Funky Stuff - Jiro Inagaki and His Soul Media

Written and arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki, and originally released in 1975 on Nippon Columbia, this album is incredible, and truly well-named - funky stuff, indeed! Fat bass, a great variety of guitar sounds, horns and organ, and crisp drums: this is an instant favorite!

From the end of the 1960s, saxophonist Jiro Inagaki led groups such as The Soul Mates, and His Black Rhythm Machine, blasting down the jazz rock road before forming Soul Media in 1969. The album Funky Stuff, Inagaki’s final work of his jazz rock era, was released in 1975 on Nippon Columbia, and was written and arranged by pianist Hiromasa Suzuki. Inagaki said of Suzuki: "His ideas were innovative and his phrases were sparkling. He could write songs that were 'catchy' in a good way." Funky Stuff is a masterpiece born from the combination of Suzuki's exceptional musical qualities and the artistic direction taken by Soul Media at the time.

(Words by Yusuke Ogawa - Universounds)