Toshiyuki Sekine, Composer & Pianist

Four years after “IGNITION” release, Toshiyuki Sekine wrote music for the musicians who had inspired him and all those who had always given him support. His feelings to them turns into music, into dance! Norikatsu Koreyasu and Takauki Koizumi from the Nippon Soul Jazz Band made it possible for him to create another legend of piano trio!

Track Listings:
01.　Intention
02.　Solidaõ
03.　I Love You
04.　Umba
05.　Waltz for Foo
06.　Elegant People
07.　Happy Times
08.　Yuuyake-ni Aitai
09.　Nem Um Talvez
10.　A Blue Shade
11.　So Near, So Far
12.　Alone Again
13.　Sato-no Aki

Personnel:
Toshiyuki Sekine (p, Rhodes)
Norikatsu Koreyasu (b)
Takayuki Koizumi (ds)

“What a fantastic voice!” – Once fascinated by her voice, you cannot help going to see Ayumi Kawano’s live performance again and again. Mugigi Records proudly releases her debut album inviting her family-like musicians as Toshiyuki Sekine and Akemi Ohta from the Nippon Soul Jazz Band. In the liner notes, Kenji Kusano, owner of the live house “Lifetime”, who had given her support in her Miyazaki days, tells how she makes happy through her voice. This is a must-have for those who love her music!

Track Listings:
01.　My Shining Hour
02.　People Make the World Go Round
03.　The Hope
04.　Once I Loved
05.　Save Your Love for Me
06.　Never Will I Marry
07.　Summer Breezin’
08.　Casa Forte
09.　Happy Talk
10.　Fire and Rain
11.　Flying Easy
12.　Mrs. Robinson

Personnel:
Ayumi Kawano (vo)
Akemi Ohta (fl)
Toshiyuki Sekine (p, key)
Nirikatsu Koreyasu (b)
Hirofumi Katsuki (ds)

His latest and first album since his “comeback” in 2002. This is also a debut album of his “Nippon Soul Jazz Band” he formed with his intimate friends in 2004. Backed by Akemi Ohta’s beautiful and amazing flute performances and Takayuki Koizumi’s “singing” drumming, Sekine seems to enjoy playing the music. With all selection written by Sekine himself with his love for jazz, except Herbie Hancock’s “Just Around the Corner” and Japanese traditional “Hietsuki Song,” you will find all the music here full of joy and happiness. If you get interested in Sekine’s music through “Stop Over” or “Strode Road” album, this disc is a must-buy.

Track Listings:
01. WSD St Theme
02. Primal Dance
03. Inner Voices
04. The Spring Wind
05. The Sky
06. Just Around the Corner*
07. Vento de maio
08. Hietsuki Song**
09. Impulse
10. Starting Over
11. Little Mona
All selection written by Toshiyuki Sekine except * by Herbie Hancock and ** a Japanese traditional folk song.

Personnel:
Ayumi Kawano (vo)
Akemi Ohta (fl, perc)
Toshiyuki Sekine (p, kbds)
Norikatsu Koreyasu (b)
Takayuki Koizumi (ds)

This disc is a re-issue of Toshiyuki Sekine’s 1978 recording that ardent record collectors have been craving as a “legendary” one. Well, I like Sekine’s beautiful, lylical and romantic piano sound and we can hear it also on this disc recorded 29 years ago. In contrast with his first “Stop Over” album, where the music is full of energy and tension, Sekine plays much more relaxed and seems to enjoy playing the music and it makes this recording one of his best performance in his 20’s and a legendary disc of the Japanese jazz history.

Track Listings:
1. Strode Road
2. Up Jumped Spring
3. Love for Sale
4. Will You Still Be Mine
5. Detour Ahead
6. I Could Write a Book
7. Dexterity

Personnel:
Toshiyuki Sekine (p)
Kei Narita (b)
Takashi Kurosaki (ds)

This disc is a re-issue of Toshiyuki Sekine’s 1976 recording that ardent record collectors have been craving as a “legendary” disc. I was shocked and thrilled by the first note of the disc. This is the sound we can hear only on the tracks recorded in 1950’s by the “giants” like Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Bud Powell, etc. When it comes to “modern jazz,” we expect their legendary sound of music and you can find such authentic sound of jazz here on Toshiyuki Sekine’s disc. Now I know, and you know, why this disc has been called “a legend.”

Track Listings:
1. Carole’s Garden
2. Soultrane
3. Turquoise Twice
4. Little B’s Poem
5. Stop Over

Personnel:
Hideto Sasaki (tp)
Noriyasu Watanabe (as)
Toshiyuki Sekine (p)
Kei Narita (b)
Takashi Kurosaki (ds)