Terumasa Hino - 1980s - Part 2

Hey there. Back today to round out the 1980s for Terumasa Hino.

1985's Trans-Blue is first for us. All standards here and we do have vocals on a couple of tunes. Kind of nice since we haven't heard much of this before from Terumasa. We have a full orchestra which is certainly nicer than the synth strings we've heard before. "Black Orpheus" is nice and sounds like Jim Hall lent the solo on guitar. There's an excellent album from Jim I'd like to share from this time period. We'll work it in at some point.

We’re going to work in a 1985 album titled Ayers Rock from Richard Beirach on piano, Masahiko Togashi on percussion with Hino on various instruments. This one is mostly aimless and difficult for me to really pin down a favorite. “Boomerang” develops into a nice tune. This reminds me I do believe I forgot Zal, an album from Beirach and Hino from 1970 with Yoshiaki Masuo. I'll get it added. 

Also in 1985 Hino was featured on an album from Suiho Tousha titled Fuuin: Fue Improvisation. Tousha is on the fue, a Japanese bamboo flute, Susumu Miyashita is on koto with Junko Arase on marimba.

"Fly" is a nice tune here on an album that otherwise doesn't do too much for me.

The next 2 albums for us are 1986's Tradewind and 1988's Detour and all I can say is yikes. If you're into the electro-synth jazz of the late-80s & early-90s, then dive right in. I've included the albums here but that's where I'll leave it. 

A return to a more straight ahead sound is welcomed with 1989’s Bluestruck. Names of note joining Hino here are John Scofield on guitar and Onaje Allan Gumbs on keys.

Good vibes throughout on this one with a nice version of Woody Shaw’s “Sweet Love Of Mine.” Another good tune here is Hino original, “Hugo.” Nothing too mind blowing but a nice change of pace after the last couple of albums.

Last album of the decade for us is 1989's On The Road. Again, I'm in the dark on personnel but what we do have here is a Latin jazz album to close the 80s. This one kind of loses me with the acoustic guitar that isn't my favorite sound in jazz. This definitely has a "modern" sound to it and I'm not sure how else to describe it. Not my favorite album of the bunch.

The wraps up the 1980s, and although we had a few misses, overall a solid decade from Terumasa. See you guys soon.