Isao Suzuki Quartet + 1 – Blue City

Isao Suzuki Quartet + 1's Blue City arrived in 1974 as the follow-up to Suzuki's breakthrough Blow Up, and it captures a fascinating moment in mid-70s Japanese jazz: deeply rooted in the language of earlier modern jazz, yet far from nostalgic. Led by Suzuki on bass and cello, the album also documents some of guitarist Kazumi Watanabe's earliest recorded performances, placing it close to the start of a major career.

The four-track set balances two standards, including an opening take on "Body and Soul," with two Suzuki originals that give the record its real identity. "45th Street (At 8th Avenue)" is especially telling, using Suzuki's cello less as background colour than as a lead voice, while Watanabe, pianist Kunihiko Sugano and drummer Tetsujiro Obara keep the music poised and responsive. On two tracks Suzuki adds a second bassist, Nobuyoshi Ino, to open up more room for the cello inside the small-group setting.

What makes Blue City so rewarding is the way it sounds both elegant and quietly adventurous. Rather than chasing the louder fusion trends of the period, Suzuki's group leans into touch, interplay and melody, which helps the album feel fresh decades later. This remastered Japanese reissue has been cut by Bernie Grundman and includes the original reissue liner notes, making it an especially appealing way back into the Three Blind Mice catalogue.

Features

• Remastered and cut by Bernie Grundman
• Includes original reissue liner notes
• Three Blind Mice Premium Limited Edition Japanese import