Martin Jacobsen - Live In Tokyo - The NHK Fureai Hall Concert

Danish-born tenor saxophonist Martin Jacobsen frequently gives concerts in many of the Asian countries including Japan, Korea and China. This release is a live recording of a very successful concert performed at Japan's national public radio/TV network NHK's fureai hall in 2011, only a few days after the devastating earthquake and tsunami which hit the north-east coast of Japan.

Martin Jacobsen's quartet which also features Japanese pianist Hiroshi Murayama, German bassist Martin Zenker and English drummer Mark Taylor. On 'Live in Tokyo' they perform a mixture of original compositions and their own take on songs by John Coltrane and Duke Ellington, as well as the standards How Little We Know and The End of a Love Affair.

Jacobsen seems well aware of what makes jazz a vital music. It's the constant sense of growth and discovery, taking the old and making it new. While this is a fine debut, there's little doubt that future endeavours will prove even more impressive as the both Jacobsen and the band continue to mature. - Derek Taylor, All About Jazz on 'Current State'

Personnel: Martin Jacobsen (tenor saxophone), Hiroshi Murayama (piano), Martin Zenker (bass), Mark Taylor (drums)