WaJazz Legends: Jiro Inagaki - Selected By Yusuke Ogawa

Jiro Inagaki, born in Tokyo in 1933, was one of Japanese jazz's most inventive and forward-thinking saxophonists, a musician who refused to be confined by genre boundaries and spent four decades exploring the intersections between traditional jazz, rock, funk, and electronic music. WaJazz Legends: Jiro Inagaki - Selected by Yusuke Ogawa is an extraordinary 16-track compilation that spans his most creative years, from 1968 through the 1980s, capturing the full scope of his artistic vision. Released as a gold vinyl double LP with extensive liner notes curated by Universounds' Yusuke Ogawa, this collection represents both a retrospective and a discovery—introducing contemporary listeners to a musician whose influence has only grown in recent years as Japanese jazz and funk become newly recognized as essential chapters in global music history.

The compilation opens with "Head Rock" (1970), which immediately establishes Inagaki's fearless approach to jazz-rock fusion. From there, the album moves through funk ("Funky Stuff," 1974), spiritual jazz ("Inanome"), and increasingly adventurous electronic explorations. What distinguishes Inagaki's approach is his absolute refusal to settle into any single style. Working alongside collaborators like the extraordinary producer Hiromasa Suzuki, drummer Norio Maeda, and various incarnations of his Soul Media ensemble, Inagaki created music that anticipated trends that wouldn't reach the Western mainstream for decades. His tone on the tenor saxophone is warm and soulful, yet capable of cutting through even the most dense arrangement with clarity and purpose.

The music here spans multiple eras and moods, yet the album's sequencing reveals an artistic coherence. Inagaki's vision evolved from the jazz-rock of the early 1970s through the groove-oriented funk and jazz-fusion of the mid-decade years, finally venturing into more abstract, almost ambient territories by the 1980s. The album includes an unreleased version of "Express" being released for the first time on vinyl—a fitting addition to a collection designed to celebrate both his recognized masterpieces and lesser-known gems. This gold vinyl pressing captures the analog warmth of these often-rare Japanese recordings, allowing listeners from around the world to finally experience the full breadth of Jiro Inagaki's genius. With Inagaki's recent passing in January 2024, this collection becomes not just a celebration of a legendary career, but a vital portrait of one of jazz's most uncompromising voices.

Features

• Gold Vinyl Double LP (2LP)
• 16-Track Compilation Spanning 1968-1980s
• Unreleased Version of "Express" - First Time on Vinyl
• Curated by Yusuke Ogawa (Universounds)
• Extensive Liner Notes
• Japanese Jazz-Funk Masterpieces
• Audiophile-Grade Pressing

Tracklist (Selected)

Side A

1. Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media – Head Rock
2. Jiro Inagaki & Big Soul Media with Masahiko Satō – Sniper's Snooze
3. Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media with Yasushi Sawada – Inanome
4. Soul Media – Breeze

Side B

5. Jiro Inagaki & Soul Big Media - Freedom Jazz Dance
6. Jiro Inagaki & Big Soul Media with Hiromasa Suzuki – By The Red Stream
7. Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media - Back Off Boogaloo
8. Jiro Inagaki & Soul Media – Theme

Side C

9. Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media – Twenty One
10. Jiro Inagaki & Soul Media featuring Sammy – Wandering Birds
11. Jiro Inagaki & Soul Media - That's How I Feel
12. Soul Media – Memory Lane

Side D

13. Jiro Inagaki & The All-Stars with Norio Maeda – Barock
14. [Bonus tracks including unreleased version of "Express"]

Notes

• Label: Universounds / WaJazz Series
• Release: October 3, 2023 (Latest Edition)
• Artist: Jiro Inagaki
• Format: Gold Vinyl Double LP
• Curator: Yusuke Ogawa
• Musical Genres: Jazz-Rock, Jazz-Funk, Electronic Jazz
• Legacy: Essential Japanese Jazz Artist (1933-2024)
• Cultural Significance: Pioneering force in Japanese jazz-funk during the 1970s