective of five standout figures in Tokyo’s jazz scene, delivers a rare and intimate performance at the iconic Body&Soul Shibuya. Featuring Kazuhiko Kondo (alto sax), Wataru Hamazaki (tenor/soprano sax), Yutaka Shiina (piano), Yosuke Inoue (bass), and Yoshihito Eto (drums), this ensemble showcases exceptional individuality and collaborative artistry.
The performance captures the group’s fresh and dynamic repertoire, blending imaginative interpretations of jazz classics with captivating original compositions. This is the jazz happening in Japan today, brought to life by some of the country’s most accomplished and celebrated artists. Rooted in the essence of contemporary Japanese jazz, Uniquely 5 pushes creative boundaries while honoring the genre's rich traditions.
This release is a must-experience for jazz enthusiasts, a live performance at its finest.
David Vaamonde
Exclusive Art Creation
David Vaamonde is a complete artist. He alternates techniques and one can appreciate in his work a wide variety of forms of expression such as sculpture, painting, engraving, collage, or digital creation. He trained at the School of Stone Carving in Castres, at the School of Engraving in Montalieu in France, where he studied with Pierre Bourgain, a pupil of the master Jean Claude Lamborot, and at the well-known ESDIP school in Madrid, where he graduated with a Master's degree in Digital Illustration.
