Yuji Ohno Trio - My Little Angel (1971)

This is the first leader album by Yuji Ono, who continues to be talented in many directions such as TV animations, movie soundtracks, and collaboration with singers. For the entire album Yuji sticks with acoustic piano to create a fresh modern jazz sound with an exceptional sense of melody as he and his trio navigate through some well-known jazz standards, included are two of his own compositions. A must have outing for fans of jazz piano. 

RCA Records, JRS-7263, 1973
Sony Music Entertainment, SICP 4292, 2014
Recorded at Victor Studio, Tokyo in 1971 

Musicians:
Yuji Ohno - Piano
Yoshio Ikeda - Bass
Kazuyoshi Okayama - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Mr. Happy-Gon {Yuji Ohno} (4:23)
2. My Foolish Heart {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (6:59)
3. Alone Together {Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz} (8:29)
4. A Boy On A Dolphin {Webster, Friedhofer, Morakis} (2:56)
5. My Little Angel {Yuji Ohno} (5:15)
6. By The Time I Get To Phoenix {Jimmy Webb} (5:23)
7. On Green Dolphin Street {Kaper, Washington} (8:30)
8. My One And Only Love {Guy Wood, Robert Mellin} (3:25) 

Total Time: 45:23 

Credits:
Producer - Hiroshi Isaka
Engineer - Tatsuo Umetsu
Photography, Design - Keijiro Kubota 

Mr. Happy-Gon

Yuji Ohno - Café Relaxin' Lupin (1999-2003)

A fine compilation of tunes by the Japanese master pianist and composer Yuji Ohno, not much to add just enjoy the versatile scope of his compositions for concert and theatre. 😊 

VAP Records Inc., VPCG-84819, 2005
#1,3,10,13 [2003]
#2,4 [1999]
#5,6,7,9,11,12 [2000]
#8 [2001] 

Tracks:
01. milchkaffee (3:06)
02. Theme From Lupin ['99 Version] (4:32)
03. Just Fall In Love (4:34)
04. REMEMBER (2:46)
05. Saudades Do Rio [More Lupintic Version] (5:03)
06. Across The Wind (4:24)
07. Isn't It More Lupintic? (4:10)
08. A Day Of The Town (3:05)
09. Cool Wave (2:16)
10. recherche (2:56)
11. ANGEL DANCE [More Lupintic Version] (5:47)
12. Lonesome City Breeze (5:52)
13. penisola (3:10) 

Total Time: 51:42 

Credits:
Producer & Composer - Yiji Ohno
Director - Shinya Yamada [NTVM], Kenichi Hoyama [VAP Inc.]
Design & Photography - Hiroaki Kitamoto
Illustration - Satoshi Hirayama 

Lonesome City Breeze

Masa Matsuda, Yuji Ohno - Silent Dialogue (1979) [vinyl]

Here, we have a Japanese classic jazz-funk album by Masa Matsuda & Yuji Ohno and an amazing grouping of other top Japanese jazz musicians. It is soon to undergo a vinyl [Pony Canyon] record store day release on 22nd April, 2023. Be quick if you want to grab a limited-edition copy. In the meanwhile, here is my vinyl rip of the original pressing, enjoy! 

Canyon Records, C22R0028, 1979 

Musicians:
Masa Matsuda - Keyboards [Electone (GX-1, EX-1)]
Yuji Ohno - Keyboards [CP-80 etc.]
Koji Hatori, Mamoru Otake, Susumu Kazuhara, Yoshikazu Kishi - Trumpet
Eiji Arai, Shigeharu Mukai - Trombone
Jake H. Concepcion, Kiyoshi Saito, Takeru Muraoka - Saxophone
Shozo Nakagawa, Michiya Koide, Nozomu Nakaya, Yoshiharu Watanabe - Flute
Kiyoshi Hagiya, Takao Naoi - Electric Guitar, Flamenco Guitar
Akira Okazawa, Kazuya Sugimoto, Kenji Takamizu - Electric Bass
Koji Takeda - Drums
Fujio Saito, Ralee Sunaga, Tadaomi Anai - Percussion [Latin] 

Tracks:
A1. Midspace Action {Arr. Yuji Ohno;Yuji Ohno} (3:19)
A2. Kumasan-Sanpo {Arr. Masa Matsuda, Yuji Ohno; Masa Matsuda} (4:26)
A3. Perpignan {Arr. Masa Matsuda, Yuji Ohno; Masa Matsuda} (5:29)
A4. Lullaby {Arr. Masa Matsuda, Yuji Ohno; Masa Matsuda} (4:07)
B1. The Soaring Sea-Gull {Arr. Yuji Ohno;Yuji Ohno} (4:22)
B2. Cookie Dance {Arr. Masa Matsuda, Yuji Ohno; Masa Matsuda} (4:53)
B3. Twilight Shadow {Arr. Yuji Ohno;Yuji Ohno} (4:02)
B4. Mirage {Arr. Masa Matsuda; Masa Matsuda} (3:13) 

Total Time: 33:51 

Twilight Shadow

Yuji Ohno Trio - Let's Fall In Jazz (2017)

This is the third album by Yuji Ohno released in 2017 on the Vap and Lupintic labels. For this release; Yuji after a five-year hiatus writing soundtrack scores for popular modern Japanese movies, teams up again with his wonderful trio to produce this superb jazz album. The trio includes the long-term musicians, bassist Shin Kamimura and drummer Yasushi Ichihara. The new original song "Let's Fall In Jazz" was written specifically for this album and features guest vocals by Lyn Inaizumi, a talented singer who has sung beforehand with the Yuji Ohno & Lupintic Six! 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of the birth of "Lupin III Theme" and a new recording of the theme in a trio formation is included in this album. Essentially, eight of the tunes are penned by Yuji, but the trio also re-interprets four well-known standards. Overall, a exceptionally pleasant affair that will truly entertain many a jazz enthusiast for many years to come! 

VAP Records, VPCG-83523, 2017 

Musicians:
Yuji Ohno - Piano, Keyboards
Shin Kamimura - Bass, Electric Bass
Yasushi Ichihara - Drums
Lyn Inaizumi - Vocals (#1,6,12) 

Tracks:
01. Let's Fall In Jazz [feat. Lyn] {Yuji Ohno} (4:47)
02. Sweet Sue, Just You {Will J. Harris, Victor Young} (6:29)
03. Misty Twilight {Yuji Ohno} (7:11)
04. Let's Fall In Love {Yuji Ohno} (4:33)
05. Love Squall {Yuji Ohno} (4:35)
06. Let's Fall In Jazz [Interlude] {Yuji Ohno} (0:26)
07. My One And Only Love {Robert Mellin, Guy Wood} (5:22)
08. Let's Face The Music And Dance {Irving Berlin} (5:27)
09. A Foggy Day {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin} (7:40)
10. Love Theme {Yuji Ohno} (2:16)
11. Theme From Lupin III {Yuji Ohno} (6:00)
12. Let's Fall In Jazz [Reprise] {Yuji Ohno} (0:46) 

Total Time: 55:37 

Theme From Lupin III

Yuji Ohno Trio & Friends - Cool For Joy (2005)

Cool For Joy is a steamy and sweet jazz album for adults, presented by the Yuji Ohno Trio & Friends. It's the first jazz album covering of love songs normally hidden from Ohno familiar Lupin compositions. Included are a number of selected standard tunes, but in addition some of Ohno's latest original songs. Along with his respected trio the group is joined by an impressive guest list of Japanese jazz musicians whom take the tunes to a greater level. This album is great place to start for anybody not already affiliated with this outstanding pianist and composer, enjoy! 

Vap Records, VPCG-84821, 2005 

Personnel: 

Trio:
Yuji Ohno - Piano
Masayuki Tawarayama - Bass
Kenichiro Murata - Drums 

Guests:
Yoshiro Okazaki - Trumpet (#2,3,7,8,9)
Mabumi Yamaguchi - Tenor Saxophone (#1,3,6,7,8,9)
Masami Nakagawa - Flute (#1,6)
Hiroyuki Suzuki - Synthesizer (#2,5,8)
Takashi Ooi - Vibraphone (#1,6,9)
Jun Kajiwara - Guitar (#1,6,8,9)
Saori Sendo - Percussion (#1,3,8) 

Tracks:
01. The Gift! [Recado Bossa Nova] {Djalma Ferreira} (4:54)
02. Autumn In Praha {Yuji Ohno} (5:53)
03. Cool For Joy {Yuji Ohno} (6:19)
04. My Funny Valentine {Richard Rodgers} (6:43)
05. Golden Game {Yuji Ohno} (4:54)
06. Cool Vibration {Yuji Ohno} (5:02)
07. Fairy Night {Yuji Ohno} (4:16)
08. The Look Of Love {Burt Bacharach} (5:34)
09. Theme From Lupin III [Waltz Version] {Yuji Ohno} (4:43)
10. Loss Of Love {Henry Mancini} (3:37) 

Total Time: 51:59 

Cool For Joy