About

Masao Yagi was a Japanese pianist who became devoted to American jazz very early in the wave of Japanese jazz enthusiasm. He became a member of the Cozy Quartet in 1956 after Toshiko Akiyoshi's departure, playing alongside Sadao Watanabe. Robin Kelley, in his biography of Thelonious Monk, says that before his inaugural 1963 tour, "Monk's greatest champion in Japan was not a critic but a pianist named Yagi Masao. In 1959, the twenty-six-year-old pianist formed his own group featuring several Monk tunes in their repertoire, culminating in his debut LP, Masao Yagi Plays Thelonious Monk, recorded in the summer of 1960." Released back in 1979, Inga was Yagi Masao's first truly solo project released on vinyl. The late jazz pianist had previously created a tribute album to Thelonious Monk in the summer of 1960, a lovesong to one of the greatest jazz composers in history. The Japanese Americanophile is hardly a small star himself, scoring multiple movies and TV shows like the boxing anime 'Ashita no Joe' as well as live-action 60s classics like 'Good-bye Moscow' and 'Bad Girl, Yoko'.

Well deserving of a third issuing, the first vinyl reissue since its original pressing, Inga is a multi-instrumental masterpiece where Masao flexes his dexterity to the highest degree. No better is this shown than the dramatic, sweeping intro track ' Memories (Piano Solo)', a showcase in tempo and restraint unlike any you will ever hear today. Curiously, his name seems to be misspelt as Yagui on the 'Inga' cover, and that cover alone - one of numerous quirks to this spellbinding release. — (via Label)

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Label: King Records
Series: Project Re:Vinyl
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue
Reissued: 2023 / Original Release: 1979
Genre: Jazz
Style: Jazz-Funk, Contemporary Jazz

File under: Japanese Jazz
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