Japanese genre-defying Kyoto Jazz Massive release first album in 19 years
After 19 years since their breakthrough debut album Spirit Of The Sun in 2002, the innovative Kyoto Jazz Massive project led by two hugely influential DJs and artists among the Japanese music scene in Shuya Okino (Kyoto Jazz Sextet & owner of The Room in Shibuya) and Yoshihiro Okino (owner of Especial Records) have returned to release a highly-anticipated new album, titled Message From A New Dawn.
From jazz-funk and broken beat to soulful house, cosmic electric grooves and everything in-between, this brilliant 10-track recording covers a lot of territory musically. The record also sees the duo expand into an expanded ensemble featuring great contributions from vocalist Vanessa Freeman (who sings on five of the tracks), Soil & “Pimp” Sessions’ trumpeter Tabu Zombie, keyboardists Takumi Kaneko and Kaztake Takeuchi, and others. The album also includes the legendary Roy Ayers on “Get Up”.
Released digitally at the end of this past December, the album is tentatively scheduled for a vinyl release later this Spring. (Even though it technically came out in 2021, BeatCaffeine is considering this a 2022 release given the date the vinyl will become available).
Even though it’s been a long time coming for this second album release, the wait has definitely been worth it as Kyoto Jazz Massive have once again delivered another incredible genre-defying recording that continues to be forward looking. One of the first outstanding releases to fully dive into in this new year!
Kyoto Jazz Massive — ‘Message From A New Dawn’
(Especial Records / Extra Freedom)
- Astral Ascension
- Primal Echo
- Get Up (ft. Roy Ayers)
- Get It Together
- This Feeling
- Visions Of Tomorrow
- The Message
- The Mask
- Revolution Evolution
- Eternal Tide
BUY ALBUM
(Vinyl Out Spring 2022)
