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Shungo Sawada, a true pioneer of Japan’s modern jazz scene, delivers something special with his album Formation.  Despite being a legendary guitarist since the 1940s, Sawada has surprisingly few albums under his own name, making this one a standout. Formation kicks off with a unique take on Wayne Shorer’s "Footprints"—dignified, refined, yet with a cool simplicity that gives it real character. The album moves through the high-energy title track, "Formation," the jazz-rock vibes of "Unlucky Guy," and wraps up with another Shorter piece, "Chief Crazy Horse." It's a diverse yet cohesive collection, offering a polished snapshot of Japan’s "new mainstream" jazz. — (via Light In The Attic)

Searingly soulful work from the group of legendary Japanese guitarist Shungo Sawada, a pioneer of Japan’s modern jazz scene . The record has a tinge of soul jazz groove on most numbers – one that takes Shungo's warmer hollow-body guitar sound and wraps it around some sharper lines on alto sax and piano – plus a bit of flute on some numbers – all in ways that extrapolate nicely from mid 60s Blue Note and Prestige modes, and take off in unusual timings and rhythms. Sawada has surprisingly few albums under his own name, making this one a standout. The set features work from Hideyuki Kikuchi on alto and You Tokuyama on piano – and tracks include versions of the Wayne Shorter tunes "Chief Crazy Horse" and "Footprints" – plus others that translate as "Formation", "Unlucky Guy", "Naughty Doggie", and a version of "Last Train To Clarksville. — (via Label)

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Label: Victor
Series: Project Re:Vinyl
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Gatefold
Reissued: 2024 / Original Release: 1970
Genre: Jazz
Style: Contemporary Jazz, Modal, Post Bop

File under: Japanese Jazz
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