Hiroshi Fukumura - Part 2

Back again today with 2 more from trombonist Hiroshi Fukumura. 

Released in 1981 on the Insights label, Nice Day features all originals from Fukumura. Joining him we have Shuya Sato on alto and soprano saxes, Naoki Kitajima on keyboards, Hiroki Miyano on guitar, Nobuyoshi Ino on bass with Akira Doi on drums. Ino has been featured on a ton of stuff we've covered. Doi we also heard towards the tail end of Isao Suzuki's catalog.

Relatively short tunes on this one - all around 6 minutes or less, so not a ton of improvisation. But a pleasant album of light fusion and easy jazz-funk, regardless. About how you'd expect 1981 to sound. I personally dig the opening track "Racing Around" and "Soft Breath Of Air" but my favorite tune on the album is definitely the closing, "Lion's Step." Super funky with a perfect tempo, in my opinion. 


Next we find ourselves in 1985 for the NYC recorded, Hot Shot. Looks to be a supporting cast of session musicians - feel free to research as you wish via the Discogs link. All originals again from Fukumura which is nice - but being a mid-80s album, you never know what you're going to get. It does start off quite nice with "Heel Strike" and "Ocean Magic" somewhat reminds me of "Sly" by Herbie Hancock. Beyond that this one doesn't move the needle too much for me. For the sake of thoroughness, I'd thought I'd include it.

Enjoy!





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  1. CKApril 10, 2024 at 3:28 PM

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