YASUKO NAKAMURA

Live @ Alfie’s CD release party!!! Seventh in a series of popular live recordings set at Alfie’s, a long-established jazz club in Roppongi, Yasuko Nakamura is an authentic jazz singer reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Her voice is rich in expression as she expresses the emotions of the moments in which she lives, and we hope you will listen to her fascinating live performances where her personality is on full display.

Track List: 1. But Beautiful | 2. Round Midnight | 3. For All We Know | 4. Body and Soul | 5. When October Goes | 6. House is Not a Home | 7. At Last | 8. Day In Day Out  | 9. PS I Love You

The Performers: Yasuko Nakamura ~ vocal | Lynn Heitetsu ~ piano | Yutaka Yoshida ~ bass | Hiroshi Murakami ~ drums

Cover: ¥4950

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SAKI OZAWA

Born in Tokyo, Saki Ozawa began learning classical piano from the age of three, later inspired by Gene Harris’s album “Tribute to Count Basie” at the age of 15. She studied jazz piano at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, trained by Yuki Arimasa and started her professional career in the Tokyo area, appearing at a number of jazz festivals, then after graduation began regularly appearing as Saki Ozawa trio at the historical jazz club “Alfie” in Roppongi, Tokyo.
In September 2022, the piano solo performed live at the Hamacho Dining & Bar SESSiON, a restaurant established by Blue Note Japan, was quickly fully booked and she appeared at the grand-opening reception for the press of Ebisu’s BLUE NOTE PLACE, which is currently a hot spot. Since then Ozawa has continued to perform regularly at the club with her own trio.
In March 2023, she performed with sax player Adam Pieronczyk at the Polish jazz club Vertigo. Then in June 2023, the debut album “Cheers!” mainly composed of original songs was released by ReBorn Wood Label and in August 2023, the live performance at Cotton Club Tokyo met with great success.

The Trio: Saki Ozawa ~ piano | Yutaka Yoshida ~ bass | Jun Yamazaki ~ drums

Cover: ¥4950

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BRUCE FORMAN

San Francisco’s Bard of Bop comes home for a night of jazz guitar stunts, storytelling, and mayhem. With his SF trio most anything can happen…and it usually does!

A hectic touring schedule; twenty-one recordings as a leader,  countless sideman recordings including Ray Brown, Bobby Hutcherson, Roger Kellaway; soundtrack performances on three of Clint Eastwood’s distinguished films—most notably Academy Award-winning Million Dollar Baby; raconteur, arranger, acclaimed educator, in residence at USC’s Studio/Jazz Guitar Dept., when does Bruce Forman rest?

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PETER ERSKINE & BOB MINTZER

Speaking about the musical marriage of drummer Peter Erskine, pianist Alan Pasqua and bassist Darek Oles, journalist Jim Worsley from All About Jazz said, “The trio could be considered the perfect melting pot of creativity, complexity, and rhythm, pollinated with spontaneous interplay and intelligent conversation.”  That’s quite a summary of these top-tier jazzmen who, after playing together for decades, find themselves at the top of their game. Their Live In Italy recording, which garnered a Grammy nomination in 2022, is evidence of their primacy.

What makes the meeting of minds extra special now is the addition of saxophonist Bob Mintzer, acclaimed composer, arranger, and founding member of the Yellowjackets. A long-time associate to all, Mintzer elevates the group’s collective mastery in a new project, The McIntosh Sessions, a direct-to-tape recording representing the partnership between hi-end audio giants McIntosh Laboratory and Sterling Sound. At the heart of this captured performance is a vibrant intimacy that speaks volumes about the singular power of jazz and pure, reproduced sound.

Erskine and company revealed this immediacy in the studio. But, in fact, they bring it to the stage each time they play.

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VIRGINIA MACDONALD ~ TODD MARCUS QUINTET

Juno Award-nominated clarinetist Virginia MacDonald has established herself as a rising star of her generation. Known for her lyrical and soulful clarinet playing, Virginia has been described as a “powerful new voice in the Canadian scene” by Juno Award-winning bassist Mike Downes. As a highly in-demand bandleader, sidewoman, and composer, Virginia keeps a regular performance schedule across Canada, the United States, and Europe.

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