Akira Ishikawa

• LIMITED EDITION WITH OBI

• FROM ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES

Japanese jazz drummer Akira Ishikawa has recorded countless albums with the band Count Buffalos, though few are quite as revered and sought-after as 1971 set African Rock. Of his albums, this is certainly the most dazzling and impactful, flawlessly produced.

More than "African rock" it is psychedelic spiritual jazz with funky veins; the set is a brilliant blend of Akira Ishikawa's favorite styles with juicy, tribal and deep percussive elements - his drums are flanked by Kenji Shiraishi's marimba and Masami Kawahara's percussion - which in some moments they recall Fela Kuti and in many other the electric Miles Davis. He bring a completely new global sound to his music with the inclusion of the electronic component with the ‘ tabbing' Kimio Mizutani's guitar solos and electric piano accompaniment by the great Hiromasa 'Colgen’ Suzuki (also on acoustic piano and composition).

Undoubtedly one of the best records produced in Japan in the 70s. Unmissable!

PERSONNEL:

• Akira Ishikawa (drums)
• Kunimitsu Inaba (electric bass)
• Kimio Mizutani (electric guitar)
• Hiromasa Suzuki (electirc piano)
• Kenji Shiraishi (marimba)
• Masami Kawahara, Naomi Kawahara (percussion)
• Alkylene Quartet (strings)
• Ken Muraoka (tenor sax, alto flute)
• Tadataka Nakazawa (trombone)
• Takehisa Suzuki (trumpet)

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. Prayer = Sala
• A2. Dawn = Alfajari
• A3. Animals = Mnama
• A4. Hunting = Mwindo

• SIDE B
• B1. The Earth = Ardhi
• B2. Love = Upendo
• B3. Joy = Furaha
• B4. Jumbo = Jambo