Greetings and salutations Hivers. Today let's go into another Three Tune Tuesday post.

As always, thanks to @ablaze for making this series. Lots of people participate in it! Follow the tags to find a ton of good music recommendation.

Today, I'm back to my beloved Japanese jazz!

Masayoshi Takanaka - Breezin

Some great electric guitar jazz here. Takanaka, a virtuoso guitarist, is known for his vibrant and colorful compositions, and “Breezin’” is no exception. It has a light and airy, tropical feel. This track is a perfect example of his signature fusion of jazz, city pop, and tropical vibes.

His early work continues to be quite popular and has gone on to influence modern Japanese jazz, as well as lofi tunes.

Takeo Yamashita - A Touch Of Japanese Tone

This is really special. It's a fascinating and atmospheric track that blends jazz, lounge, and traditional Japanese influences, showcasing Yamashita’s unique compositional style. It has a lounge feel and wouldn’t be out of place in a soundtrack.

You can hear a clear connection between this track and the Lupin III theme, which I’ve shared here before.

Yosuke Yamashita - Sate

If the smooth jazz of the above two isn't for you, maybe this one will be more up your alley. This is a fiery post-bop piece, pushing the boundaries even on bop and boarding on free jazz chaos. It's really something.

Bonus: Akira Ishikawa & Count Buffalos ‎– Get Up!

Ok, that last one might be a little too wild. That kind of more experimental jazz has mostly faded these days. This one is a little more conventional, still keeping that post-bop groove but with a more accessible main theme and melody.

Which one stood out to you the most? Do you prefer the smoother fusion tracks or the fiery post-bop sound?

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David is an American teacher and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Mastodon. 【Support @dbooster with Hive SBI】