Various Artists - Wamono A To Z Vol. I (Japanese Jazz Funk & Rare Groove 1968-1980) - Vinyl LP Record

Some compilations manage to both educate, inform and educate in equal measure; this fine collection from Japanese crate diggers DJ Yoshizawa Dynamite and Chintam is one such set. Comprising mostly little-known tracks recorded by Japanese artists between 1968 and '70, it offers up a wealth of cuts inspired by American jazz-funk "rare groove". There's much to admire across the ten tracks, from the mazy Rhodes solos, fizzing big band jazz grooves and traditional Eastern instrumentation of Toshiko Yonekawa's "Soran Bushi", and the languidly-slung brilliance of Tadaki Misago and Tokyo Cuban Boys' multi-faceted musical fusion "Jongara Reggae", to the Jimi Hendrix-goes-funk heaviness of "Incitation" by Monica Lassen & The Sounds, and the drums-driven dancefloor madness of Masahiko Sato Jiro Inagaki & Big Soul Media's "Sniper's Snooze". Recommended.

Track list:

Side A
1: Toshiko Yonekawa - Soran Bushi
2: Takeo Yamashita - A Touch of Japanese Tone
3: Tadaaki Misago & Tokyo Cuban Boys - Jongara Reggae
4: Chikara Ueda & The Power Station - Cloudy
5: Chumei Watanabe - Downtown Blues

Side B
6: Kifu Mitsuhashi - Hanagasa Ondo
7: Monica Lassen & The Sounds - Incitation
8: Norio Maeda Jiro Inagaki & The All-Stars - Go Go A Go Go
9: Akira Ishikawa & The Jazz Rock Band - The Sidewinder
10: Masahiko Sato Jiro Inagaki & Big Soul Media - Sniper's Snooze