Inga by Masao Yagi

🗻 SOUND FUJI / KING Jazz RE:Generation album! 🎹

Selected by Yusuke Ogawa (Universounds). High quality download available for the first time!

- Artist: Masao Yagi
- Title: Inga
- Label: King Records
- Original release year: 1979
- Original catalog number: SKA-3021

Masao Yagi was a key figure in the Japanese modern jazz scene since its early days, contributing greatly to its development both as a pianist and arranger. His first album, Plays Thelonious Monk (1960), is an important work in the history of jazz in Japan, but when taking his talent and prominence into consideration, he produced relatively only a few albums as a pianist and a bandleader. His 1979 album Inga features saxophonist Akira Miyazawa and guitarist Kiyoshi Sugimoto, as well as studio musicians Michio Nagaoka, Hideo Yamaki, and Osamu Nakajima, who played with legendary Japanese rock band SHŌGUN amongst other groups. This album is a masterpiece that showcases Yagi’s distinctive crossover sound, with its beautiful melodies and unique arrangements. Yagi is also known for writing the soundtrack for influential boxing anime Ashita No Joe, and for his orchestration work for hugely popular pop rock band Southern All Stars.

Find track number 2 “Blossom In The Water” on vinyl on the WaJazz: Japanese Jazz Spectacle Vol.II - Deep, Heavy and Beautiful Jazz from Japan 1962-1985 - The King Records Masters compilation at https://wajazz.bandcamp.com/album/wajazz-japanese-jazz-spectacle-vol-ii-deep-heavy-and-beautiful-jazz-from-japan-1962-1985-the-king-records-masters-selected-by-yusuke-ogawa-universounds !

Personnel:

Piano, Keyboards – Masao Yagi
Bass – Kunimitsu Inaba
Electric Bass – Michio Nagaoka
Drums – Hideo Yamaki
Guitar – Kiyoshi Sugimoto
Alto Saxophone – Shigeo Suzuki
Tenor Saxophone – Akira Miyazawa
Trumpet – Shin Kazuhara
Percussion – Osamu Nakajima

Composed and arranged by Masao Yagi
Recorded on October 25 and 26, 1978.

Enjoy!

—

SOUND FUJI explores King Records' legendary catalog and unearths exceptional, rare and unknown musical gems from Japan. King Records has been releasing music since 1931. Follow https://180g-soundfuji.bandcamp.com/ for weekly updates and amazing music discoveries, and dig into the archives of one of the most prestigious labels in Japan!

KING Jazz RE:Generation is a series of digital compilations and albums exploring King Records' prestigious jazz catalog, carefully selected by Japanese jazz expert Yusuke Ogawa.

Yusuke Ogawa has been running the Universounds store in Tokyo since 2001, specializing in jazz and second-hand, rare, and collector records. He is also a reissue supervisor, label manager, DJ, and music writer. Known for his vast musical knowledge, eye for detail, and archival skills, Ogawa has worked on more than 250 reissues and compilations – including the highly praised Deep Jazz Reality and Project Re:Vinyl series. He is the co-author of the Wa-Jazz Disc Guide and the Independent Black Jazz of America books.

Tracklist

1.	Memories (Piano Solo)	2:54

2.	Blossom In The Water	5:26

3.	Twilight, Twilight	6:37

4.	No Ifs, No Buts	3:53

5.	Memories (Sextet)	2:37

6.	Brighter Than The Colour Of White	5:40

7.	Lament	4:07

8.	Happy, Where I Was	6:01

9.	Sad Song (Piano Solo)	1:30

Credits

released December 5, 2024

License