Minoru Muraoka

• GATEFOLD SLEEVE LP EDITION

60s jazz meets Japanese bamboo flute – all in a session with a great mix of groovy and exotic touches! The record's a unique meeting of jazz and folkloric elements – done in a style that's a bit like some of the late 60s sessions of this nature on MPS, but a fair bit groovier overall – as the tracks are shorter and more focused, and often have a nice sort of bounce at the bottom.

Flute is by Minoru Muraoka, and arrangements are by Takashi Ikeda and Kozaburo Yamaki, conducting their New Dimension and New Emotion groups respectively. Bits of sitar bring in an even groovier sound to the record – and the flute itself has some oddly off-kilter notes that further trip out the tunes.

PERSONNEL:

• Jun Suzuki - bass
• Masako Hirayama - biwa
• Kimiko Yamanouchi - koto
• Hiromitsu Katada, Kisaku Katada - percussion

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. Take Five
• A2. Nogamigawa Funauta
• A3. The Positive And The Negative
• A4. And I Love Her

• SIDE B
• B1. The House Of The Rising Sun
• B2. Do You Know The Way To San Jose
• B3. Soul Bamboo
• B4. Call Me
• B5. Scarborouge Fair