{"title":"Artist: Kiyoshi Yamaya, Toshiko Yonekawa, Kifu Mitsuhashi","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"wamono-groove-shakuhachi-koto-jazz-funk-76-lp-vinyl-record","title":"Wamono Groove: Shakuhachi \u0026 Koto Jazz Funk ’76 [Import]","description":"\u003ch3\u003e** This is a BACKORDER item. Please read our policies before ordering. Check our website for Est. Ship Date.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eKEY FEATURES\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e180g heavy vinyl pressing, reverse board jacket\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFully licensed Nippon Columbia masters available for the first time outside of Japan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMastering and lacquer cut by Jukka Sarapää at Timmion Cutting Lab, Helsinki, Finland\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtwork by Nker\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eRELEASE DESCRIPTION\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lYIkkiLDfcc\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the already classic \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWamono A to Z trilogy\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e180g\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/em\u003epresents an exceptional collection of jazz-funk \/ rare groove tunes recorded in the mid-seventies at the Nippon Columbia studios by three giants of Japanese music: arranger \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKiyoshi Yamaya\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, koto legend \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eToshiko Yonekawa\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e and shakuhachi master \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKifu Mitsuhashi\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorn in 1932 in Tokyo, \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eKiyoshi Yamaya\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e started his musical career in 1953 when he played in various jazz bands in town. In 1957, Yamaya joined \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNobuo Hara\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e’s famous jazz big band \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSharps \u0026amp; Flats\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e as a baritone saxophone player and started composing, arranging, and recording for them and other big bands. He became a key jazz figure in Japan in the sixties together with \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNorio Maeda and Keitaro Miho\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, both jazz pianists, composers, and arrangers, by forming the \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModern Jazz Three Association\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e – which aimed at improving the level of Japanese jazz composition and arrangement. In the mid-seventies, his \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eContemporary Sound Orchestra\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e explored jazz-funk fusions with traditional Japanese melodies and instruments such as the \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eshakuhachi, koto, biwa, and shamisen\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e. These works were recorded for a series of panoramic Japanese albums released domestically on \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDenon\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNippon Columbia\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, from which the tracks on this compilation are taken from.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eToshiko Yonekawa\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, born 1913 in the city of Himeji, not so far from Osaka, is the eldest daughter of koto and shamisen master \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKin’o Yonekawa\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e. She started studying both instruments with her talented father from the age of 3, played in her first concert at 8, and was only 12 years old when she first appeared on national radio. Her unique style of koto playing is widely recognized due to the extreme accuracy of the intonation and rhythm, as well as the unequaled beauty of the instrument’s sonority. After a life decorated with awards and prizes, Toshiko Yonekawa was named a \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLiving National Treasure\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e in 1996.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorn in Tokyo in 1950, \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKifu Mitsuhashi\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e is a great master of Koto-style shakuhachi. After completing the \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNHK Hōgaku Training Program\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e in 1972, Mitsuhashi became a member of Pro Musica Nipponia, a group of leading composers and top-ranking musicians devoted to performing a wide-ranging repertoire of classical and contemporary compositions from both Japan and the West – in which all music is performed by traditional Japanese musical instruments. Mitsuhashi has toured the world for hundreds of recitals, also as a soloist, and has performed his art with the greatest ensembles such as the \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBBC Symphony Orchestra\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e and the \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBerliner Philharmoniker\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e. In 2020, Kifu Mitsuhashi was awarded the \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrder of the Rising Sun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eTRACKLIST\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Kifu Mitsuhashi - Nanbu Ushioi Uta\u003cbr\u003e2. Toshiko Yonekawa - Isohama Bon Uta\u003cbr\u003e3. Kifu Mitsuhashi - Hohai Bushi\u003cbr\u003e4. Toshiko Yonekawa - Otemoyan\u003cbr\u003e5. Kifu Mitsuhashi - Aizu Bandaisan\u003cbr\u003e6. Toshiko Yonekawa - Saitara Bushi\u003cbr\u003e7. Kifu Mitsuhashi - Soma Nagareyama\u003cbr\u003e8. Toshiko Yonekawa - Yagi Bushi\u003cbr\u003e9. Kifu Mitsuhashi -Asadoya Yunta\u003cbr\u003e10. Toshiko Yonekawa - Konpira Funefune\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eLISTEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAvailable on Desktop \u0026amp; Mobile\u003c\/em\u003e \u003ciframe style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/4NWVFWaBb9BClbYi0Zq4Qg?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"380\" loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kiyoshi Yamaya, Toshiko Yonekawa, Kifu Mitsuhashi","offers":[{"title":"LP \/ Black","offer_id":41668203839679,"sku":"180GWALP04-BK","price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/6947\/3471\/products\/large_550_tmp_2F1636743888364-z0aih7j1o6-074d4783df8264c019d6c56004073c27_2F180GWALP04-COVER.jpg?v=1653697012"}],"url":"https:\/\/helixsounds.com\/collections\/artist-kiyoshi-yamaya-toshiko-yonekawa-kifu-mitsuhashi.oembed","provider":"Helix Sounds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}