Katsuo Kuninaka
Golden Live Stage
Frasco (Japan) 1980
FS-7033 (LP) w/obi, insert.
sleeve : EX+(slightly wear on corner.)
media : EX/EX(some slightly noises.)
An album released in 1980 by jazz bassist Katsuo Kuninaka, who is based in his hometown of Miyako Island, Okinawa. In the early ’80s, he delivered outstanding performances on works such as Yosuke Yamashita’s A Tribute to Mal Waldronand Jugenmu, as well as Masahiko Togashi’s Three Masters. This album captures a live performance recorded at the Aichi Prefectural Labor Hall in Nagoya. The lineup features an impressive array of musicians, including Yosuke Yamashita (electric piano), Takeo Moriyama (drums), Kiyoshi Sugimoto (guitar), Akira Sakata (alto sax), Shigeharu Mukai (trombone), Ryojiro Furusawa (drums), and more. Together, they deliver free-form interpretations of tracks from Kuninaka’s acclaimed 1979 album Warm Current, along with jazz standards. While Kuninaka’s fluid and dynamic bass playing is exceptional, Yamashita’s electrifying performance on electric piano is simply mind-blowing. Among the many Japanese jazz recordings, this live session stands out as one of the very best.
A1: Umbrella Dance
B2: Ca’Purange