[Hajime Sato]

Hello everyone,

I've started a new online store that specializes in Japanese import jazz & audiophile CDs called Eastwind Import (www.eastwindimport.com). We carry excellent independent labels such as Marshmallow Records, Atelier Sawano, and (upcoming) Venus Records as well as rare reissue CDs only available in Japan.

Audiophiles might be interested in new hybrid SACDs just issued from the legendary Three Blind Mice label. We also carry JVC XRCDs and will gladly take special orders.

We are based in California, and will ship to anywhere in the world (except Japan, of course, and some restrictions may apply based on the label policies). We accept any credit card from any country through our PayPal shopping cart system. (You don't have to have a PayPal account to make a purchase.)

With a strong belief that jazz is a universal language and great music transcends national borders and language barriers, Eastwind Import brings what the best Japanese jazz labels offer. Please visit www.eastwindimport.com and see what we have in store. Our catalog is growing almost every day!

PS. Three CDs from Japanese label Marshmallow Records have been favorably reviewed by Mr. Bob Levi of Positive Feedback Online. You can read the article at www.positive-feedback.com/Issue28/eastwind.htm.

[DavidS]

Hajime

Have looked at your site before - very nice.  One of the things I miss with the demise of my local record store is walking in on a Saturday afternoon and talking about what I would like that is new and then taking it home to try out. 

So if I want to order three cds from your site (I do sacd as well - have sony universal) what would you recommend.  I like pretty much all music - very eclectic collection from Decemberists to Nels Cline to Ella.

David

[Hajime Sato]

David,

Thanks for your interest and compliment!

It's really difficult for me to pick 3 CDs so allow me list more recommendations. Then you can perhaps go to the website (www.eastwindimport.com) and listen to sample audio files, and find out the kind of music contained in each title.

If you like straight-ahead, really swinging jazz piano:
- Jan Lundgren / Jan Lundgren in New York
- Vladimir Shafranov / White Nights
- Kasper Villaume / Footprints

If you like elegant and lyrical jazz piano:
- Gene DiNovi / Golden Earrings
- Jos Van Beest / Swingin' Softly
- Jan Lundgren / Les Parapluies de Cherbourg

If you like cutting-edge, very modern European jazz:
- Mirabassi Boltro Ferris / AIR
- Antonio Farao / Borderlines
- Jean-Philippe Viret / Considerations

If you want to listen to a strikingly well-recorded music:
- Hiroko Kokubu / New York Uncovered [XRCD]
- Jacintha / Lush Life [XRCD]

If you like Ella Fitzgerald, you might like:
- Carmen McRae / As Time Goes By [XRCD]
- Anita O'Day / At Mister Kelly's
- Anita O'Day / This Is Anita (will be available soon)

All the best,

[DavidS]

great list - tough decisions but ordered Jan Lundgren, Mirabassi Boltro Ferris, and Carmen McRae without the fruit (think this was Carmen) this morning.  Look forward to the new tunes.

David

[Hajime Sato]

David:

Thanks a lot for your order! I'll send the CDs on Monday. Hope you'll like them.

[Gordy]

David, you were thinking of the ever sensual Carmen Miranda I think...   

[Canyoneagle]

I'm going to check out your site, and I'm sure I'll end up ordering at some point! 

I enjoy a variety of jazz, but am not very knowledgeable about particular artists.  Would you have any recommendations for double-bass driven music.  I enjoy straight driving rythm as well as syncopated and funky stuff.
Some of my favorite stuff that I've heard (not knowing the artists) is a mix of upright bass, piano, drums and sax.

Can you recommend anything?

Thanks in advance.

Warmly,
Michael

[shep]

Great! I've already got one in mind. Eric Gale "Touch of Silk" If you've got it I want it.

[DavidS]

doughtttttt! - wrong carmen and fruit - probably a good thing not to quote another pop idol though.

[lonewolfny42]

Nice site Hajime....good luck with it !!! 

Speaking of Jazz, here's a thread that may interest you.... http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=35582.0

The music posted by Rhhm looks interesting....but locating them over here might be hard....happen to carry any of those Cd's ? Thanks.......

                                         Chris

[Hajime Sato]

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Gordy:
Thanks for the clarification on Carmen and fruits. I didn't know... 

Shep:
I don't have Eric Gale's "Touch of Silk" right now but I'll certainly try to find it for you.

Michael:
Yes, I do have recommendations for you!

1. Jan Lundgren in New York
This is a piano trio and the bassist is Peter Washington, one of the greatest, young-ish bass players in the US. This recording captures his very strong, powerful and soulful bass sound brilliantly. It has so much bass content that it can get overwhelming if you play it with a system which has under-damped, uncontrolled woofers. But if you have a good system, you'll love the sound of this disc!

2. Berndt Egerbladh Trio / Mousse Au Chocolat
This piano trio CD also has a very strong bass content, and well-known in Japan for that aspect.

3. Jean-Philippe Viret Trio
Viret is one of the most talented bass players in France, and he's the leader of this cutting-edge trio (with piano and drums). This is ultra-modern jazz, and the three players interact in a more equal footing, but his bass playing is phenomenal, and beautifully recorded, too. Try the album "Considerations" or "Etant Donnes" if you're interested.

4. Isao Suzuki / Blow Up [Hybrid SACD]
This legendary audiophile recording date is also led by a bassist, Isao Suzuki. He also plays cello in some tracks. It is definately a 1970s jazz so the style is different (with electric piano used in some tracks), but you might want to check it out.

5. Gene DiNovi Trio / Golden Earrings
Gene DiNovi is an American pianist who lives in Canada now. His partner, bassist Neil Swainson, is one of the best, and under-exposed bassists in the world, in my humble opinion. He has beautiful tone and great technique, but he is always tasteful, never a show-off. This is not a bassist-led group, but you might want to check them out.

If you're interested in any of the above, please visit www.eastwindimport.com and listen to the sample sound files.

Chris:
Thanks for a heads-up for an interesting thread. Unfortunately I don't carry any of the CDs mentioned by Rhhm, but European jazz is definately big and well-appreciated in Japan, so I'll certainly keep my eyes open.

[Hajime Sato]

Hello everyone!

Since my last post on January 15, I have added a few titles to my catalog. They are all available for sale at www.eastwindimport.com. Don't forget our New Year Sale which will end at the end of this month!

Also, if you live in Southern California, come to the Third Annual Software Swap Meet of the Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society. I'll bring all my merchandise, even the latest arrivals I haven't had the time to put up on my website!

Sunday, January 28, 1-4pm

Holiday Inn, Buena park

For details, please go to www.laocaudiosociety.net.

RECENT NEW ARRIVALS

Anita O'Day / At Mister Kelly's
- One of O'Day's best albums, recorded live in 1958. Curiously unavailable in the US in CD format.

Anita O'Day / This Is Anita
- This is my personal favorite! She swings hard and sounds great. Wonderful arrangement by Buddy Bregman, too. This CD is also unavailable in the US so I decided to import them.

Helen Merrill / Helen Sings, Teddy Swings
- A collector's item! Recorded in 1970 when Merrill was living in Japan and issued on CD for the first time. Merrill's smoky voice and Teddy Wilson's tasteful piano were a great match!

Chris Connor / Softly and Swingin'
- Another collector's item, this album was recorded in Japan in 1969 when Connor's recording output was thin.

Ella Fitzgerald Louis Armstrong / Ella and Louis [Hybrid SACD]
- Japanese "Supreme Sound Edition" DSD-remastered using the latest technology. In my opinion this hybrid SACD sounds better than all other digital reissues of this masterpiece.

Yoshiko Kishino / Fairy Tale
- Japanese pianist Yoshiko Kishino's debut album in 1995 sounds like a fairy tale. She's accompanied by Eddie Gomez, Lewis Nash, Marc Johnson, Peter Erskine and Michael Brecker! Great music, superbly recorded.

Three Blind Mice Special Limited Edition Hybrid SACDs
Brand-new from Japan, we have just received the shipment of four new titles:
-George Kawaguchi / Big 4
-Hidehiko "Sleepy" Matsumoto Quartet / Sleepy
-Teruo Nakamura Group / Unicorn
-Masayuki Takayanagi & Others / The Ginparis Session

If you are interested, please check them out at www.eastwindimport.com. New titles are being added almost every day!

[Hajime Sato]

I am very happy to announce that the Japanese independent jazz label Venus Records has joined the growing catalog of Eastwind Import!

Venus Records was established by Mr. Tetsuo Hara in 1992. Having worked as a record producer for RCA and Alpha Records, Mr. Hara fulfilled his long-time dream of establishing his own label by releasing a new recording of Pharoah Sanders, one of the musicians he respects most.

Since then, Venus Records has released numerous piano trio albums led by Eddie Higgins, Steve Kuhn, Denny Zeitlin, Richie Beirach, Bill CHarlap and others, as well as new recordings by horn players such as Barney Wilen, Phil Woods and Enrico Rava. The creative output of these artists was highly appreciated by the Japanese audience and the label's recognition grew.

Mr. Hara cares about sound quality. Although there is some controversy surrounding the "loudness" of the CDs, his signature 24-bit mastering process, dubbed Hyper Magnum Sound, produces very powerful sound with strong "you are there" presence, which is adored by many audiophiles. Under the vision of the strong-willed producer, Venus Records has, after 15 years, become one of the most popular and respected jazz labels in Japan.

As the first selection of imports, I have chosen the following classic Venus CDs--my personal favorites:

Eddie Higgins Trio / Haunted Heart
Veteran American jazz pianist Eddie Higgins was "rediscovered" by the Japanese audience with this debut album for Venus Records. Elegant and swinging, accessible yet artistic, this CD became an instant classic and made Higgins one of the most popular pianists in Japan.

Bill Charlap Trio / 'S Wonderful
Before he joined the American Blue Note label, Bill Charlap recorded this very strong album for Venus Records with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington. Lucky for us, Charlap would go on to record many more albums for the Japanese label. This is clearly one of the best recorded output of this superb trio!

Stefano Bollani Trio / Falando De Amor
What happens when a Japanese producer asks an Italian piano trio to play the songs composed by a Brazillian composer named Antonio Carlos Jobim? You get an unlikely masterpiece! This is one of my personal all-time favorite piano trio albums.

Eric Alexander / Gentle Ballads
One of the best American tenor saxophonists working today, Eric Alexander has a long-standing partnership with Venus Records, and this collection of ballads is one of his definitive works. Listen to his warm, magnificent tenor sound which is superbly recorded! Winner of 2005 Swing Journal Best Jazz Disc Silver Award.

Please visit www.eastwindimport.com for more information and listen to sample audio files.

And to those of you who are coming to the Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society's Software Swap Meet, see you tomorrow!

[Hajime Sato]

Hi everyone!

First, I'd like to thank all of you who came to the LA & OC Audio Society's Software Swap Meet on Jan. 28. It was a huge success, and it was pleasure meeting all of you. I'd like to personally thank Hugh, who bought quite a few of my products!

Now, what's new at Eastwind Import: We have the latest CD from Holly Cole!

Canadian singer and darling of vocal music lovers and audiophiles, Holly Cole just released her first original album in three and a half years. Simply named Holly Cole (also known as Charade or The House Is Haunted), this latest album came out in Japan first. It is not on sale yet even in Canada, and as far as I can tell, there is no upcoming US release.

Cole's eagerly-awaited new album takes the talented singer back to her jazz roots, backed by a colorful semi-big band and an intelligent arrangement by Gil Goldstein. Old friends Aaron Davis on piano and David Pilch on bass contribute on a few songs in a more intimate, smaller settings.

Cole's wry, clear-eyed and modern sensibilities are reflected in the selection of songs and her unique interpretations: the theme of the album is "self-deception." The talented Gil Goldstein achieves maximum, varied effects with a minimum number of horn players, and instrumental solos are often very impressive.

If you are a Holly Cole fan like me, you must have been waiting for this new album. Get this Japanese pressing at Eastwind Import before everyone else!

[Hajime Sato]

Hello everyone!

Eastwind Import has just received three Japanese reissues of albums by female singers that take you back to the 1950s.

What is common between Beverly Kenney, Sue Raney and Monica Lewis? They may not be extremely popular here in the US, but there is a strong following for them among Japanese jazz fans. Indeed, many of their recordings are out of print here, but contitue to be available in that small country in the Far East.

All three CDs were recently reissued by Toshiba EMI in 2006; digitally remastered with latest, 24-bit technology. If you are a fan of jazz vocal albums, check them out at Eastwind Import!

Beverly Kenney / Sings for Johnny Smith
Beverly Kenney recorded this debut album with guitarist Johnny Smith in 1955 when she was just 23 years old. Her buoyant, slightly huskey voice is very charming, and she shows good voice control and clear enunciation. Tastefully arranged and backed by the great Johnny Smith Quartet, Kenney sings the program composed of mostly standards in a fairly straight-forward yet effective manner. If you don't know her already, rediscover this talented singer with this album!

Sue Raney / Songs for a Raney Day
This is jazz and pop vocalist Sue Raney's second album for Capitol, recorded in 1959 with the venerable Billy May Orchestra. A concept album inspired by her name, all songs are related to precipitation in some form or another. Only 19 years old at the time of recording, Raney exhibits surprising maturity and musicality. Listen to this album when it rains, and you'll feel like spending a lazy but comfortable afternoon inside, with someone you love!

Monica Lewis / Fools Rush In
Issued originally by Jubilee Records in the 1950s, this Japanese reissue brings what might be the best vocal presentation of singer and actress Monica Lewis. Backed by pianist Jack Kelly and his ensemble, the "petite, blonde and lovely favorite of the G.I's in Korea" shows her tender, moody, provocative and intimate singing that is heavily influenced by Billie Holiday.

[Brad]

Mr. Sato

Please keep these coming - you're introducing us to some great 'new' music!
I picked up an Anita O'Day album (original vinyl) and really like it.
I will be placing an order (when I can narrow down what to get from your website)

[Hajime Sato]

Brad,

Thanks for your kind words, and please call me Hajime . I'm glad to hear that you are interested in the 'new' music I try to make available. I'm looking forward to receiving your order. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know.

One note: By popular demand, Beverly Kenney's CD Sings for Johnny Smith is temporarily out of stock. I am still taking orders but the new shipment might take a week or two.

[Hajime Sato]

Hello everyone,

Due to popular demand we're temporarily out of Beverly Kenney's Sings for Johnny Smith and Holly Cole's latest CD. I'm sorry because I just announced their availability, but the response has been overwhelming.

To prevent any confusion, I've stopped taking new orders on these items until I have them on stock. They are coming from Japan, but it might take a week or two. Thanks for your support!

[shep]

H. I still want that Eric Gale "Touch of Silk" album!

[Hajime Sato]

Hi Shep,

As I have explained to you by previous email, the "Touch of Silk" CD is out of print and even the label (Sony/Columbia) doesn't have it any more. So I'm sorry but I cannot get it for you . Trust me, if I could, I would!