Tadao Sawai & Kazue Sawai & Hozan Yamamoto & Sadanori Nakamu - Jazz Rock

They say you can't judge a book by its cover, and going by 'Jazz Rock',�nor a record by its title. Though entering into jazz territory and�featuring some distorted guitar, 'Jazz Rock' is more a beautiful�marriage of funky breakbeat drumming and spiritual jazz�instrumentation, combined with traditional Min'y 333; music performed on�the koto and shakuhachi.

Originally released in 1973, the record sounds simultaneously vintage�and contemporary. It is akin to something Madlib might dream up whilst�lost in Japan collaborating with Min'y 333; players at a recording session.�The record features some amazing shakuhachi (bamboo flute) playing by�Hozan Yamamoto, which gives the music a haunting, dreamlike atmosphere.�You can almost visualise the long grass blowing in the wind, and hear�the bamboo rustling in the distance on a long hot summer's day. Takeshi�Inomata, Tadao Sawai and Kazue Sawai anchor the session. Takeshi's�exceptionally funky-drum work will almost certainly get some producers�dusting off and firing up their MPC's. Whilst Kazue and Tadao work�their magic on the koto (a traditional string instrument).�Though certainly not an ambient record, 'Jazz-Rock' has the same�meditative, other-worldly quality that invites you to sit back, listen�and be transported somewhere else. Unfortunately, until now the 'Jazz�Rock' album is a scarcity that commanded a high price-tag only for the�most hardened of record collectors. So it is pleasure to make it accessible to all, and we hope you dig this lost, obscure future classic�as much as we do.