The highly improvisational quartet Kaze makes their first 100% improvisation record ‘Unwritten’ and it’s just as unconventionally delightful as they are with written pieces.

Seven albums in, the Kaze concept shows no sign of going stale. Every time out they freshen that concept in ingenious ways and ‘Crustal Movement’ with Ikue Mori returning is their most audacious undertaking yet.

Satoko Fujii and Natsuki Tamura always have something new to say in part because they are so open to allowing new musical personalities to disrupt an existing chemistry.

The Satoko Fujii Orchestra Berlin really comes onto its own with ‘Ninety-Nine Years.’

The sextet Trouble Kaze and their debut album ‘June’ is an inspired way to extend and expand on the ideas first put forward by the Japanese/French quartet Kaze.

There isn’t anyone who is exploiting the possibilities presented by big band jazz more aggressively these days than Satoko Fujii. Another chapter in her orchestra book is opened with the Satoko Fujii Orchestra Berlin debut ‘Ichigo Ichie.’

Earlier this year Japanese avant-garde master Satoko Fujii unveiled a new ensemble with Spring Storm, the debut album for her Satoko Fujii New Trio. You May Also Like: Kaze + Ikue Mori – ‘Sand Storm’ (2020) Kaze + Ikue Mori – ‘Crustal Movement’ (2023) Trouble Kaze – June (2017)