坂井紅介 on Jazz of Japan | Brian McCrory

Toshihiko Inoue: Fuse

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Fuse is a 1999 album from saxophonist Toshihiko Inoue and his fuse quartet made up of Inoue on sax, Nobumasa Tanaka on piano, Benisuke Sakai on bass, and Ken Tsunoda (Tsunoken) on drums. After growing up with jazz and accumulating years of experience with other jazz musicians’ bands and albums, Inoue started his own quartet in 1998 right before recording and releasing this album. With the album title fuse, it was also the name for his quartet, and in this way, a sort of self-titled album as his debut release as a band leader and composer.

Shikou Ito Trio Syncretia: Kakusareta Guwa

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Kakusareta Guwa is a 2025 release from pianist Shikou Ito’s Trio Syncretia. A translation of the Japanese title, 隠された寓話, is also printed on the cover, and reads allegorical stories-shaded.

Ito’s trio is a piano-bass-percussion combo, and their music is robust and detailed, soulfully rugged. The sounds from Gen Ogimi’s percussion kit are a change from the regular drum kit that is de rigueur for jazz piano trios, and the sounds of hand drums alongside the snare, toms, and cymbals add a lot of character and color to the music. Intuitively linked to the pulse and beat is bassist Benisuke Sakai, who enhances the rhythms through his firmly connected upright bass with both grounded and adventurous playing.

Fuse: Live Fuse

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Live Fuse is a 2007 live album from Fuse, a modern jazz quartet headed by Toshihiko Inoue on sax, with Nobumasa Tanaka on piano, Benisuki Sakai on bass, and Tsunoken on drums.

This two-disc album was recorded live in 2005 and captures provocative dynamic changes and soul-touching music swinging from tender pianissimo to fortissimo over vigorous drum beats and rhythm section riffs.

The ornamental twists and organic jams aim to thrill the audience and avoid falling into ruts. While Inoue provides all the compositions, the members reinterpret and occupy the music live, mixing together and shaping the music in performance in a fusion of influence, a tightrope walk of unpredictability.