This 1980s Japanese Jazz Album Just BLEW Me Away

[@CharlesCornellStudios]

"Does this mean you're going to talk about Casiopea???" Patience. Patience, my friends.

[@idontexist7856]

YEAAAAAAAA

[@ornj1]

I’ll be listening to Casiopea while I wait

[@idontexist7856]

If you do casiopea pleeease look at the 1984 live youmiri land performance in "casiopea again" 🥺

[@ChaoticEnigma-]

Do T-square next

[@mattheww1065]

Gotta talk about Masayoshi Takanaka sometime as well!

[@KurosakiYukigo]

You don't find this album, this album finds you.

[@xSkitcher]

If you know, you know

[@quebecplayzz2]

fr this just randomly popped up in my recommended months ago its so good

[@kabongpope]

Yep. Stumbled across it a couple years ago, and play it regularly

[@Tape_Rewind]

i confirm here

[@pAWNproductionsDE]

Same, it found me too

[@ChengHorn9]

When you realize Cowboy Bebop's OST was only the tip of the iceberg.

[@Kairoem]

Yoko Kanno is still the queen ❤.

[@plootyluvsturtle9843]

Japanese Jazz music goes so deep

[@pendaco]

​@@Kairoem with Yuji Ohno as the Grand Duke!

[@sameaston9587]

The Seatbelts was my gateway drug into jazz.

[@judeau15]

​@@sameaston9587me too

[@paulzdzd]

Another great artist is Masayoshi Takanaka, his album All of Me with the album cover of him skydiving is such a vibe

[@clankcrimson9413]

Casiopea and T-Square too 😍

[@JimmyParker-Shockley]

Omg PLEASE casiopea

[@whiskeywolfgang]

Yes! He should do that one next

[@guitarkat5762]

Thank you for mentioning Masayoshi. Love his stuff too!

[@guitarkat5762]

@@paulzdzd TWRP needs a mention. :)

[@StanleyKubick1]

let's not overlook the fact that Himiko wrote, arranged and played most of this herself

[@granddaddy_funk]

@@StanleyKubick1 is she the keyboard player?

[@luwkax]

@@granddaddy_funk yes

[@granddaddy_funk]

The whole band was on fire! 🔥 I hope the bass and drummer got paid overtime lol.

[@MakingandBreaking]

that bass tone is something else, too.

[@rome8180]

It's so bright and spanky it almost sounds like a synth. I'm guessing a Music Man StingRay? Although there were a lot of active basses in the '80s that sounded like this. I googled it and the bassist is named Akira Okazawa. Looks like he has had a nice long career in a lot of different groups.

[@litz13]

@@rome8180 by date, the only way it could be a synth is if it was a TX-81Z (which even today is often used for bass sounds, particularly slap bass)

[@AfferbeckBeats]

@@rome8180 Akira Okazawa is the man, he played on a ton of the best funky Japanese stuff in the 70s and 80s. I see him as the Japanese Chuck Rainey.

[@layz_gaming_4275]

​@@rome8180it's either a jazz or a reverse pj

[@j3e125]

@@rome8180It’s not Akira Okazawa. The bassist is Naoki Watanabe. If I’m not mistaken he plays his BC Rich Eagle bass which has a P/P configuration. You can hear his playing on Yoshino Fujimal’s solo albums, and he’s a member of the AB’S.

[@diegoarpino2080]

Never thought this video would come. 80s Japanese jazz/fusion/pop is the best!

[@AfferbeckBeats]

I personally much prefer the 70s stuff before it got into the more upbeat fusion 80s sounds and synths which can be very cheesy, but there's still a lot I like in the early 80s.

[@teenee1331]

@@AfferbeckBeatsI agree, for example Casiopea’s debut album or Hiroshi Suzuki’s ‘Cat’.

[@KelGhu]

Any other suggestions?

[@Ghostbatman98]

0:41 and you've been gnomed!

[@redgit9905]

5:56 lest we forget this

[@sspyrshlsx3740]

...9:59...

[@cobbomusic]

😭😭😭😭

[@EmperorKagato]

Lol 😂 didn't pick up on this until now

[@Solbadgreg]

I love Japanese Jazz fusion. Reminds me of various 80's & 90s video game and anime soundtracks growing up.

[@guitarkat5762]

Hahaha yes. Wave Race 64!

[@guitarkat5762]

Also forgot to mention SNES Mario Kart, I’d like to think. That was a banger of a soundtrack.

[@erasmobellumat3973]

The King of Fighters and Mario Kart 8. Mario Kart 8 have the best Jazz fusion musicians ever, they were the ones that recorded the Albums from Ayrton Senna and other famous F1 Themes.

[@cooldebt]

I found J jazz fusion because I was looking for OSTs of the vgm jazz covers by The Consouls and one thing led to another - next thing you know there's a beagle on my screen and I can't get enough bass slap

[@atherrien95]

It's most likely what they were listening to when making the games, as is the case with Mario Kart and such.

[@vergnzls]

FLYING BEAGLE MENTIONED! This album found me 2-3 years ago, along with Casiopea and Fishmans. Japan puts out banger music!

[@ryan8488]

Me too!

[@bruceketta7923]

I recommend you listen to masayoshi takanaka, he made some great stuff in the same stuff, hope u will give it a try

[@NootNoot.]

Always hoped for a Himiko Kikuchi analysis but never thought it would happen. I was so wrong but happy!!!

[@JimmyParker-Shockley]

Me too!!

[@jacksonhorn9935]

Rarely have I clicked on a video so quickly

[@Ivory_]

Every time flying beagle shows up on my homepage, I click on it and listen to the whole album. Incredible stuff

[@etherreal4393]

It's like a cute legendary doge coming to bring happiness every so often and we're all here for it 🥹

[@artfxdnb]

70s and 80s Japanese Jazz Fusion is just simply amazing, there is so much good stuff out there after years you still find new gems.

[@cooldebt]

💯 It's the same with vgm too - I didn't play a lot of those 90s games but I've discovered so many great OSTs thanks to The Consouls who do brilliant vgm jazz covers

[@KelGhu]

Any other suggestions?

[@cooldebt]

@@KelGhu Jiro Inagaki and Soul Media and the YT channel Terminal Passage plays some good old records

[@Synystr7]

Masayoshi Takanaka - All of Me. The whole album. Go. Please. PLEASE. PLEASE GOD.

[@atc_nth]

I second this

[@makimaki500]

AND FINGER DANCING TOO

[@sbilldmilk]

And Seychelles!!

[@CVerse]

All of Me is just a compilation album. He’s GOTTA look at the essentials. Seychelles, Brasilian Skies, An Insatiable High, etc

[@prismix0870]

@@CVerseTropic birds would be a great song to analyse

[@adlaw0000]

I found this album like a year ago in the exact same way you did haha -- So glad you decided to do a video on it! So fun!

[@mevo1762]

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

[@LuSiDious]

The beagle! That creepy vampire with the flute be popping up for me

[@walkerspectre]

Vampire with the flute?

[@kleonikiii]

The adventure of Kohsuke Kindaichi. Epic grooves

[@walkerspectre]

@@kleonikiii thank you, just discovered something great thanks to y'all

[@kleonikiii]

@@walkerspectre no probs yoo! Have a good listenn

[@JonDundas10]

Lmao OP I knew exactly what you were talking about I get that one too

[@sie11pervan]

Shit, he's getting into late '70's early '80's Jap-Jazz. It's over for every other music reviewer.

[@KelGhu]

Any other suggestions?

[@sie11pervan]

@@KelGhu Hozan Yamamoto. Arguably one of the, if not THE greatest shakuhachi (bamboo flute) players to have existed. Has tons of albums that cover some great fusion genres. The album "Beautiful Bamboo Flute" with the band Sharps & Flats is great. And his Bossa Nova album is amazing as well.

[@pAWNproductionsDE]

I'm so glad this album found you too, and that you covered my 2 favorite songs from the album ("look your back" and "baby talk") This album is a certified treasure

[@themac6356]

You should also check out Get Hot! By Himiko Kikuchi. Super funky!

[@matteostanzani375]

Himiko kikuchi is really incredible, she wrote tons of music and it all sounds DIFFERENT, she has this incredible creativity, it's absurd.

[@Benobot99]

I now realize that I love this genre of music, especially the piano and bass. Anything with that Gran Turismo soundtrack style is amazing.

[@TBD901]

Masahiro Ando of T-Square composed for Gran Turismo. Check out "Knight's Song" from Blue in Red

[@henrydupuis5648]

You are everywhere yo yeehaw!

[@Benobot99]

@@henrydupuis5648 What can I say, I love a wide range of music, haha.

[@cooldebt]

I've always found Japanese bassists to be incredibly funky and highly skilled. And for my vgm jazz fix, I turn to incredible The Consouls (daily!)

[@henrydupuis5648]

@@Benobot99 same here my broski yeehaw yo!

[@henryyoung372]

I mostly watch to see how excited Charles gets when discovering something new to him

[@paualdinicola]

Japanese funk/jazz has and always will be the greatest. This is the tip of an ENORMOUS iceberg.

[@curlybob17]

That paino/base baseline is SO satisfying! I feel like every Japanese video game in the 90's had that at least once lol. 😂😂😂

[@cooldebt]

VERY satisfying! I think that's why The Consouls' jazz covers of vgm from eg. Streets of Rage are so good.

[@ObeyedDog]

Sooo glad it's on spotify now

[@slowbro1337]

I found the vinyl in a bin at a resell shop for 2$ 11 years ago. It was such a good album cover that I had to have it. It's an even better album.

[@mich2962]

J-fusion is so good. I've been obsessed for over 5 years

[@guitarkat5762]

@@mich2962 Easy to understand why. Happy, crazy and funky.

[@erasmobellumat3973]

Listen to Arashi no Saxophone from The King of Fighters, the Arranged ones. You can thanks me later!

[@KelGhu]

Try Bob James

[@KelGhu]

Any other suggestions?

[@ZeyTheDaemon]

I was just randomly recommended this album one day (before I really listened to a lot of 80s Japanese music like city pop and fusion stuff) and clicked it just for the cover. Was not expecting the first track to be such a bop. It got stuck in my head for a while, lol.

[@chuck-sr3zt]

THE BASS WAS INSANE I LOVE THE GROOVE AND HOW IT SLAPS!

[@cooldebt]

Japanese bass is unparalleled slap! Also Jiro Inagki & Soul Media and The Mystery Kindaichi Band

[@Kentama]

I LOVE this style of music. A great era in Japanese music.

[@notrab13]

Just listened to the whole album, and I’m absolutely blown away! I hear so much influence from this in video game music (like your awesome video on Streets of Rage 2). Thanks so much for introducing me to this!

[@sizableyeet]

This album found me in the KZbin algorithm about 3 years ago and its been in constant rotation ever since...

[@michaelcastro2765]

So many funky vibes in this one!

[@olivierhuc9129]

... 15:38 ... Is this really one of your first times hearing about Jazz Fusion? If so, then damn you're in for a long ride! My personal favs: UZEB, Level 42, Sixun and of course, Pat Metheny .

[@Mystaldi]

So glad to see a video on this album!!

[@nongmar8783]

Old Japanese LP covers and strange titles are the best. I click every time.

[@KitKat_293]

0:26 whoa that little yuji ohno flair, feels like the '78 Lupin III intro song cranked up to 11

[@guitarkat5762]

Thank you for covering Japanese Jazz Fusion. It is my favourite flavor of fusion and I want to do Jazz fusion so thank you for covering this topic! I also really like T-Square and I also like Masayoshi Takanaka, TWRP.

[@thomaspommier7443]

i know this album for a while and i'm so happy to see you react on it !

[@SkyTheHusky2021]

Not sure the last time I clicked on a video so fast! Flying Beagle was the first Japanese Jazz Fusion album I found, and I love it so much! I’d also recommend Sea is a Lady and After 5 Clash by Toshiki Kadomatsu. I had to buy the CDs from Japan to actually listen to them outside of KZbin.

[@FrankTheTankA1]

I've been waiting to find this album on vinyl for YEARS One day...

[@Fafnerluver922]

I'm so happy seeing you explore Japanese Jazz and City Pop! It's a wild ride, man.

[@willypum]

AHHHH HE DID THE ALBUM HOLY CRAP

[@goonsdirge3464]

I absolutely adore Flying Beagle, so much so that I have a picture of the album on my wall (gifted to me by my bf who also loves the album)! Love to see how many other people love it!! :)

[@_mickmccarthy]

More Jazz Fusion/City Pop pls!

[@skateroftrogdor]

Thanks for putting me on. this album is FIRE

[@joninja7916]

Sandstorm will always be my fav solely instrument jazz songs ever

[@nintony2994]

Japanese Musicians are really just something else

[@goredzilla]

THANK YOU for finding this and the rabbit hole involved!

[@ruminobeats]

Another Charles' video dropping right on my birthday 🎉

[@theKashConnoisseur]

Happy belated!

[@hombrepollo]

I love how this album appeared in all our youtube feed An absolute blast

[@MrCthur]

This album popped up in my feed the other day, and wow, bassgasm. Everything so good.

[@gwiggy]

I first learned of the Flying Beagle magic a few years ago from a friend and since then it has been nonstop one of my most listened to tracks

[@gregg_w]

Yutaka Yokokura is extremely underrated and deserves a whole deep dive himself

[@clankcrimson9413]

Oh my god, Flying Beagle is such an amazing album. Baby Talks is one of my favorite songs ever

[@qbass2249]

So much of the stuff you showcase on your channel I've never heard of but I can always be sure it's going to be some great music

[@PoseidonViv]

I am a simple man. I see Japan + Jazz/Fusion + any year before 1990 and I listen.

[@vigilancebrandon]

Ok, the bass at 7:36 got me, now I I have to listen to

[@EnderCraft-ko3wd]

Hes finally on peak 😭😭😭😭 i appreciate you charles cornell. Id reccomend listening to Takahashi or ANRI music

[@grumblekin]

Japanese love jazz and there’s a huge audience here for it. There’s so much treasure here to discover!

[@DhruvlukeMusic]

makes me so glad to hear so many other people have had the ‘intriguing japanese jazz album with sweet album art hm let me just click on this real quick’ experience. i love japanese jazz/fusion/citypop now thanks to this wonderful method of finding music

[@ringsystemmusic]

KZbin is the greatest crate dig in the world man

[@13StJimmy]

I’m just happy they finally added this album to streaming services. It’s just so easily shareable now and that’s what albums like this need. More exposure.

[@Ju-lion]

im so glad i got this in CD

[@romanallgeier4661]

This Album turns 37 on October 21st! Happy Anniversary Kikuchi!

[@tracyditchfield628]

Love this! You have exposed me to so much new music I might have missed otherwise!

[@altoncarmean5860]

This album found me in the middle of history class about two years ago. I was starstruck by this and how Himiko doesn’t like these songs on streaming services so I could only find it on KZbin from one channel and it’s incredible

[@rowegardner9673]

Hell yeah dude keep the Japanese jazz fusion coming!!!

[@jacobwilliams676]

Love trip- Takako Mamiya

[@realo4793]

The most underrated album I've ever listened to in my life.

[@dannybodros5180]

Time for CASIOPEA and Masayoshi Takanaka videos!

[@brianchar-bow3273]

FLYING BEAGLE / HIMIKO KIKUCHI (Her 7th album) Original Release date: October 21, 1987 Sony Music Labels Inc./CBS SONY Produced by Himiko Kikuchi & Masatsugu Matsumoto All songs Composed and Arranged by Himiko Kikuchi & Masatsugu Matsumoto 1) LOOK YOUR BACK! (Composed and Arranged by Himiko Kikuchi) Himiko Kikuchi (P, Key, Synth), Masatsugu Matsumoto (G), Naoki Watanabe (B), Atsuo Okamoto (Ds), Yoshinori Nomi (Perc), JAKE H. CONCEPCION (as), Yoshikazu Kishi (tp), Kenji Yoshida (tp,flh), Hirofumi Kinjo (ts), Masamiki Takano (bs) 2) A SEAGLE & CLOUDS (Composed by Himiko Kikuchi Arranged by Masatsugu Matsumoto) Himiko Kikuchi (P, Key, Synth), Masatsugu Matsumoto (G), Akira Okazawa (B), Yuichi Togashiki(Ds), Yoshinori Nomi (Perc), JAKE H. CONCEPCION (as), Yoshikazu Kishi (tp), Kenji Yoshida (tp), Hirofumi Kinjo (ts), Michio Kagiwada (tb) 3) FLYING BEAGLE (Composed and Arranged by Himiko Kikuchi) Himiko Kikuchi (P, Synth), Masatsugu Matsumoto (G), Akira Okazawa (B), Yuichi Togashiki(Ds), Yoshinori Nomi (Perc) 4) FLUFFY (Composed and Arranged by Himiko Kikuchi) Himiko Kikuchi (P, Synth,scat), Masatsugu Matsumoto (G), Keiichi Ishibashi (B), Yuichi Togashiki(Ds), Yoshinori Nomi (Perc), JAKE H. CONCEPCION(fl), 5) SAND STORM (Composed by Himiko Kikuchi, Arranged by Masatsugu Matsumoto) Himiko Kikuchi (P,Hammond), Masatsugu Matsumoto (G), Keiichi Ishibashi (B), Yasushi Ichihara(Ds), Yoshinori Nomi (Perc), JAKE H. CONCEPCION(as), Yoshikazu Kishi (tp), Kenji Yoshida (tp), Michio Kagiwada (tb), Hirofumi Kinjo (ts) 6) BABY TALK (Composed and Arranged by Masatsugu Matsumoto) Himiko Kikuchi (P), Masatsugu Matsumoto (G), Naoki Watanabe (B), Atsuo Okamoto (Ds), Yoshinori Nomi (Perc), JAKE H. CONCEPCION (as), Yoshikazu Kishi (tp), Kenji Yoshida (tp), Hirofumi Kinjo (ts), Masamiki Takano (bs) 7) THE SECOND SUMMER (Composition/Arrangement: Masatsugu Matsumoto) Himiko Kikuchi (P,key), Masatsugu Matsumoto (G), Akira Okazawa (B), Yuichi Togashiki(Ds), Yoshinori Nomi (Perc) 8) DUCKY DUCKY (Composed and Arranged by Himiko Kikuchi) Himiko Kikuchi (P,Hammond), Masatsugu Matsumoto (G), Akira Okazawa (B), Yuichi Togashiki(Ds), Yoshinori Nomi (Perc), JAKE H. CONCEPCION (as), Yoshikazu Kishi (tp), Kenji Yoshida (tp), Hirofumi Kinjo (ts), Masamiki Takano (bs) Himiko was born in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Started playing classical piano at the age of 7, as well as playing the electone and pipe organ. At the age of 12, she participated in the "Yamaha Electone Competition" where she performed Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D minor" and won second prize. She studied composition from the age of 15 and won the Yamaha Electone Competition at the age of 16.　 In college, she majored in music and graduated from the Music Department of Miyagi Gakuin University. In 1979, she performed at the "Montreux Jazz Festival" in Switzerland as a member of the "Inner Galaxy Orchestra led by Bingo Miki. The following year, 1980, she made her major record debut in Japan with "Don't Be Stupid," recorded with Ernie Watts (Sax). Since then, she released a series of original albums in the 80s and 90s. In 1999, she and her husband, guitarist Masatsugu Matsumoto, moved to her husband's hometown of Tottori, Japan. She has participated in local music activities and received the "30th Tottori City Cultural Award" in 2005. Unfortunately, her works were ignored by the music industry in Europe and the U.S., as she did not have the opportunity to sign release contracts in Western countries and international markets at her peak. So her releases albums remained in Japan, and unknown hidden from the rest of the world for a long time,until the advent of the Internet and media like KZbin. HIMIKO KIKUCHI　〇Her leader albums 1st『Don't Be Stupid』(1980) 2nd『Flashing』(1981) 3rd.『 All Right』(1982) 4th『Woman』(1983) 5th『Reverse It』(1984) 6th "SHINRA-BANSHO (All things that Happens in the Universe)" (1985) 7th『Flying Beagle』(1987) 8th『Sevilla Breeze』(1988, ) 9th『BEAM』(1993) 10th『HIMIKO KIKUCHI BIG BAND LIVE』(2000) 11th "Furusato ~Home In My Soul" (2005) 12th『DQ * The Live!』 (2007) Best Albums Himiko The Best "Refrain" (Continental, 1984) Feel So Good Himiko The Best Vol-2" (Continental, 1986) HIMIKO KIKUCHI BEST COLLECTION" (Continental, 1988)

[@SpammingY]

Watching you get so excited about music is really entertaining, as I don't understand most of it 😂

[@paulimosh]

Dude I love this album so much, I have been blessed by great musicians who know great music so I knew this from a young age

[@pyromontreal]

Reminds me of UZEB, especially the fretless bass. Those licks could very well have been played by Alain Caron, UZEB's bassist and a real master of the instrument.

[@BetaVoltzDK]

The look of surprise and awe on your face as the music progresses is absolutely priceless. This was an incredible find, I am adding this to my collection right away. What a fun dive this was, thank you Charles for sharing this album with us

[@mapother4]

Welcome to the world of japanese jazz and city pop, ive been stuck in this funk for years now, you can never get out.

[@litz13]

Aside from the absolutely fantastic composition, this is also a major ode to the Synth Pad and Yamaha's FM Synthesizers ... by date, most likely the original DX-7, possibly also the TX-81Z module.

[@jmkass]

I've had the Flying Beagle in my playlist for 3 years now. It's one of a kind. Japanese people don't joke when playing music xD

[@billyalarie929]

I absolutely LOVE back door (?) 2-5-1 movements.

[@drewcifer3447]

Discovered this album last year and still haven't stopped listening!

[@aydenwoyus7943]

Dude so I found Baby Talk on my explore weekly and then just never listened to the rest of the album but always really liked that song. Thanks for posting this, it’s cool to see more recognition for it

[@mrbenman97]

I found this album the exact same way. It was just in my YT feed one day, and I was intrigued by the album art. What a funky album

[@kaia.4688]

CHARLES I LOVE YOU FOR THIS!!! Absolute banger of an album, love it top to bottom

[@cooldebt]

Iconic Japanese jazz fusion album. Next, Jiro Inagaki and Soul Media please!

[@emmielaine7352]

I was SO EXCITED to see you review this!!! This album used to be pretty niche if I'm right but has recently been put on digital. I have listened to music from this album on KZbin so many times- an official release made me so happy!!! If you are up to it please listen to A Seagull and Clouds, it is just beautiful!

[@lastnamefirstname8655]

amazing japanese jazz, thanks for the recommendation, charles!

[@thebrustkid7080]

Wow I didn’t think anyone else knew about this, I came across these albums in my recommended about a year ago and fell in love

[@micheledeconti7535]

I don't know what happens in Japan, but they produce so much awesome musin in so many genres. Thanks to expose me to so much great music, I don't understand anything about it, but I love it.

[@sandeegrey5977]

I know, somehow they can be perverts but talented composers. A good mix

[@ringsystemmusic]

Hypercompetence and Japan seem to go hand in hand. They also produce some of the worlds best headphones, motorcycles, pianos, and animated stories.

[@TachyBunker]

Yay such a nice vinyl album

[@BrenoCarv]

"You don't find this album, this album finds you." -- THIS IS SOO TRUE! I remember clearly when that happened to me, i was casually listening some songs on youtube and this cover just popped in the recommended section and i thought "hmm, that seems interesting...", one of the best albums i've ever heard!

[@stxxcrisler]

Two years ago, I found the exact same thumbnail and felt the exact same way. This album is AMAZING! Glad you found it too!

[@aceofdarknesss1960]

I’ve been preaching the good graces of this album for YEEEARS!

[@chanitovillasenor3222]

I love how lost in the sauce I we get when listening to any of these music videos, I’m so glad I subscribed from the old TikTok

[@Nox_A15]

YT also recommended me this album at some point and I too was blown away. A few years ago I started discovering more and more "city pop" and older Japanese pop in general and it's an awesome stuff. Warms the soul. :D Cheers!

[@fizzy1657]

You'll definitely need to react to T-Square, you'll be absolutely blown away by the Harmony

[@WinstonCorneilius]

My brother in law had this album back in the early 90’s. He introduced me to jazz. I’m huge into smooth jazz and He’s still an avid collector

[@joenormal1854]

i was so happy when i saw my band director have this video pulled up as ive loved this album for years

[@kennyraymusic]

Your reactions make this so much more fun! 😊

[@tojo8679]

NO WAY THATS MY FAVORITE ALBUM

[@robertcajucom3203]

This and mint jams were my first Japanese Jazz fusion listens, got the jams, time to git that dog

[@alexadascalitei7431]

I found this album over a year ago,i still listen to it every week,at least once! 👌