Aya Takazawa - Crescent City Connection (2017)

Here we have the versatile and beautiful trumpeter Aya Takasawa's Debut Album. It is New Orleans recording with a luxurious membered quintet. Held at America's largest jazz festival, 47-year history Heritage & New Orleans Jazz Festival in 2016. Aya Takasawa appeared with her own band, and this is a recording taken from the festival’s star players. Based on the New Orleans tunes, the selection focused on the roots of each song, including the original songs of Aya Takasawa. There's no disputing, it is brilliant album showcasing an up-and-coming spectacular performer. Essential to all lovers of trumpet enhanced jazz music. 

King Records, KICJ-760, 2017
Recording 20th & 21st April, 2016 at Music Shed Studio, New Orleans 

Musicians:
Aya Takazawa - Trumpet, Arranger
Nami Kano - Alto Saxophone (#1,2,4,6)
Wessell Anderson - Alto Saxophone (#3,5,7-9)
Jesse McBride - Piano
Kengo Nakamura - Bass
Jason Marsalis - Drums, Vibraphone (#1)

Tracks:
1. Bubudy -Crescent City Connection {Aya Takazawa} (4:57)
2. St. Louis Blues {William Christopher Handy} (6:56)
3. My Poinciana {Aya Takazawa} (6:06)
4. FLD [Falling Down] {Aya Takazawa} (5:23)
5. When It's Sleepy Time Down South {Clarence Muse, Otis Rene, Leon Rene} (4:58)
6. Drizzlin' {Aya Takazawa} (6:19)
7. Mr. Clean {Weldon Irvine} (4:37)
8. Chicken Tails {Aya Takazawa} (5:44)
9. Herlin Homey Riley {Wessell Anderson} (6:00) 

Total Time: 51:03 

Credits:
Producer - Aya Takazawa
Recording Engineer - Ben Lorio
Mixing & Mastering - Takaaki Konno 

My Poinciana

Kengo Nakamura - Roots (2005)

Another fine work where Kengo explores his jazz roots. He surrounds himself with a great grouping of players that include: Marcus Printup on Trumpet, Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson on Alto Saxophone, Aaron Parks on Piano sharing the role with special guest Makoto Ozone and Rodney Green on Drums. Seven of the ten tunes are his own compositions. The remaining three are by Horace Silver, Charles Mingus and even Aaron Parks adds one of his own. The album is a powerful testament to Nakamura's excellent bass playing, but not to overlook the role of the choice sidemen. Kengo’s duo performances with similarly virtuosic Makoto are scintillatingly beautiful. The sound engineering is dynamically set at a high standard DR15, all in all, any jazz or music lover is in for a treat, enjoy! 

55 Records, FNCJ-5505,2005
Recorded 23rd & 24th June, 2004 at Avatar Studio, New York City 

Musicians:
Kengo Nakamura - Bass
Marcus Printup - Trumpet
Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson - Alto Saxophone
Aaron Parks - Piano (#1-4,6-8,10)
Rodney Green - Drums
Special Guest:
Makoto Ozone - Piano (#5,6,9) 

Tracks:
01. Roots {Kengo Nakamura} (8:17)
02. DH Swing {Kengo Nakamura} (5:48)
03. Fifty Five {Kengo Nakamura} (3:38)
04. Sister Sadie {Horace Silver} (2:38)
05. Wango Tango {Kengo Nakamura} (6:00)
06. Nostalgia {Kengo Nakamura} (5:00)
07. The Barron {Aaron Parks} (6:00)
08. Boogie Stop Shuffle {Charles Mingus} (6:10)
09. All Is Well With You {Kengo Nakamura} (4:58)
10. Blues For Wess {Kengo Nakamura} (8:44) 

Total Time: 57:21 

Credits:
Producer - Kengo Nakamura
Executive-Producer - Hiroshi Itsuno
Recording Engineer - Jay Messina
Assistant Engineer - Peter Doris
Mastering Engineer - Bill Sigmund
Photography - Michael A. Black
Design - Sinbad Design Mochida 

Wango Tango

Kengo Nakamura - Generations (2008)

Top bassist Kengo Nakamura, who is active on the front lines in New York, releases his fifth album after two years. The first trio album that spotlights the blues spirit that has been passed down from generation to generation from the pioneers of jazz to the present. Featuring two piano players, master Junior Mance and up-and-coming Danny Grissett, and drummer Clarence Penn, known for his co-stars with Makoto Ozone, Maria Schneider, Dave Douglas, etc., also fully participates. Don't miss the dynamic and realistic sound created by Grammy Award-winning engineer Joe Ferla. ~ fiftyfiverecords.com. [Translated from Japanese] 

55 Records, FNCJ-5528, 2008
Recorded 25th & 26th June, 2008 at Avatar Studio C, New York City 

Musicians:
Kengo Nakamura - Bass
Danny Grissett - Piano (#1,4-6,8,9)
Junior Mance - Piano (#2,3,7)
Clarence Penn - Drums (Except #2,6,10) 

Tracks:
01. Mingus Figures {Kengo Nakamura} (4:51)
02. The Single Petal Of A Rose {Duke Ellington} (5:18)
03. The Shepherd {Kengo Nakamura} (4:39)
04. Generations {Kengo Nakamura} (6:34)
05. Ellis Island {Kengo Nakamura} (7:33)
06. Reincarnation Of A Lovebird {Charles Mingus} (4:51)
07. Julian's Shuffle {Kengo Nakamura} (6:33)
08. Eternal Landscape {Kengo Nakamura} (5:10)
09. Chase The Chaser {Kengo Nakamura} (3:31)
10. Just Squeeze Me {Duke Ellington, Lee Gaines} (4:15) 

Total Time: 53:15

Credits:
Producer - Kengo Nakamura
Executive Producer - Hiroshi Itsuno
Recording Engineer - Joe Ferla
Assistant Engineer - Justin Gerrish
Mastering - Mark Wilder [Battery Mastering]
Photography - Michael Black [Black Sun Studio]
Artwork - Ruri Fujita [Design R]
Liner Notes - Hijiri Kanno 

Reincarnation Of A Lovebird

Saori Yano - Bubble Bubble Bebop (2015)

Alto saxophonist Saori Yano, prior to the release of this album has been active in the Japanese jazz scene for more than ten years. Saori following in the footsteps of Charlie Parker, continues her devotion towards and further exploration and revival of bebop in a modern revision as showcased in her previous album BeBop At The Savoy (2009). Yano's consistent platform of Bebop sets the cornerstone of her broader love of salsa, incorporating other funky rich elements, by surrounding herself with other like-minded and equally passionate musicians. Together they fully reveal the valor to challenge Yano's innate ambition to create exciting modern jazz music, throwing aside the complex academic and somewhat hidden reservations that traditionalists would have conveyed. In the end, we as listeners can benefit and simply rejoice and embrace her confidence portrayed in this well-polished recording work. Saori is joined by other performing musicians which include: Toru Nakajima (piano), Kengo Nakamura (bass), Nobuyuki Kamatsu (drums), Ogimi Gen (percussion); Guests: Tabu Zombie (trumpet) and Motoharu (tenor) from Soil & "Pimp" Sessions. 

Savoy Records, COCB-54166, 2015 

Musicians:
Saori Yano - Alto Saxophone, Vocals (#8)
Toru Nakajima - Piano
Kengo Nakamura - Bass (#1,2,4-9)
Nobuyuki Komatsu - Drums (#1,2,4-9)
Ogimi Gen - Percussion (#4)
Tabu Zombie - Trumpet (#5)
Motoharu - Tenor Saxophone (#5)
Salsa Swingoza (#3) 

Tracks:
1. Blowin' The Blues Away {Horace Silver} (4:53)
2. Bluebird {Charlie Parker} (4:41)
3. Puerto Rico {Eddie Palmieri}/Suna To Skirt {Saori Yano} (8:14)
4. Betty Et Zorg {Gabriel Yared} (6:24)
5. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy {Joe Zawinul} (6:24)
6. Bayou {Jimmy Smith} (3:55)
7. Avalon {Vincent Rose} (6:19)
8. Bye Bye Babylon {Saori Yano} (8:05)
9. Confirmation {Charlie Parker} (5:44) 

Total Time: 54:44