Paul Murphy’s Jazz Room Records continues their string of must-own releases with the recent reissue of Japanese drummer Hideo Shiraki’s rare 1962 Brazilian jazz full-length, titled Hideo Shiraki Plays Bossa Nova.

Heavily inspired by both Horace Silver and the Bossa Nova explosion that he was exposed to on a trip to the United States in 1962, Shiraki quickly returned to Japan to immediately record an album infused with those early 60s jazz influences.

Featuring 7-tracks, this recording brilliantly fuses the sounds of swingin’ hard-bop, Samba, and Bossa Nova grooves that will surely keep you on your feet. Some of the highlights include superb renditions of notable classics like “Tico Tico,” “Orfeo Negro,” “Groovy Samba,” and Horace Silver’s “Sayonara Blues”.

Backing Shiraki on the session is Hidehiko Matsumoto on both tenor saxophone and flute, trumpeter Hisaya Omata, bassist Hachiro Kurita, and pianist Joe Sera.

For the first time ever, the sleeve notes have been translated into English and laid out in the classic Blue Note style, adding a nice touch to the vinyl-only release. Quantities are limited and therefore I highly recommend picking up a copy as soon as possible.

Hideo Shiraki — ‘Plays Bossa Nova’
(Originally released: 1962 / King Records)
(Reissued: 2023 / Jazz Room Records)

1. Tico Tico
2. Besame Mucho
3. Deux Step
4. Gypsy Blue
5. Sayonara Blues
6. Orfeo Negro
7. Groovy Samba

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• Jazz
• Jazz Dance
• Reissue