It's hard to beat these premium sounds from the golden age of Japanese jazz-funk during the 70's on these perfect reissues mastered and pressed in Japan. Of course top quality is to be expected from these releases, the best Japanese music Made In Japan! Limited Edition, includes OBI Strip.

• Limited Edition
• Deep Jazz Reality series
• Project Re:Vinyl edition from HMV Japan
• Presented by Universounds
• Produced by Yusuke Ogawa
• Mastered and Pressed in Japan!
• Deluxe Gatefold cover Includes OBI Strip

Drummer Akira Ishikawa was easily one of the hippest cats on the Japanese scene of the late 60s and early 70s – a player and leader with a great ear for American funk and soul changes of the time, most of which he brought into play on a record like this!

The album's definitely got the soul and rock promised in the title, but also plenty of jazz too – as some of the solos go nicely outside, in weird offbeat ways that nicely contrast with the tighter grooves in the rhythm – creating a nice sense of tension that really makes this record stand out from the pack! There's a really sinister undercurrent here – odd edges and weird tones on piano, guitar, and saxophone – all amidst some strongly soulful grooves from the rest of the group.

Introducing Count Buffalo! An ambitious work that explores the sound of the next generation with innovative arrangements and outstanding performances. A new era opens here.

Akira Ishikawa, a drummer who led groups such as Midnight Sons, Genchers, and Count Buffaloes and has released countless works to the world. This work, the earliest recording under the name of Count Buffalo, features Ken Muraoka, Hiromasa Suzuki, Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Masahiko Sato, and others. Hip jazz-rock “Cougar” led by disquieting strings, “Greensleeves” with a hint of avant-garde, his own interpretation of “Hey Jude”, and a dry jazz-rock version of a folk song such as “Makouta”. , so dense that you don’t even have time to breathe. It is one of the most important works in the history of Japanese jazz-rock, not only in content, but also considering the era of 1969. - text by Yusuke Ogawa (UNIVERSOUND/DEEP JAZZ REALITY)

Musicians:

Takeru Muraoka - (sax)
Hiromasa Suzuki - (piano)
Kiyoshi Sugimoto - (electric guitar)
Masaoki Terakawa - (bass)
Akira Ishikawa - (drums)

Track Listing:

A1. The Cougar
A2. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
A3. Michelle
A4. Green Sleeves
A5. The Sandpiper
B1. No More Than A Drop
B2. Hey Jude
B3. Deep River
B4. Mago-Uta

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫