jammingdevice
The title track is one of my favorite jazz pieces of all time. What joy, what total pleasure, what camaraderie comes through in this trio's performance together! Just pure fun, married to intense technical ability on a perfect pressing by WRJ. Do yourself a favor and add this album to your collection. Come for "Mellow Dream," and stay for the ridiculous drum solo in "Horizon."
everythingroovin'
Pure joy. This album is so good it makes me cry, to me at least at the same level as Fukui’s more famous Scenery. The pressing is damn good too. Do yourself a favor and buy the record
Marbled Blue & White Vinyl // Limited Edition of 500 // Half-Speed Mastered // 180g // Heavy 350gsm Sleeve
Record/Vinyl
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Ryo Fukui - Scenery
Red & Black Marbled vinyl
180g
Half Speed Mastered
Heavy Sleeve
500 copies worldwide
Sold Out
about
We Release Jazz (WRWTFWW Records’ new sister-label) is thrilled to present the official reissue of criminally overlooked Japanese jazz gem Mellow Dream (1977) by Hokkaido pianist wunderkind Ryo Fukui, released in conjunction with the its legendary predecessor Scenery, sourced from the original masters and available on limited edition 180g vinyl mastered at half speed for audiophile sound, as well as 140g vinyl and digipack CD.
Firmly standing on the foundation he laid down with Scenery, Ryo Fukui continues his exploration of modal, bop and cool jazz sounds with meticulous grace and absolute mastery. As its title suggests, Mellow Dream ventures into slightly mellower, more soulful, and sometimes more contemplative territories (the Bill Evans-reminiscent "Mellow Dream" and "My Foolish Heart") while still packing the commanding punch Fukui’s work is loved for, as heard on the amazingly bombastic "Baron Potato Blues" or the gigantic McCoy Tyner/John Coltrane-influenced "Horizon" which sees each member of the trio (Satoshi Denpo is on bass and Yoshinori Fukui is on drums) demonstrating their virtuosity for 9 exhilarating minutes. With his sophomore album, Ryo Fukui swings from melancholy to vibrant joy with ease, reminding us that jazz is best served with a pinch of blues, and displays an immensely rare combination of pure talent, unique personal approach and focused discipline. The man undeniably deserves a spot in the pantheon of all-time great jazz pianists.
After releasing the outstanding Scenery and Mellow Dream back to back, Ryo Fukui worked on developing his live skills, often performing at Sapporo’s Slowboat Jazz Club (which he co-founded with his wife Yasuko Fukui), and even releasing 2 live albums. He sadly passed away in March 2016, leaving behind a legacy of works that all jazz lovers should explore.
The sort of music that is beyond time.
The sort of music that you feel more than you hear.
I love the fact that vaporwave/dreampunk projects like these have such extremely evocative aesthetics they directly fill your mind with sensations you didn't know you had. You'd maybe think it relies on that solely, but it's coupled with gorgeous musicianship + intense production ideas. The volume and spaces it creates just pull you in instantly whatever your initial mood was.
Still stunning to this day. SUPRAQUENCER
Oh how I long for this album in vinyl format! Such smoothness. Such warmth. Such execution. This music begs to be taken along and woven into memories. Everyone I’ve shared this album with has loved it. The music speaks far and wide. Shouting out to a fellow follower, Brian Lehmann, for his excellent taste in music. If not for him, I likely would have never stumbled upon this absolute gem! Plinchmo Larduktin
A new compilation from WeWantSounds offers a broad, but incomplete, picture of the early history of Japanese jazz fusion. Bandcamp Album of the Day Mar 20, 2024