Sunao Wada Quartet / Sunao Wada Sextet - Coco's Blues (1972)

Here, we have Japanese guitarist Sunao Wada first work as leader on the renowned Three Blind Mice label. Recorded 23rd October, 1972 at Tokyo's KRC Studio, Sunao presents two formations; a quartet (#1,3,4) with pianist Takehiro Honda, bassist Mitsuaki Furuno and drummer Arihide Kurata and a sextet (#2,5) with the addition of flugelhornist Kunji Shigi and formidable altoist Kenji Mori. It's a phenomenal groovy jazz-blues outing; at the time Sunao was nominated "the best blues guitarist in Japan"! A driving force behind these groupings is the powerhouse Takehiro Honda. Three of the tunes are Sunao's own offerings, with one from Takehiro and the remainder a muscular cover of Charlie Parker's "Billie's Bounce". A valuable example and indispensable classic of the great jazz that was emerging out of Japan throughout the seventies and beyond, enjoy! 

Three Blind Mice, TBM-12, 1973
Three Blind Mice, MHCP 10025, 2006
Recorded 23rd October, 1972 at KRC Studio, Tokyo, Japan 

Musicians:
Sunao Wada - Guitar
Kunji Shigi - Flugelhorn (#2,5)
Kenji Mori - Alto Saxophone (#2,5)
Takehiro Honda - Piano
Mitsuaki Furuno - Bass
Arihide Kurata - Drums 

Tracks:
1. One's Blue {Sunao Wada} (6:29)
2. Billie's Bounce {Charlie Parker} (12:09)
3. Guitar's Time {Sunao Wada} (5:28)
4. Sick Thomas {Takehiro Honda} (7:37)
5. Coco's Blues {Sunao Wada} (11:31) 

Total Time: 43:16 

Credits:
Producer - Takeshi "Tee" Fuji
Recording Engineer - Yoshihiko Kannari
Assistant Engineer - Kenji Kurota
Art Direction - Ben Nishizawa
Liner Notes - Teruo Isono 

Coco's Blues (1973 Full Vinyl Album)

Takehiro Honda - Salaam Salaam (1974) [vinyl]

Takehiro Honda's most complex and challenging LP, Salaam Salaam pairs the pianist with bassist Junie Booth and drummer Eric Gravatt to explore the kind of creative reaches typically reserved for larger ensembles. If anything, the record is that much more remarkable for achieving its epic scope from so few core elements. Honda's adherence to austerity contrasts sharply with the bold, multi-dimensional sensibilities that signify the vast majority of post-Coltrane excursions into spiritual expression, yet the sheer soulfulness and abandon of his performance nevertheless vaults Salaam Salaam into the same physical and metaphysical planes. No less vital is the record's unusual warmth and tonal purity, which further underscore the humanity at the root of even its most abstract expressions. ~ by Jason Ankeny, AMG. 

East Wind, EW-7005, 1974
Recorded 16th June, 1974 at Victor Studio, Tokyo, Japan 

Musicians:
Takehiro Honda - Piano
Juni Booth - Bass
Eric Gravatt - Drums 

Tracks:
A1. Minors Only (13:27)
A2. Natural Tranquility (10:31)
B. Salaam Salaam (18:28) 

All Compositions by Takehiro Honda 

Total Time: 42:26 

Credits:
Producer, Management, Liner Photos - Toshinari Koinuma
Supervisor [Album Direction] - Yasohachi Itoh, Yukio Morisaki
Recording & Remixing Engineer - Toshio Kobayashi
Art Direction - Johsuke Kubo
Design [Album] - Mitsuo Hosokawa
Photography [Cover] - Hiroshi Satoh
Photography [Liner] - Yukio Ichikawa
Liner Notes - Shoichi Yui 

"This album I heard again and again when I was a student over 35 years ago. Even if I heard it now, it was a great album! All three songs are good, but the second song Natural Tranquility is great when you listen to it! It's a peace of mind." ~ aquilegia, Amazon.com. [Translated from Japanese] 

Natural Tranquility

Takehiro Honda - This Is Honda (1972)

One of the best pianists to arise out of Japan and one of the best trio formations to highlight and showcase the finest expression of some truly well-played jazz standards. Theses tracks are taken from a live performance many moons ago but can still enthrall even the most discerning listener; all pieces are played with exceptional finesse. It’s not a long concert by modern standards, what one would have given to be there at the time. A time-honored jazz classic no jazz aficionado should overlook this special album, enjoy!

Trio Records, PA-7005, 1972

Absord Music, ABCJ-272, 2003

Recorded 14^th March, 1972 At Iino Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Musicians:

Takehiro Honda - Piano

Yoshio Suzuki - Bass

Fumio Watanabe - Drums

Tracks:

1. You Don't Know What Love Is {Don Raye, Gene DePaul} (8:51)

2. Bye Bye Blackbird {Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson} (7:05)

3. 'Round About Midnight {Bernie Hanighen, Cootie Williams, Thelonious Monk} (3:28)

4. Softly As In Morning Sunrise {Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg} (6:57)

5. When Sunny Gets Blue {Jack Segal, Marvin Fisher} (4:28)

6. Secret Love {Paul Francis Webster, Sammy Fain} (8:03)

Total Time: 38:52

Credits:

Engineer - Okihiko Sugano

A&R [Reissue] - Masahiro Maeda

Artwork [Reissue] - Sally Kubota

Co-Mastering, Liner Notes - Tamaya Honda