Recommendation of Wa-Jazz: A Masterpiece of Japanese Jazz—One Must-Listen Album
If you’re not particularly interested in jazz as a genre, you might just think of it as music from abroad.
In fact, here in Japan, we’ve produced many world-class players, and countless remarkable classic albums have been released.
This time, we’re presenting a selection of essential “Wa-Jazz” masterpieces by Japanese musicians.
While focusing on timeless classics from the ’60s and ’70s, the lineup also turns its attention to works released in the ’90s and 2000s.
Please enjoy jazz music with a distinctly Japanese flavor—something a little different from overseas jazz!
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Recommendation of Wa-Jazz: One Outstanding Japanese Jazz Album (Numbers 11–20)
SceneryFukui Ryo
Ryo Fukui, from Biratori, Hokkaido, was a great jazz pianist who began teaching himself piano at 22 and was active for roughly 40 years.
His performances, marked by a powerful bebop style and delicate melodies, captivated many fans.
His debut album Scenery, released by Trio Records in December 1976, is a masterpiece recorded when he was 28—just six years after he started playing piano on his own.
This piano trio work, which incorporates a range of jazz elements from bebop to modal, is a classic that fully showcases Fukui’s exceptional technique and expressive depth.
Since his passing in 2016, he has been rediscovered worldwide through platforms like YouTube, and the album’s brilliance continues to shine—evidenced by its reissue as a domestic LP in June 2024.
For anyone who wants to be moved by beautiful melodies and deeply stirring performances, this is an album you must hear.
WataraseItabashi Fumio
Fumio Itabashi is a highly accomplished pianist who has pursued a unique musical identity, gaining prominence with the bands of Sadao Watanabe and Terumasa Hino.
Hailing from Ashikaga City in Tochigi Prefecture, he went on to Kunitachi College of Music, where, influenced by Takehiro Honda, he was drawn into the world of jazz.
Watarase, released by DENON Records in 1982, is a gem of a solo album inspired by the Watarase River that runs through his hometown.
With this album in hand, he embarked on an energetic “Watarase Solo Journey” tour, visiting 101 venues nationwide, captivating many fans along the way.
His performances, weaving together powerful keystrokes and a delicate melodic sensibility, vividly evoke Japanese scenery and culture, earning high praise as a landmark of Wa-jazz.
As a work themed around nature and nostalgia, it is a highly recommended album for those who wish to be moved by richly expressive melodies.
Something’s ComingOno Shunzo
Shunzo Ohno is a trumpet player who represents Japan’s jazz scene.
After moving to the United States in 1974, he joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and began gaining international recognition.
His 1975 album “Something’s Coming,” released on East Wind, is an ambitious work that fuses jazz-funk and fusion.
Featuring top-tier musicians such as Roy Haynes, Don Pate, and Masabumi “Poo” Kikuchi, the album contains four tracks that captivate with complex rhythms and innovative arrangements.
You can clearly feel Ohno’s talent—later recognized with a Grammy nomination—on full display throughout this record.
It’s a highly recommended album for those looking to explore new possibilities in jazz and to experience the essence of Japanese jazz.
Wild Goose ChaseOzone Makoto
Breakout is an ambitious work released in 2021 by Makoto Ozone, a jazz pianist Japan proudly presents to the world.
Ozone, who continues to demonstrate exceptional talent in both jazz and classical music, took on this project as a bold attempt to evolve even further.
In collaboration with top-tier musicians, he unfolds an innovative sound that is rooted in jazz while incorporating diverse elements such as fusion and Latin music.
His piano performance—both delicate and powerful—is nothing short of overwhelming, irresistibly captivating listeners.
You can sense the meticulous attention to detail from recording to mixing and mastering, resulting in exceptionally high sound quality.
This is a must-listen for anyone seeking new possibilities in jazz or wishing to experience Ozone’s musical adventure.
Toshiko’s BluesAkiyoshi Toshiko
Toshiko Akiyoshi, who continues to be active while based in New York, is a jazz pianist Japan is proud to share with the world and a renowned big band leader.
With 14 Grammy nominations, the Medal with Purple Ribbon, and the distinction of being the first Japanese inductee into the Jazz Hall of Fame, her achievements are immeasurable.
Released in 1954, Toshiko’s Piano is Akiyoshi’s landmark debut.
Produced by Norman Granz and recorded with Oscar Peterson’s rhythm section, the album is highly regarded as a masterpiece that brilliantly fuses elements of hard bop and cool jazz.
From interpretations of standards to her own original compositions, this work showcases her exceptional piano technique and distinctive musical voice.
It’s a gem recommended not only for jazz fans but for anyone who loves music.
Dancing MistKikuchi Masabumi
Masanori Kikuchi, the genius pianist affectionately known as “Poo-san,” left a major mark on Japanese jazz history with his innovative 1970 album POO-SUN.
Recorded at Victor Studio, the session brought together top-tier players who represent Japan’s jazz scene, including Kosuke Mine and Hideo Ichikawa.
At the time, Kikuchi was strongly influenced by Miles Davis, and his musical curiosity crystallized into a fresh sound that fused fusion and the avant-garde.
All six tracks were newly composed by Kikuchi, and the experimental approach—incorporating elements of free improvisation—still shines with undimmed brilliance today.
This landmark album is highly recommended for those who want to push beyond the conventional boundaries of jazz or are seeking a new musical experience.
The Appeal of Wa-Jazz: Masterpieces of Japanese Jazz — Recommended Albums (21–30)
RomanceSuzuki Hiroshi
Hiroshi Suzuki is a trombonist who excels across a wide range of jazz styles—from modern to free—and is so highly regarded in the Japanese jazz scene that people say, “If you want a great performance, make sure you’ve got that trombone player.” Recorded while Suzuki, who had moved to the United States in the early ’70s, was briefly back in Japan, his album “Cat” is a classic beloved even by generations into rare groove.
Featuring members of the legendary jazz combo Freedom Unity, the album was recorded in 1975 and released the following year, 1976.
The tracks blend funky, soulful, mellow, and spiritual elements, all executed at the highest level, generating an effortlessly cool, irresistibly slick groove throughout.
The jacket design—an intense close-up of Suzuki’s face mid-performance paired with a subtle cat silhouette placed just so—is a perfect touch.
Listening to an album like this makes it clear that in the 1970s there were jazz players creating grooves of truly exceptional quality.
