WAMONO a to Z Vol. I: Japanese Jazz Funk & Rare Groove 1968-1980 - Vinyl Record *

Curated by legendary Japanese crate diggers DJ Yoshizawa Dynamite and Chintam, WAMONO a to Z Vol. I unearths ten rare and mostly forgotten tracks that reveal just how deeply American jazz-funk and rare groove shaped Japan's underground music scene between 1968 and 1980. This isn't a greatest hits — it's a guided tour through a world most Western listeners never knew existed. Lush Rhodes solos sit alongside swinging big band arrangements and inventive fusions that weave traditional Japanese melodic sensibilities into heavy funk frameworks. Highlights include Toshiko Yonekawa's mesmerizing koto-jazz fusion "Soran Bushi," the reggae-laced sophistication of Tadaaki Misago & Tokyo Cuban Boys' "Jongara Reggae," Monica Lassen & The Sounds' raw funk assault "Incitation," and the propulsive "Sniper's Snooze" from Masahiko Sato, Jiro Inagaki & Big Soul Media. Essential listening for jazz-funk collectors and vinyl diggers exploring Japan's remarkably rich groove heritage.

Tracklist:
1. Soran Bushi — Toshiko Yonekawa
2. A Touch of Japanese Tone — Takeo Yamashita
3. Jongara Reggae — Tadaaki Misago & Tokyo Cuban Boys
4. Cloudy — Chikara Ueda & The Power Station
5. Downtown Blues — Chumei Watanabe
6. Hanagasa Ondo — Kifu Mitsuhashi
7. Incitation — Monica Lassen & The Sounds
8. Go Go a Go Go — Norio Maeda, Jiro Inagaki & The All-Stars
9. The Sidewinder — Akira Ishikawa & The Jazz Rock Band
10. Sniper's Snooze — Masahiko Sato, Jiro Inagaki & Big Soul Media

Note: Special order item — ships separately from distributor. U.S. only via USPS Media Mail.