About

Motohiko "Toko" Hino (January 3, 1946, Tokyo)was a Japanese jazz drummer. At the age of ten, Hino began playing drums, and by age 17 was playing professionally. In the mid-1970s, Hino was repeatedly voted by Swing Journal as the best jazz drummer in Japan, though from 1978 he was based in New York City. He released an album under his own name in 1971 and two more in the early 1990s, and played with musicians such as JoAnne Brackeen, Joe Henderson, Takehiro Honda, Sonny Rollins, Shungo Sawada.

This is the most important work of Hino and he is joined by Nobuyoshi Ino, Kazumi Watanabe, Masabumi Yamaguchi, and Yasuaki Shimizu. Ryuhyo (Sailing Ice) has long been regarded as a rare and quintessential mid 70s hard bop album. This live album shows the ensemble Motohiko Hino Quartet delving into fusion jazz, rock, be-hop and some free-jazz styles. A recording of a passionate live performance held in the northern land of Nemuro, which continues to be loved along with the first album Tact. The music is firmly in the finest modal way. The reed players, Mabumi Yamaguchi on tenor and Yasuaki Shimizu on soprano and tenor, bring a profound spirituality to their performances, while the music is filled with searching energy. Over time, this album has continued to gain steam in jazz-fusion circles as a very strong and unique live performance.

Pressed and printed in Japan. 
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Remastering & Cutting: Bernie Grundman
Original reprint liner notes

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Label: Three Blind Mice
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, 180gram
Country: Japan
Released: Feb 28, 2024 / Original Release: 1976
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop
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File under: Japanese Jazz