Resilient grooves. Luminous melodies. Hard bop, jazz-rock, fusion. No label can fully capture the essence of this album. A pure crystallization of musical expression, now shining once again.
Affectionately known among fans as “Mabumi’s Electric Fan”, Leeward is a beloved work recorded in 1978 by saxophonist Mabumi Yamaguchi, whose distinguished career included performances with the George Otsuka Group and Korgen Band (later known as The Players). His second album features four extended compositions: “Dawn”, “Dewdrop”, “Distant Thunder”, and the title track “Leeward.” Their evocative titles and themes resonate deeply with the music, conjuring vivid imagery before the listener.
The album’s groove is both dynamic and supple, while its melodies remain poised, elegant, and profoundly moving. Hard bop, jazz-rock, fusion, all are valid points of reference, yet none truly define what this music is. Any label ultimately falls short. Leeward stands beyond categorization: a masterpiece in the purest sense of the word.
Text by Yusuke Ogawa (universounds / Deep Jazz Reality)
