About

- A TAV Essential Listening Album -

While not as widely known as Ryo Fukui or Toshiko Akiyoshi , the underrated Tsuyoshi Yamamoto is undoubtedly one of the greatest jazz pianists that Japan has ever produced. If one needs proof, look no further than his band’s charming 1974 record.

Named after a popular Tokyo jazz club where Yamamoto’s trio served as the house band, and the timeless Erroll Garner song (which is exquisitely covered on this album), Misty is a breezy and melodious bebop excursion. Together with bassist Isoo Fukui and drummer Tetsujiro Obara, Yamamoto embarks on lovely renditions of jazz standards from Jerome Kern, Fats Waller, Richard Kodgers and Matt Dennis (among others).

A moody and relaxed affair that has proven to be one of the most in-demand reissues from the acclaimed Three Blind Mice catalogue. - The Analog Vault

Tsuyoshi Yamamoto (山本剛, Yamamoto Tsuyoshi, born 23 March 1948) is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer. Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University and As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accompanist to pop singer Micky Curtis; they toured Europe in 1967. In 1974, he became house pianist at Misty, a Tokyo jazz club. He also made his recording debut as leader that year and played at major international festivals in the late 1970s. Having lived in New York for a year, he performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Carmen McRae, Sam Jones, Billy Higgins, Elvin Jones, and Sonny Stitt, among others.

Misty is one of the most sought-after titles from the acclaimed Three Blind Mice catalog. Few, if any, international audiophile jazz recordings have maintained the kind of deep and profound influence over techniques and even entire label repretoire as Three Blind Mice's Blow Up, Midnight Sugar and Misty.

Originally recorded in Tokyo in 1974, this release from TBM features Tsuyoshi Yamamoto on piano, Isoo Fukui on bass and Tetsujiro Obara on drums. Touring with the Micky Curtis Band, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto had the chance to explore several international experiences that he would later use on this album, as he worked with this band in France, England, and Switzerland. This original release is completely reproduced as faithfully as possible. Pressed and printed in Japan. 
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2024 Japan reissue.
180g Vinyl Premium Limited Edition
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
Reissued: 2024 / Original Release: 1974
Genre: Jazz
Style: Post Bop

File under: Japanese Jazz
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