Right as we hit the last of my initial batch of Japanese jazz, LaserCD went and got another shipment in. I already made my order, but you want to support a cool shop (Ken also runs the Sensory label, dedicated to cool progressive music from the likes of Ice Age and the most recent Øresund Space Collective), you can can check out the selection here. In the meantime we’re wrapping up Season 1 of my exploration with Recital, which captures the 1976 Grand Prix Award concert by Sadao Watananbe. This is funky smooth jazz writ large, swinging and cutting loose with shaggy solos and a firm sense of where they are what they want to bring. This isn’t far-reaching exploratory jazz that’s going to shake your world, but it is going to make your feet tap and perhaps bring a small, much-needed smile.

Also DAMN look at that cover. That is a dude living his best life right there.

From our list of records already covered Kohsuke Mine joins Watanabe along with six other players, including both electric bass and acoustic bass, and that bass makes itself very prominent in the excellent live mix, particularly in the start to “Hitting Home” which is full of blended horns stating the main melodic theme. It’s small big band, and the added percussion brings a Latin vibe to the track, allowing Watanabe to get really tuneful on his solo. It’s a different vibe from the more funk rock opening number “Pastral”.

The album is interspersed with smaller segues, such as the delicate solo piano of “Matahari Terbenam” and the brief horns that blend together on “Wana Tanzania” before launching into longer excursions. I love the flavor the guitar brings to the opening of “Maraica” and Watanabe’s soprano sax solo on “Old Phonogaph”. But overall this isn’t so much a concern of blistering solos and jazz rock mania – Recital feels like a warm old friend, cheering you up on a cool, rainy day when you’re alone and you’re not sure what to do with yourself.

Finally, one more pic, this time of the back cover cover because again – this dude looks like he (and his dog) is living his absolute best life.