WaJazz Legends: Jiro Inagaki - Selected by Yusuke Ogawa (Universounds) 2LP

Universounds, HMV Record Shop and 180g team up for an exceptional release in their highly acclaimed WaJazz series, to be out on Jiro Inagaki’s 90th birthday, October 3rd, 2023, celebrating the life and music of one of the most iconic Japanese jazz musicians of the last 60+ years. This is the ultimate collection of music from legendary saxophone player Jiro Inagaki and his Soul Media band, covering their 1968-1980 golden age, releasing as a spectacular gold vinyl double LP with extensive and detailed liner notes by Universounds’ Yusuke Ogawa, comments by Jiro Inagaki, and exclusive pics. 16 tracks of pure gold music spanning jazz, jazz-funk and jazz-rock, including an unreleased version of the track “Express” — first time on vinyl!

Yusuke Ogawa has been running the Universounds store in Tokyo since 2001, specializing in jazz and second-hand, rare, and collector records. He is also a reissue supervisor, label manager, DJ, and music writer. Known for his vast musical knowledge, eye for detail, and archival skills, Ogawa has worked on more than 250 reissues and compilations – including the highly praised Deep Jazz Reality and Project Re:Vinyl series. He is the co-author of the Wa-Jazz Disc Guide and the Independent Black Jazz of America books.

1. Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media – Head Rock
2. Jiro Inagaki & Big Soul Media with Masahiko Sato – Sniper’s Snooze
3. Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media with Yasushi Sawada – Inanome
4. Soul Media – Breeze
5. Jiro Inagaki & Soul Big Media - Freedom Jazz Dance
6. Jiro Inagaki & Big Soul Media with Hiromasa Suzuki – By The Red Stream
7. Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media - Back Off Boogaloo
8. Jiro Inagaki & Soul Media – Theme
9. Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media – Twenty One
10. Jiro Inagaki & Soul Media featuring Sammy – Wandering Birds
11. Jiro Inagaki & Soul Media - That’s How I Feel
12. Soul Media – Memory Lane
13. Jiro Inagaki & The All-Stars with Norio Maeda – Barock
14. Jiro Inagaki & Big Soul Media with Masahiko Sato – Guru
15. Soul Media – Painted Paradise
16. Jiro Inagaki & His Friends - Express (No SE Version)