The Players were a jazz fusion band led by famed pianist/composer Hiromasa Suzuki, a predecessor to his Colgen Band. The band was often described as the Japanese Weather Report and boy were they spot on as the band is immensely funky. Post Galaxy they would go on to record five more studio albums, plus a live album ending their run in 1985. The band would count bassist Akira Okazawa, saxophonist Mabumi Yamaguchi, guitarist Tsunehide Matsuki and drummer Yuichi Togashiki as its core members. All of whom would collate extensive discographies of their own in a staggering number of classics beyond just jazz music.Hiromasa “Colgen” Suzuki certainly needs little to no introduction to fans of j-jazz fusion being one of the most well known Japanese jazzmen you will encounter as you first dive into Japanese jazz history.On Galaxy, the band combines tight jazz funk grooves on superbly arranged compositions by Suzuki to create an epic fusion odyssey. Overlaid with fantastic Moog synth action, in the pocket drum/percussion work with lush strings and triumphant horns. The elements of tight fusion are also tastefully interlaced through the genetics of this album. Especially apparent on “Kaleidoscope”’s killer guitar riffs and solo by Matsuki.
AMM
The Tasters!
Tracks & Line Up Below (FLAC)
Composed By, Arranged By, Conductor, Piano [Acoustic], Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer [Mini-Moog], Synthesizer [Arp Odyssey],
Other [Prophets 5] – Hiromasa "Colgen" Suzuki
Congas, Percussion – Tadaomi Anai
Drums – Yuhichi Togashiki
Electric Bass – Akira Okazawa
Electric Guitar – Tsunehide Matsuki
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Mabumi Yamaguchi
Strings – Strings Tomato
Trombone – Harumi Mita, Hideo Iguchi, Yasuo Hirauchi
Trombone [Bass] – George Okada
Trumpet – Terumasa Hino, Ichiroh Nitta, Junichi Kanezaki
13 comments:
Thanks AMM. Love the 3 posts - 3 genres theme today.
Another good comp thanks
Wonderful... I have 4 Players albums, but not this one.
Many thanks for the review AMM
BigD
Awesome share thank you AMM
Another great review. Had not heard this before. Tasters are very nice!!!
Thank you once again for the players. Some of these album are extremely rare. Thanks AMM
also new to me thank you AMM for this j-jazz
Wouldn't want to miss this Japanese jewel! Thanks for review, P.
Thanks for the review AMM
Thanks for the review AMM some quality jazz/funk here from what I've heard Cheers Pedro
Looking forward to taking a listen to this
Many thanks Reb
Thanks for sharing this review
New To Me. I Would Like To hear more of them tough!!
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