Masabumi Kikuchi - Part 3

Back again with our next look into Masabumi Kikuchi.

First up for today is the 1971 release, All About Dancing Mist. As you can guess, this is a variety of renditions of Kikuchi's signature tune. There are various personnel lineups for each tune. Mostly names we've encountered so far. Please check the link if you'd like a proper breakdown. Double LP here so we have nearly 90 minutes of "Dancing Mist."

Great stuff here. I really enjoy Mine's playing on track 2, as well as Kikuchi's Rhodes play on track 3. I also dig the Poll Winners track which features 3 sax players, Mine, Sadao Watanabe and Takeru Muraoka. I dig the shredding of the guitar by Yoshiaki Masuo, who will be the subject of a future post eventually.

Next for us is the 1972 release, With Gil Evans. If you're unfamiliar, Evans was a highly acclaimed pianist, composer and bandleader. This album has a big band vibe to it which I was slightly skeptical about. Absolutely great recording. The personnel list for this one is massive so please check the link if you're interested. I might never get anything else done if I link every player. 

Hardly a weak spot on this one. "Thoroughbred" is excellent; as is "Priestess." Honestly this one is stellar from start to finish.

Next for us is our first OST. Hairpin Circus was released in 1972 and features familiar faces again supporting Kikuchi. We have Mine on sax, Suzuki on bass, Masahiro Kikuchi on organ, Hino and Nakamura on drums. 

The main theme starts us off and "Circus" has a similar tempo as "Dancing Mist." Great stuff throughout on this one. "Luna Eclipse ~ Lamentation" features great playing from Mine and "Pierrot's Samba" is also quite nice. The group reprises the main theme to close us out. Another solid album in the books.

Next for us is the 1973 release, Hollow Out. A trio album recorded at the Van Gelder Studio featuring famed drummer Elvin Jones with Gene Perla on bass. All Kikuchi originals here and the opening and closing tunes, "Apple" and "Hollow Out", stand out here for me. The middle of the album is a little too tame for me. 

Last album for today is the 1973 release, End For The Beginning. Again, familiar personnel here. Murakami is on drums, Mine on soprano sax, Suzuki on bass with Hideo Miyata also on tenor sax and flute. This one is listed as being recorded at Kikuchi's Victor Studio in Tokyo but there is obvious applause in between tunes. Perhaps a studio audience?

We again have all originals from Kikuchi and this one starts off wonderfully with "Drizzling Rain." I also really dig "Admire, But Detest" and the closing tune "Green Dance" is also solid, which Mine kills. A nice group of albums, here.

I have a few more to go so stay tuned!