Soundtrack to the acclaimed film directed by Cedric Dupire and Gaspard Kuentz. Featuring many of the leading musicians of the Tokyo avant-garde music scene. Brilliant album featuring many artists we have featured for years.

Impressive compilation of works by Asa-Chang, former leader of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra and brilliant percussionist and drummer, as producer of other artists. Released on Ryuichi Sakamoto's Commmons label.

Hiromichi Sakamoto is an extraordinary cello player who has played with Cicala Mvta, UA, Otomo Yoshihide and many more. Known for his musical saw and electronic effects, he is one of the leading lights of the Tokyo avant-garde underground. This is his soundtrack to an art animation by Keita Kurozaka, who spent 13 years making the film. Great list of accompanying musicians including Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi and Takero Sekijima (Kuricorder Quartet). Saxes, trumpets, tuba, violin, vibraphone, koto and other instruments make this an extraordinary soundtrack to an extraordinary film.

Duo of Junko Fuchigami on vocals, melodeon, kazoo and other small instruments, plus Hiroshi Funato on contrabass. Simple, original, charming, acoustic music. Just finished tour of Switzerland.

Gastronomics are three talented musicians, Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi (Kuricorder Quartet, Shibusashirazu) on ukulele, recorder, sax, Hiroyasu Yaguchi on sax, clarinet and Darie on accordion, piano and harmonica. Jazzy, fun, upbeat, sometimes relaxing.

Takero Sekijima is one of Japan's unheralded musical talents. Playing tuba and recorder, he was a member of the pioneering group Compostela in the 1980s, played on Okinawan Tetsuhiro Daiku's brilliant albums in the mid 90s, is a member of Cicala Mvta and Kuricorder Quartet. This album contains his compositions from three soundtracks. He is joined by musicians he has collaborated with for many years, such as Kenji Kondo (Kuricorder Quartet), Kanji Nakao and several others.

Jazz quintet play covers of YMO tunes.

Excellent album of Japanese jazz featuring tenor sax player Hiroaki Katayama together with trumpet, trombone, piano, drums and tuba from Gideon Juckes, previously of Bellowhead. From jazz standards to compositions by band members Mitsuhide Tatsumi and Koichi Yamaguchi.

Outakes from the recording session for the Shibusashirazu meets Kuricorder Quartet album, Shibu-Kuri, which for various reasons didn't make the final album. Nevertheless, these were deemed interesting enough to put on this album, togther with some live tracks from their much praised live show.

Shibu-Kuri live, celebrating the release of the album Shibu-Kuri, a joint project of two of Japan's great innovative bands,

Live session from the Umbrella Music Festival in Chicago. Japanese sax player Akira Sakata with Jeff Parker and John Herndon from Chicago's experimental post rock band 'Tortoise' and bassist Nate McBride.

Three musicians from the popular Soil and 'Pimp' Sessions get togetger; Josei [piano], Goldman Akita [bass] and Midorin [drums]. 13 original tunes and two covers. Cool contemporary jazz.

Kaoru Tanaka is a jazz guitarist who likes to perform with Japanese traditional instruments. Tanaka is an accomplished musician, playing jazz fusion style on electric and synth guitar. The music is more fusion than Japanese traditional with shakuhachi and koto following the guitar parts, but it's all done with great skill and integrity. Musicians are Kaoru Tanaka [guitar, guitar synthesizer], Bruce Huebner [shakuahchi], Kayoko Nakagawa [koto], Takeshi Obayashi [piano], Evan Marien [bass].

Now Tokyo resident, ex Sonic Youth member Jim O'Rourke has put together a rather wonderful tribute to Burt Bacharach. O'Rourke himself sings on one track - and plays guitar, bass and other instruments on other tracks- as does Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and a superb cast of Japanese musicians such as Haruomi Hosono and Kahimi Kari.

Acoustic duo comprised of two members of jazz fusion band Casiopea, guitarist Issei Noro and bassist Tetsuo Sakurai. Great musicianship from veterans of the Japanese jazz scene.

Formed in 1992, Osaka Monaurail are Japan's longest running and best funk band. Named after a JB's funk track, the band went on to support the JB's when they toured Japan and in 2006 backed singer Marva Whitney when she toured Japan. Hard edged funk, brilliantly played and well appreciated by a Spanish crowd. CD and 50 minute DVD.

Brilliant deep funk band. Lounge, jazz, 70s funk, primarily instrumental with some playful lyrics thrown in. Keyboards, a tight horn section, and a full rich sound.

New album from the the big band led by Satoko Fujii, world renowned pianist composer known for blending jazz with classical, traditional Japanese folk and other styles. Musicians are Sachi Hayasaka -s.sax a.sax, Kunihiro Izumi- a.sax, Kenichi Matsumoto, Masaya Kimura -t.sax, Ryuichi Yoshida -b.sax, Natsuki Tamura, Yoshihito Fukumoto, Takao Watanabe, Yusaku Shirotani -trumpet, Haguregumo Nagamatsu, Yasuyuki Takahashi, Toshihiro Koike- trombone, Kelly Churko-guitar, Toshiki Nagata-bass, Akira Horikoshi- drums

Aska Strings is the string group of acclained violinist Aska Kaneko. Aska plays a variety of styles from classical to avant-garde jazz and world music, and has performed with Coba, Donal Lunny and many others as a member of Asian Fantasy Orchestra. She formed Aska Strings in 1984, with up to thirty members and on this album collaborated with Hugo Fattoruso, composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist from Uruguay.

Very assured and original first album from 20 year old female composer and pianist. Stradling the line between pop, classical and avant-garde, the album features four female vocalists, Julia Marcell from Poland, plus Japanese Ayu Okakita, Saho Terao and Mariko Otsuka. Sometimes dark and broody, sometimes light and melancholic, constantly absorbing.

Collaboration between Japanese avant-garde jazz musician Naruyoshi Kikuchi and Pepe Tormento Azucarar. Highly original mixture of classical, club, tango and other music. Edgy and mysterious and well worth a listen.

Good value 5 CD set of 100 tracks that chart the course of Japanese jazz from the 1920s to the 1990s with such luminaries as Tadaharu Nakano, Fumio Minamizato, Shizuko Kasagi, Hibari Misora, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Sadao Watanabe, Terumasa Hino, Eiji Kitamura, Takeshi Iromota, Nobuo Hara with his Sharps and Flats, Toshiyuki Miyama and New Herd, Kazumi Watanabe, Shigeru Mukai, Yasuaki Shimizu, Saori Yano and Akiko Grace.

Second album from Thirdiq, the solo project of guitarist/producer Yukihiro Atsumi. Atsumi is a top session player in various genres, such as jazz, electro, soul and ambient music, playing with Orquesta de la Luz, Soil & Pimp Sessions and many more. He's enlisted the help of over 30 of his friends such as Shota Hishiyama, ex keyboard player with Soil & Pimp Sessions, Shinpei Ruike, trumpet player with Naruyoshi Kikuchi Dub Sextet and Kenji Yoshiura, ex percussion player with Izanami. 12 tracks including a cover of Lauyrn Hill's 'To Zion'.

Ichiko Hashimoto is a jazz pianist who has played with top musicians such as Yosuke Yamashita and Kazumi Watanabe. She also has an interest in other styles including electronic music and was a tour guest member of YMO during the Technopolis 2000-20 tour. This is an album of electronic music

Excellent new album from the percussionist Asa-Chang, ex band master of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. Guest musicians are Ryuichi Sakamoto, Rina Ohta, Kankuro Kudo with a remix by Talvin Singh. Released on Sakamoto's Commmons label.

Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi is a wind instrument player. Among the many groups he has played with, are Shibusashirazu, for whom he plays sax, and Kuricorder Quarter, when he plays recorder. On this album, Kawaguchi and his band mates from each group play the music of the other group. A bit of a bizzare idea, but these kinds of musicians are full of wonderful and weird ideas.

Best takes from the last five years of the live sessions recorded at the event 'Life Begins at 40' organised by Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi (saxophone, recorder) who has played with a number of groups over the years including Compostela, Lonesome Strings, Strada, Cicala Mvta, Kuricorder Quartet and Shibusashirazu. Includes some tracks which were recorded at special sessions held to mark Kuricorder Quartet's 10 year annniversary concert. Other musicians are Yoshiki Sakurai (electric guitar), Kenji Kondo (accoustic guitar), Takero Sekijima (tuba, recorder), Itoken (drums), Kanji Nakao (sax on one track)

Live album from the eccentric instrumentalists playing recorder and other instruments. Recorded during a nine date tour throughout Japan in 2008. Plus live DVD.

Jabberloop are a club jazz band, touted by Giles Peterson, Patrick Forge and many others. There are six of them; sax, trumpet, keyboards, bass, drums and turntable. High energy rousing jazz, for fans of Soil & Pimp Sessions and the like. 13 tracks.

Coba is one of the world's leading accordionists, who has had over 30 albums released in his native Japan as well as Europe. He was a member of Bjork's band and has spent over 15 years touring around the world. Latest album is a contemporary blend of accordion with bass, drums, guitar, programming and strings.

Double Famous could be described as a 10 piece jazz band, but that doesn't tell half the story. Double Famous play what they describe as 'mukokuseki ongaku' - new wave world music or a kind of urban nomadic sound. Their music incorporates Afrobeat, Latin-Jazz, Hawaiian, Japanese traditional and just about any other form of music that takes their fancy. The group were formed by multi-instrumentalist Takuji Aoyagi, who is also leader of Little Creatures, while other members include Satoshi Kuribayashi on ukulele, Shuichiro Sakaguchi on trumpet and several percussion players. This is their fifth album, and has probably more variety than ever before, with bits of surf, 50s style musical and New Orleans music.

The superb Rovo are made up by some of Japan's main players in the underground scene. These include violinist Yuji Katsui and Seiichi Yamamoto guitarist with Boredoms, plus others who have played with Yoshihide Otomo, Dub Squad, Demi Semi Quaver, Bondage Fruit, Bazooka Joe and others. They are favourites on the Japanese club and festival circuit, their music being a kind of spiritual, minimalist dance music with a wide range of influences from techno and house to jazz, Latin, progressive rock and world music.

Mama! Milk are an acoustic instrumental duo, consisting of accordion player Yuko Ikoma, and contrabass player Kosuke Shimizu. Their music has been described as 'Japanese New Exotica' , original, slightly mysterious, slightly jazzy, always engaging. They perform at temples, galleries etc..and have played overseas. This is their first album for five years.

The excellent Kuricorder Quartet have recorded a new album with various guest singers including UA, Hirofumi Suzuki (Moon Riders), Masumi Hara and Shione Yukawa. Slightly bizzarely their biggest fan overseas seems to be Iain Lee of Virgin Radio, who even went to Japan to see them play live and spent the day with them in Tokyo. This album is as good place as any to find out why.

Aki Takase is a female jazz pianist who is a long time resident of Berlin, Germany, who has played with Lester Bowie, John Zorn, Joe Henderson, Evan Parkers and many others. On this extraordinary album she is joined by bassist Nobuyoshi Ino, although between them they also perform on qin (Chinese koto), gong, glockenspiel, kokyu and chanchiki. Some tracks mix jazz with Chinese traditional sounds while others are out-there avant-garde jazz. 1. Hyakka Ryouran 2. Aru Utage 3. Song for Che 4. Wagakokoro no Renaissance 5. Amanojaku 6. Biwa Rancho Ni Ari 7. Hanyu no Yado.

Trio featuring musicians from Shibusashirazu, led by tenor sax player Naohiko Kawashita, plus Daisuke Fuwa on contra bass and Futoshi Okamura on drums. More straightahead jazz than other side-Shibu projects, mostly original tunes plus covers of Albert Ayler and Clifford Jordan. 1. Neopolitan 2. Funny Life 3. Vienna 4. Ume Rock 5. Matatabi 6. New Generation.

More musical mayhem from tenor sax player with Daisuke Fuwa (Shibusashirazu, on bass), Hideki Tachibana (alto sax, c melody sax) and Jun Isobe (drums). High octane jazz, with a few reflective moments. 1. Star Dust 2. Ama Gappa 3. Tachibana 4. Better Get Git in Yo' Soul 5. Dinah 6. Dust Song.

JAM are a kind of scaled down Soil & 'Pimp' Sessions featuring three of their musicians in a jazz piano trio led by Josei (piano), Akita Goldman (bass) and Midorin (drums) Features the vocalist/composer Jose James whose first record, (as Soil & Pimp) was released by Brownswood, the label of Giles Peterson. Tracks include Quiet Passion, Quiet Fire, Roy's Scat, New Thins, Jazzy Joint feat Jose James, Michi, Awake!, Master of The World, Identity Breaker and Crescendo.

One of the main names from the Tokyo underground scene, Killing Floor are an avant garde pop jazz band under the leadership of sax player Pete Mikio Fukushima. Band line-up: Pete Mikio Fukushima (alto & soprano sax), Shinichiro Sekiguchi (trumpet), Kenta Hamano (trombone), Woody Moja (stick bass), Atsushi Nakazato (drums), Tomomi Takenoya (percussion), Daichi Ito (percussion & drums). Live album recorded in 2005. 8 tracks.1.S-Ska 2. Waltz for K 3. Gorden Elephant 4. Hurricane Sally 5. Dub Biginners 6. Nuba 7. Sea Monkey 8. Pop Up

Second album from the excellent jazz combo led by saxophonist Naruyoshi Kikuchi, who has played with Spank Happy, UA and many more. More jazz than dub, their sound recalls 60s experimental jazz of Miles Davis or Herbie Hancock, with electronics, other effects, hip-hop and breakbeats alongside saxophones, piano, bass and drums.Played a successful set at Fuji Rock Festival in 2008.

Superb jazz album from combo led by saxophonist Naruyoshi Kikuchi. Acoustic blend of sax, piano, trumpet, bass and drums with added electronics and 'DJ scratch' from Pardon Kimura. More jazz than dub, most tracks start off pretty slow before buiidling up nicely.

Highly touted jazz duo featuring trumpeter Yusuke Shima and pianist Shiko Ito. Each has performed on recordings and tours for a host of Japanese artits such as Lisa Ono, Ego Wrappin, UA, Miyuki Hatakeyama and Yo Hitoto. Cool and refined. 13 tracks.

Experimental turntablist, guitarist and composer makes more of a rock record than his usual new jazz impro experimental ones. His backing band includes Alfred Harth (tenor sax) Tatsuro Kondo (keyboards) Mitsuru Nasuno (electric bass) and Yasuhiro Yoshigaki (drums). Otomo plays guitar and sings, while guests are Kahimi Karie, Seichi Yamamoto and Jim O'Rourke.

First album from the Piranians for 10 years, led by the excellent Pianica Maeda who has turned this 'toy' instrument into a cool solo lead instrument. This is a live album recorded in Tokyo 2006 and Sept. 2007 with their unique acoustic swing sound. The other excellent musicians are Ko Tsukamoto (guitar) Yuji Nagayama (double bass) and Manabu Sakata (drums).

Thirdiq describe themselves as a spiritual jazz, jam, electronica, soul, chillout project. Features Shota Hishiyama (original member of Soil & "Pimp" Sessions) and other top jazz musicians. Lyrics are in English on an album of mostly laid back jazz. Members are: Yukihiro Atsumi (gtr) Shota Hishiyama (key.) Masanori Amakura (dr.) Shinpei Ruike (tp.) Kenji Yoshiura (perc.) Miya (fl.) Maru (vo.) Hanah (vo.) Track listing: 1. The World is Wideopen 2. I Hear the Music 3. Beyond the Fields, Past 4. Beyond the Fields, Now 5. Beyond the Fields, Future. 6. Fragment 7. Monologue 8. Possibility 9. Tokyo 10. Break of Dawn Before...11. 4am.

Back in April and May 1979, the highly rated jazz fusion guitarist recorded with Ryuichi Sakamoto (keyboards) and also producer of this album, fellow YMO member Yukihiro Takahashi on drums, Akiko Yano on keyboards and vocals, plus Yasuaki Shimizu (saxophone) and other highly rated musicians such as Shuichi 'Ponta' Murakami (drums) and Toshiyuki Honda (saxophones). Some tracks are straight jazz fusion, others an unlikely but interesting mix of fusion with YMO style electronic backing.

Originallly released in 1980. Musicians include Marcus Miller, Steve Jordan, Peter Erskine and Michael Brecker.

Originally released in 1969. Japanese supergroup featuring Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yukihiro Takahashi, Akiko Yano, Yasuaki Shimizu, Shuichi 'Ponta' Murakami, Pecker and others.

Originally released in 1983. Japanese trombone player Mukai with bossa legend Astrud Gilberto, and backing musicians including Anthony Jackson and Omar Hakim.

Original release 1990. Backing musicians include Steve Gadd, Nana Vasconcelos and Jorge Dalto.

Laid back avant garde jazz by four musicians who play with Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra, featuring guitar, trombone, trumpet, sax and other instruments. Strange and intriguing. 1. A Thing That is Not as It Has Been Used to be 2. Would you Mind being Re-animated 3. A Monk Who Reserves 4. Hankyu-rokko on the Seabed 5.Parabola Towards Death 6.Lark 7.Captain for Tetuzi Akiyama 8.On death 9.47°9'S, 126°43'W 10.Hankyu-rokko on the Seabed 11.An Excuse to Live 12. Piano

Kattei Shiyagare describe themselves as a Jazz punk band. They've been around at least 10 years but now find themselves signed to a Major and collaborating with J-pop artist Mika Nakajima. 11 tracks including jazz standards (You'd Be So Nice to Come Home to) Fiesta (Pogues) Russian folk tunes, and the title track written by Chet Baker.

First solo album from highly rated avant garde jazz vocalist sings an eclectic range of songs from Astroboy to Martha (Tom Waits), All Tomorrow's Parties (Velvet Underground) to the Beatles' Blackbird and Randy Newman's, I Think it's Going to Rain Today.

Chikaramichi is a group produced, recorded and mixed by US improv and experimental musician Jim O'Rourke featuring sax player Akira Sakata plus Chris Corsano on drums and bassist Darin Gray. High quality, experimental avant garde jazz.

2 CD set from the incredible Rovo, formed by Boredoms guitarist Seiichi Yamamoto. Also features Yuji Katsui on electric violin, Yamamoto playing Okinawan sanshin and Irish whistle as well as various guitars, bass, drums, various keyboards and synthesizers, and on this album from Argentina, Alejandro Franov (keyboards, sitar, sanshin) Fernando Kabusacki (guitar) and Santiago Vazquez (percussion). Delicate improvisational deeply groovy minimalist man drive trance.

Nettai Tropical Jazz Big Band is the project of Shingo 'Carlos' Kanno, one of the founders of the acclaimed Orquesta de la Luz. Formed 12 years ago, this is their 11th album and based on the theme of dance and groove, and they certainly know how to kick up a storm. 11 tracks. 1 Let's Groove (original Earth Wind and Fire) 2. Can't Give you Anything (But My Love) (Sylistics) 3. Pick up the Pieces (Average White Band) Hip to Be Square (Huey Lewis) C'est La Vie (Robbie Nevil) Elegant People (Weather Report) Fly Me to the Moon (Frank Sinatra) Descarga Tropical, Enamorada, Somebody I Know (originals).

First album from amazing drummer Yasuhiro Yoshigaku's (also Rovo, Shibusashirazu) cross genre orchestra, also featuring trombone, pianica, sax, violin, vibraphone, marimba and more. Luscious melodies, African polyrhythms, Balkan, Latin, Arabic and Indian sounding violin.

Second album featuring two drums, trombones, violins, marimbas on an album of world styles that hint at the Middle East with improvisational passages. Fantastic, exciting stuff, brilliantly played.

Latest album from the project of drummer Yasuhiro Yoshigaki (Rovo, ONJO, Shibusashirazu) is another wild excursion into a jazz, rock, improv, ethnic, club crossover world. Two drums, two violins, two trombones, plus bass and vibraphone. 12 tracks.

London based Miso Soup are four Japanese musicians who play post electro punk impro jazz rock dub- or something like that. They have long been playing well received underground gigs in London, gaining a good reputation for their improvised style, but this is their first album. Their influences from Art Ensemble of Chicago, Can, Velvet Underground, through to Toru Takemitsu and Haruomi Hosono gives a further clue to their eclectic sound.

The amazing Kazutoki Umezu is one of Japan's, make that the world's, best saxophone players. A stellar player of jazz, and a truly fantastic improviser and collaborator. From his own klezmer and progressive jazz groups to playing with Ian Dury's Blockheads to collaborations with John Zorn, Lester Bowie, Marc Ribot, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Okinawan musician Tetsuhiro Daiku and Japanese shamisen player Michihiro Sato. Kiki Band is Umezu's project since 1999, based on jazz and rock, with hints of the Middle East. Powerful and dynamic a kind of scaled down version of Shibasashirazu with four members. These are Takeharu Hayakawa on bass, (Shibusashirazu, Coil) Natsuki Kido on guitar and drummer Kozo Niida (Komatcha Klezmer and many more). Recorded live at the Moers Festival in 2003. 6 tracks, 67 minutes.

Released 2005, more hard edged progressive jazz rock from the outstanding quartet led by the briliant sax player Kazutoki Umezu. 7 tracks, 40 minutes.

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, the ever ambitious Boredoms, the Japanese avant-garde rock pioneers performed on the lawn of the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park section of Brooklyn Bridge Park. They invited 77 drummers to perform with them, the free concert turning into a once in a lifetime spectacle

Rovo consist of some of Japan's greatest underground musicians-electric violin player Yuji Katsui, guitarist Seiichi Yamamoto (Boredoms) Yasuhiro Yoshigaki on percussion (Otomo Yoshihide, Shibusashirazu) Yoichi Okabe (percussion) Jin Harada (bass) and Tatsuki Masuko (Dub Squad). Their music is a sort of cross between dub, krautrock, techno, house, progressive and improv, in other words indefinable. Condor is a one hour suite divided into three parts, Aires, nPopo and Land. Strange, weird, magnificent.

Since they were formed in 1995 Rovo has combined the talents of musicians who have had track records and success with a number of different outfits. Guitarist Seiichi Yamamoto (Boredoms) bassist Jin Hara (Bazooka Joe), keyboards Tatsuki Masuko (Dub Squad). In more recent years drummer/percussionist Yoichi Okabe (the Thrill, keyboards Hiroshi Nakanishi (Dub Squad), drummer Yasuhiro Yoshigaki (Otomo Yoshide) and violinist Yuji Katsui, who has become the band's producer and leader. Their music blends hypnotic rhythms, dub with psychedelia and the group have garnered a reputation for their live shows. Mon was released in 2004 afterwhich Nakanashi departed the band.

Jyoji Sawada has been involved in a number of different areas of music and styles, but always seems to be involved in something, challenging and of high quality. These include Brazilian music with his group Choro Club, Arto Lindsey, Jacques Morelebaum, Chinese music with erhu player Teresa Wong, producing shamisen players Toru Yonaha (Okinawa) and Masahiro Nitta (Japan) electronics and soundtracks. This is an album of Sawada's 'chamber music' from 1995. At times, slow and reflective, other times manic and weird, constantly engaging the listener. Includes a version of Pink Floyd's One of These Days, played on shakuhachi and koto.

Amazing solo album from the eccentric, eclectic cello player, who won many fans when touring in 2000 in Europe with Cicala Mvta, especially for his cello electric saw routine. Avant-garde, unclassifiable, constantly challenging and recommended. Hiromichi uses various electronic effects and voices to create some stunning music.

Much championed by Giles Peterson, on his BBC Worldwide programme, Soil & "Pimp" Sessions is an explosive jazz band of six musicians; Shacho (agitator, spirit), Tabuzombi (trumpet), Motoharu (sax), Josei (piano), Akita Goldman (bass) and Midoryn (drums). At its core, the group is about giving pulsating live performances. Soil and "Pimp" Sessions combine the highest musicianship with the coolest of cool sounds and atmosphere. Their brand of jazz is rough around the edges, unadulterated entertainment and constantly kept at boiling point. In 2003 they had no commercial recordings available, yet that year on reputation alone were invited to perform at Japan's premier festival, Fuji Rock. It was a defining moment, lapped up by those lucky enough to witness it, hugely praised and one of the major talking points of the entire festival. The group defies boundaries and genres, attracting listeners of jazz, club and rock. Pimp Master is their their first full album.

Sixth album from the crazy Japanese punk/soul/ death jazz band, much championed by Gilles Peterson. Guest is Jamie Cullum, who performed with them at the BBC Electric Proms in London 2007.

The amazing Shibusashirazu was formed by a bassist, Daisuke Fuwa, in 1989. Their music and performance is certainly unique, being a concoction of different art forms. A free jazz orchestra, with over twenty musicians from the cream of Japan's avant garde and experimental jazz scene, plus butoh dancers, theatre actors and artists. They also sometimes incorporate traditional Japanese instruments alongside westen ones such as shamisen and shakuhachi. Their dynamic shows have excited audiences in Japan and Europe, with ellaborate stage objects and dragons adding to the visual delight. This is a welcome best of compilation taking tracks from their extensive discography to give a flavour of their remarkable development and sound.

First studio album since 1995's "Be Cool". 30 piece brass, violin, guitar, percussion group are joined by three members of the Sun Ra Arkestra- on alto sax Marshall Allen, trumpeter Michael Ray and percussionist Elson Nascimento. The result is a stunning kaleidoscopic wall of sound, screaming saxes, manic drumming, percussion, and wailing guitars, that ebbs and flows between just the slightly odd and pure mayhem. Fantastic stuff.

Fedayien is a kind of scaled down version of Shibusashirazu. The group features the same musicians, Naohiro Kawashita, (soprano and tenor saxes, violin) Daisuke Fuwa (bass) and Shiro Onuma (drums) plus the Shibusa horns, Kazu Nakahara on guitar plus Butoh dancers. This album was recorded live at the Moers New Jazz Festival '96. Four extraordinary tracks. 1. Umi 2. Dava Dava Daba 3. Capplypso 4. Fuwarumba

Studio album from 2000 featuring the 3 Fedayiens Naohiro Kawashita (saxes, violin) Daisuke Fuwa (bass, effects) Shirou Onuma (drums) plus guests Keisuke Ohta (violin) Shunji Yamamoto (flute) Kazutoki Umezu (alto sax) and Kouichi Yamazaki (bass). Free jazz meets grunge like rock plus some quiter moments. 1. River-Umi 2. Ume Rocko 3. Neopolitan 4. Capplyso 5. River Space 6. Toki.

Latest album from the extraordinary Pascals who performed at WOMAD in Reading UK in 2006. The 15 piece group play a range of instruments including ukuleles, cello, violins, toy pianos, as well as drums, bass and percussion. The group are led by Rokket Matsu on accordion and pianica and take their influence (and name) from French composer Pascal Comelade. Their music is an avant-garde blend of rock, jazz, polka, waltzes and downright weirdness.

Salle Gaveau are led by the brilliant guitarist Natsuki Kido and play a sort of tango meets experimental rock and jazz. Supported by violin, accordion, contrabass and piano, they play Piazzolla inspired tunes, with bits of wacky distorted guitar, very fast at times, all musicians displaying some amazing dexterity on their instruments.

Yoichiro Yanagihara is a vocalist, pianica player and songwriter. On this album he is joined by guitarist Natsuki Kido (also mandolin), Hirohiko Otsubo on bass, recorder, ukulele and Kumiko Takara on vibraphone, drums and percussion. The album has a laid back feel, somewhere between jazz and folk with a retro ambience running through it, with passages of experimentalism and offbeat sounds. Rather weird and rather good. Comes in long digipack.

New album from the brilliant Yasuaki Shimizu and Saxophonettes, based on the pentatonic (five note) scale, creating a sensuous, vaguely nostalgic sound. Shimizu wrote these tunes about two years ago in Italy, then spent about one year rehearsing and perfecting them with his band. Fifteen tracks including Dolomiti Spring, the Asian folk inspired Yoiitokosassa, and his arrangement of a traditional Ethiopian song, Tew Semagn Hagere that includes a rare vocal performance from Shimizu. Probably his best album since the Bach Cello Suites. Superb.

Shimizu's interpretations of Bach's cello suites have been some of our best selling titles for several years. Spiraling, buoyant, invigorating recorded in six inspired locations. Now both albums, Cello Suites 1,2,3 and 4,5,6 are reissued as a two CD set. 36 tracks.

Amazing recording of Bach's music, performed on solo saxophone.

Saxophone player's interpretation of Bach, recorded down a Japanese mine and at North Italian villas.

Live album from Lonesome Strings with various live performances recorded between 2004 and 2009. The idiosyncratic quartet features the brilliant Yoshiki Sakurai on various guitars and mandolin, Gen Tamura on pedal and lap steel, Satoshi Hara on banjo and Takayoshi Matsunaga on bass. From exprimental to old American songs via tango, covers of Carol King, Francoise Hardy, CSNY, Little Feat, Keith Jarret and various guests musicians such as Fuchigami to Minato, Yukawa Shione, Mari Nakamura and Yuichi Ohata. 20 tracks.

Yoshiki Sakurai on electric and acoustic guitars, Genichi Tamura on Weissenborn and pedal steel guitar, Satoshi Harada on banjo and Takayoshi Matsunaga make up the string quartet Lonesome Strings. Influences range from blues, bluegrass, jazz, Hawaiian to African music, led by the exceptional Sakurai. Superb.

Brilliant second album by stringed instrument quartet includes compositions by Astor Piazzolla and Charly Patton as well as more obscure and original compostions. From blues to Hawaiian, the mellow to frantic, varied and always top quality musicianship.

Another excellent album from the group led by guitarist Yoshiki Sakurai, together with fellow guitarists and stringed instrument pickers, Genichi Tamura on Hawaiian guitars, Satoshi Harada on banjo and bassist Takayoshi Matsunaga. More of the country, jazz, bluegrass, blues, Hawaiian influenced tunes and covers of CSNY and Keith Jarrett.

Three of the main characters from jazz/experimental/improv scene and fourth in the series of live albums featuring American guitarist Jim O'Rourke (Sonic Youth), sax player Akira Sakata and on this recording Yoshimi from Boredoms. Recorded live in 2006 and edited by O'Rourke. A bit different from the free jazz sessions previously, instead each instrument is given a chance to shine within a kind of mysterious atmosphere. 5 tracks. 1. Dancing Sea Lions 2. A Vessel on Foggy Night 3. Hagyo- Hukuwa-Uchi 4. Water Pipes Burst in the Cold Weather 5. Mother and Who?

Another album from avant garde experimenters from Japan and America. Guitarist Jim O'Rourke (Sonic Youth) and saxophone player Akira Sakata. The first part of their 2 day concert in Tokyo was released as 'Oyobare / Tetrodotoxin' (FSD2832)). This is the second part with studio effects added in New York. Chris Corsano (drums), Darin Gray (bass) and Manabu Sakata (drums) guest. Three tracks, Eddy Bear (16:22) Bachelor of Divinity (15:45) and Tombouctou (27:05).

Two giants of the experimental avant garde scenes from America and Japan get togther. Guitarist Jim O'Rourke is known as a member of Sonic Youth but has been involved in jazz ambient rock and everything in between. His many collaborators include, Henry Kaiser, Eddie Prevost, Keith Rowe and Faust. Saxophone player Akira Sakata has played with Bill Laswell, and Japanese musicians including DJ Krush, taiko drummer Eitetsu Hayashi and minyo singer Takio Ito. He also plays with his own trio, Sakata Akira mii. Tetrodotoxin features a mixture of Japanese and American musicians on bass, drums and tabla. Recorded live in Tokyo with added studio effects.

'If I were asked, what is your most memorable record? I'd reply without hesitation, regardless of any particular memory,that it's 'Out to Lunch' by Eric Dolphy's quintet, from Blue Note' so writes Otomo Yoshihide in the excellent liner notes- in English- to this album by Onjo, Otomo Yoshide's New Jazz Orchestra. The group includes Otomo on guitar, Axel Dorner on trumpet, Aoki Taisei on trombone and bamboo flute, Tsugami Kenta on sax, Sachiko M on sinewaves and contact mic, Nakamura Toshimaru on no-input mixing board plus piano, bass and vibraphone. Out there in all the right places.

Naruyoshi Kikuchi is a multi-talented saxophone player, arranger, composer and writer. He is known for working in mainly the avant-garde jazz and club music scene. He was a founding member of Tipographica and has played with Yosuke Yamashita, Urban Sax and Spank Happy. This is his collaboration album with the wonderful female singer UA. Half of the 12 tracks are originals, the other half covers. The tunes you might know include Night in Tunisia and Over the Rainbow, but are performed probably like nothing you've heard before. UA started off singing jazz at night clubs in Osaka, so she seems well at home here.

10th anniversary album and first for three years from the 'Samurai Jazz Band' featuring Ohyama 'BMW' Wataru on trumpet, plus sax, double bass, drums and keyboards. Hard hitting jazz.

Known for thier effervescent 'Samurai Jazz' PE'Z was formed in 1999 by Ohyama BMW Wataru. They soon gained a reputation for their energetic live shows, released a few albums on an indie label before being snapped up by a major. They went on to win a few awards and achieved the rare feat of getting an instrumental album into the national Top 10. They toured and had their previous album released to much acclaim in Europe. This is probably their best to date though, dynamic versions of quintessentially Japanese tunes. Enka, minyo, old popular, children's songs and the theme tune to Akira Kurosawa's film 'Yojimbo' are all given the Pe'z samurai jazz treatment. 1.Yojimbo 2.Rinken no Michi 3.Ginza Kankan Musume 4.Yukiguni 5.Dontaku 6.Omocha no Cha Cha Cha 7.Soran Bushi 8.Tomodachi 9.Koharu Obasan 10.Hana 11.Mizuiro no Ame 12.Mata Au Himade

2 CD set 32 tracks from the five piece samurai jazz group fronted by Ohyama BMW Wataru. Pe'z are made up of mostly jazz session players, and have become particularly popular with a hip Shibuya crowd and festival goers in Japan who appreciate their energetic live shows. Disc 1 - Dayside has tracks including Live for the Groove, Paradise a Go Go, Blank-Dunk. Disc 2 - Nightside includes Marmalade Jam, Laura, The Spiker and Delicious Sandwich.

First volume of the live anthology by the superb Strada, mixing guitars, clarinet, saxes, tuba, recorder, banjo, mandolin and drums. Mostly recorded at Kichijoji's 'Manda-la 2', the material ranges from Duke Ellington, traditional and original pieces. Naturally, brilliant stuff.

Second volume of live anthology starts off with their trademark tune, 'Misoreta Hana'. Recordings date from 1995 to 2000. Five brilliant tracks.

Weird and excellent instrumental psychedelic world mix of guitars and brass.

One horn quartet formed by Takumi Ito saxophone player of acclaimed electronic/impro trio Tsuki no Wa. Electronica, impro-jazz, minimalist, noise effects. 8 tracks. 1. Animus Quo 2. Saltus 3. Maud 4. Remember 5. It's You or No One 6. Topos 7. Convertible 8. Bar

Typically unique double CD from the superb Off Note label. Recorded in Okinawa, CD 1 titled 'radio emigre' features somewhat strained singing accompanied by guitar, oud, saxophone, contrabass and drums in slow, plaintive, dramatic compositions, and a few up-tempo, shuffling tunes. CD 2 is slightly more stripped down but in similar vain with some wild improvised tunes on saxophone.

Fantastic 2CD retrospective album of group that featured some brilliant musicians, including Wataru Ohkuma (clarinet) Takero Sekijima, (tuba, recorder) and Yoshiki Sakurai (guitar) all of Cicala Mvta, plus Kanji Nakao (sax) and many others. From the superb Off Note label, the usual fantastic instrumental acoustic fare that they do so brilliantly. Great musicianship, infectious, original music.

One of the most fascinating music scenes in Japan, is the jazz/chidon/brass/world scene, from groups such as Compostella, Cicala Mvta, Strada, Tsurureko Sachu, Odun and others. This double CD is a welcome addition to that catalogue, by two musicians who have featured on recordings by the pre-mentioned artists. Strange but fascinating stuff, from saxophone and clarinet players, doubling up on piano, drums and more, and joined by guitar, bass, metronone, glokenspiel and other instruments. Constantly surprising and compelling.

Bass player Takayoshi Matsunaga has been one of the unchampioned mainstays of the Japanese alternative music scene for many years. Best known for his work with dub pioneers Mute Beat, he's played with a host of musicians including Takashi Hirayasu and Strada. Guests on this excellent album are Hideo Inoura (drums) ex. Makoto Kubota & Yuyake Gakudan, Sandii and the Sunsetz, Akihiro Okachi (perc) ex. .Bo Gumbos, Genichi Tamura (steel guitar) from Little Tempo, Yoshiki Sakurai (guitar) of Strada, Emerson Kitamura (keyboards) ex.Mute Beat and vocalist Carmen Maki.

Freylekh Jambore are another of Japan's excellent Klezmer/Balkan/brass bands. Jewish, Turkish, Russian, Gypsy and even Bhangra sounds are tunes and influences are mixed together on clarinet, trumpet, trombone, sax, violin, accordion, tuba and drums.

Asa Chang's day job is as a top session percussionist, and a tabla player in his spare time. That hobby however, has blossomed into some fine esoteric music that is without comparison. Together with Hidehiko Urayama and U-Zhaan, he creates a strange brew of clanging and banging, interspersed with Indian percussive singing, talking, singing in English, electronics, trumpets, sound effects, the only constant element being tablas in there somewhere. Listen with open ears. Also to be released outside of Japan, this is the superb quality packaging Japanese version.

Ukuleles, banjos, saxes, clarinets, harmonicas, accordions, combine with a variety of percussion instruments in a compelling world instrumental mixture of traditional Japanese, Chinese, Russian and original compositions. High quality musicianship, challenging and absorbing music.

If you enjoyed Cicala Mvta, Orquesta Bore or Tetsuhiro Daiku albums with brass accompaniment, you should also enjoy this. Features tuba player Takero Sekijima of Cicala Mvta, Daiku's band and a host of other great CDs. Japanese jazz brass, but with the quirkiness we have come to expect.

Jazz vocalist who has chosen a fascinating repertroire of songs and great musicians to work with., From Hoagy Carmichael's "Hong Kong Blues" and "Chattanooga Choo Choo" to Nenes "Kogane no Hana" and Soul Flower/Heatwave's "Mangetsu no Yube". Atmospheric live recording featuring Keisuke Ohta on violin and Takero Sekijima on tuba and recorder of Cicala Mvta.

Best album to celebrate 15 years of the instrumental quartet. Over the years Kuricoder have evolved from a one off group to backing group to releasing a number of albums and collaborating with many artists such as UA, Morio Agata and Chemistry. From chamber music to wacky cover versions, includes the hits ' Theme from Pythagora Switch' and 'Teikoku no March'. 19 tracks.

Recorders,ukuleles' and other acoustic instruments from the quartet including Takero Sekijima of Cicala Mvta/Tetsuhiro Daiku Band/Orquesta Bore and others. The tunes include those by Burt Bacharach, John Dowland and the group's leader Masaki Kurihara.

Latest album from the Kuricorder Quartet who play various recorders ranging from high to low featuring the wonderful Takero Sekijima (Cicala Mvta and others) and Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi (Cicala Mvta). Accompanied by mellophone, percussion, guitar, tuba and trumpet, 10 entertaining, highly original tracks. The group have become a cult hit on the London radio station LBC, with their presenter Iain Lee. This CD features the video clip that Iain loves so much Ojisan no Juikagetsu, as well as the actual music track that you listen to as a sound sample.

Was £27.99. Recorded live at Manda-La 2 in Kichijoji over 5 nights for the group's 10th anniversary. The unique quartet playing recorders and other instruments, Masaki Kurihara (recorder, pianica, andes25, Mellophone) Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi (recorder, soprano saxophone, harmonica, bodhran, caxixi, samba) Kenji Kondo (recorder, acoustic guitar, ukulele) Takero Sekijima (recorder, tuba, trumpet). CD 1. Umi o Wataru Kaze (Takero Sekijima) 2. Baby You're My Destiny (Taj Mahal) 3. Avarandado (Caetano Veloso) 4. Kemuri (Takero Sekijima) 5. Hei Lassie (Trad. Bulgarian) 6.Mo Hitori no Hakase 7. Hawaiian Wedding Song (Charles E King) 8. El Derecho de Vivir en Paz (Victor Jara) 9. Kutsuya no Maruchin (Takero Sekijima) 10. La Partida (Charley Patton) CD2. 1. Kataguruma no Ground ni Yoru Henso (Masami Kurihara) 2. An English Country Garden (Trad.) 3. Wynken Blynken and Nod (Donovan) 4. A Sunny Day (Donovan) 5. Nellie the Elephant (Peter Hart) 6. Nakunai yo Snowman (Kenji Kondo) 7. This is Halloween (Daniel Elfman) 8. Kiyeta Kanidoraku (Masami Kurihara) 9. Maya to Ita Kisetsu (Masami Kurihara) 10. Long Odds (English trad) 11. Double Lead Through (English Trad.) 12. Wonderful Day Theme (Masami Kurihara) plus CD extra 1. Mayonaise Dai Ni Ban. 2. Member Shokai 3. Orion Beer.

Compilation of ukulele tracks the Kuricorder Quartet have recorded for various albums and new recordings. These include for Ukulele Elvis, Ukulele Beatles, Ukulele Lennon, Ukulele Star Wars, plus covers of Penguin Cafe Orchestra and Deep Purple.

Give any recorder to the Kurikorder Quartet, long (tenor) , short (alto) very long(great bass) or very short (soprano) put them together and against the odds they sound great. What every junior school player can only dream of. The musicians are of the highest pedigree, they add thel guitar, ukulele, tuba and other instruments and enjoy a cult following.

Strange, but interesting album of folk/avant garde jazz songs, featuring Fuchigami's soft and screaming vocals, plus piano, contrabass, melodeon and the clarinet and sax of Wataru Ohkuma of Cicala Mvta.

Six solo tracks and eight with various guests including Tetsuhiro Daiku, in music ranging from Jazz to Asian.

Features Irish and Japanese traditional tunes with Korean and Okinawan elements, from interanationally reknowned jazz guitarist.

Solo sax recordings in Okinawan locations.

Reissued album by superb contrabass player. Saito plays songs including 'Contrabajeando' written by Astor Piazzolla and Troilo plus diverse material including Bach, Brazilian, Mongolian Okinawa and Korean tunes.

Pianist Kobayashi is influenced by Bach, Keith Jarrett and Screabin, and switches easily between the classically trained pianist and jazz improvisor. All original compositions, her piano is accompanied by bass and drums.

Trombone,bass, drums and percussion unit, much praised for their technique and interplay, re-released onto CD, orignally an acclaimed 1991 cassette.

Japanese jazz quintet who met and play in New York. Soft jazz with world music influences who perform on vibes, percussion, saxes, guitar, bass and drums.

Excellent Japanese jazz outfit, who play music of a wide range of styles, featuring among others songs by Suzanne Vega and Michael Jackson, but arranged with great skill and imagination.

Japan's best (well, only) quena and zampona (panpipe) player. South American/Asian jazz fusion.

Excellent Japanese jazz vocalist performs standards including Misty, Lover Man, Night and Day, Since I Fell for You, So in Love. Echoes of Billy Holliday.

Kaoru Tanaka is a jazz guitarist who likes to perform with Japanese traditional instruments. Tanaka is an accomplished musician, playing jazz fusion style on electric and synth guitar. The music is more fusion than Japanese traditional with shakuhachi and koto following the guitar parts, but it's all done with great skill and integrity. Musicians are Kaoru Tanaka [guitar, guitar synthesizer], Bruce Huebner [shakuahchi], Kayoko Nakagawa [koto], Takeshi Obayashi [piano], Evan Marien [bass].

Now Tokyo resident, ex Sonic Youth member Jim O'Rourke has put together a rather wonderful tribute to Burt Bacharach. O'Rourke himself sings on one track - and plays guitar, bass and other instruments on other tracks- as does Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and a superb cast of Japanese musicians such as Haruomi Hosono and Kahimi Kari.

Very assured and original first album from 20 year old female composer and pianist. Stradling the line between pop, classical and avant-garde, the album features four female vocalists, Julia Marcell from Poland, plus Japanese Ayu Okakita, Saho Terao and Mariko Otsuka. Sometimes dark and broody, sometimes light and melancholic, constantly absorbing.

Good value 5 CD set of 100 tracks that chart the course of Japanese jazz from the 1920s to the 1990s with such luminaries as Tadaharu Nakano, Fumio Minamizato, Shizuko Kasagi, Hibari Misora, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Sadao Watanabe, Terumasa Hino, Eiji Kitamura, Takeshi Iromota, Nobuo Hara with his Sharps and Flats, Toshiyuki Miyama and New Herd, Kazumi Watanabe, Shigeru Mukai, Yasuaki Shimizu, Saori Yano and Akiko Grace.

Ichiko Hashimoto is a jazz pianist who has played with top musicians such as Yosuke Yamashita and Kazumi Watanabe. She also has an interest in other styles including electronic music and was a tour guest member of YMO during the Technopolis 2000-20 tour. This is an album of electronic music

Excellent new album from the percussionist Asa-Chang, ex band master of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. Guest musicians are Ryuichi Sakamoto, Rina Ohta, Kankuro Kudo with a remix by Talvin Singh. Released on Sakamoto's Commmons label.

Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi is a wind instrument player. Among the many groups he has played with, are Shibusashirazu, for whom he plays sax, and Kuricorder Quarter, when he plays recorder. On this album, Kawaguchi and his band mates from each group play the music of the other group. A bit of a bizzare idea, but these kinds of musicians are full of wonderful and weird ideas.

Originallly released in 1980. Musicians include Marcus Miller, Steve Jordan, Peter Erskine and Michael Brecker.

Sixth album from the crazy Japanese punk/soul/ death jazz band, much championed by Gilles Peterson. Guest is Jamie Cullum, who performed with them at the BBC Electric Proms in London 2007.