Soft Landing, by Takeru Muraoka & His New Group

Soft Landing by Takeru Muraoka & His New Group, released 14 January 2025 1. Ode To Naska 2. Hot Wing 3. May Storm 4. Lady Boogie 5. Snappin' 6. Ami 7. Quaser 8. Bon Voyage 🗻 SOUND FUJI / KING Jazz RE:Generation album! 🎷 Selected by Yusuke Ogawa (Universounds). High quality download available for the first time! - Artist: Takeru Muraoka & His New Group - Title: Soft Landing - Label: Seven Seas / King Records - Original release year: 1978 - Original catalog number: SKS-3005 Takeru Muraoka is a saxophonist who has played in some of the most iconic groups of the era, including the Hideo Shiraki Quintet, Terumasa Hino Quartet, Akira Ishikawa & His Count Buffaloes, and The Freedom Unity. An active member in the Japanese jazz scene, he managed the difficult balance of pursuing cutting-edge musicality while remaining in the mainstream. While he played the important role of a sideman on many albums, he has a legacy of records that became milestones of Japanese jazz, either solo or as a bandleader, such as Takeru (1970) and the 1971 album Ride And Tie. That sense of being cutting-edge and ahead of the times is still apparent when you listen to 1978’s Soft Landing, with its novel grooves, emotional melodies, and unique soundscapes. This essential album transcends genres and is Muraoka’s unique and marvelous take on fusion. Find track number 4 “Lady Boogie” on vinyl on the WaJazz: Japanese Jazz Spectacle Vol​.​II - Deep, Heavy and Beautiful Jazz from Japan 1962​-​1985 - The King Records Masters compilation at https://wajazz.bandcamp.com/album/wajazz-japanese-jazz-spectacle-vol-ii-deep-heavy-and-beautiful-jazz-from-japan-1962-1985-the-king-records-masters-selected-by-yusuke-ogawa-universounds ! Personnel: Composed and arranged by Takeru Muraoka. Recorded in 1978 at King Studio. Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Lyricon – Takeru Muraoka Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Susumu Kazuhara Piano, Electric Piano, Clavinet, Synthesizer [Solina], Synthesizer – Masanori Sasaji Drums, Percussion – Michael Kawai Percussion – Kiyohiko Senba Electric Bass – Michio Nagaoka Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Takao Naoi Photography By – Ron Color Photo Design – Noa Planning Corp. Recording Engineers – Ryoji Fukushima, Seiichi Chiba Music Director – Yoshihiko Nakada Assistant Music Director – Akihiko Yabu A&R, Producer – Tsuneaki Tone Enjoy! — SOUND FUJI explores King Records' legendary catalog and unearths exceptional, rare and unknown musical gems from Japan. King Records has been releasing music since 1931. Follow https://180g-soundfuji.bandcamp.com/ for weekly updates and amazing music discoveries, and dig into the archives of one of the most prestigious labels in Japan! KING Jazz RE:Generation is a series of digital compilations and albums exploring King Records' prestigious jazz catalog, carefully selected by Japanese jazz expert Yusuke Ogawa. Yusuke Ogawa has been running the Universounds store in Tokyo since 2001, specializing in jazz and second-hand, rare, and collector records. He is also a reissue supervisor, label manager, DJ, and music writer. Known for his vast musical knowledge, eye for detail, and archival skills, Ogawa has worked on more than 250 reissues and compilations – including the highly praised Deep Jazz Reality and Project Re:Vinyl series. He is the co-author of the Wa-Jazz Disc Guide and the Independent Black Jazz of America books.