Japanese Arakawa Band Part 1 (Lena, Bamboo)

 

Discogged here, this band was led by saxophonist, composer, bandleader Tatsuhiko Arakawa. 

Brief bio:

Tatsuhiko Arakawa (荒川達彦) is a Japanese flutist, saxophonist, composer and arranger. Born September 12, 1944 in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture.

Started his professional career in 1964 as a member of the Blue Coats Orchestra with Shigenori Ohara, then in 1967 with Tadao Kitano and Arrow Jazz Orchestra. In 1970, he formed his own quintet. In 1974, he traveled to the United States to learn how to arrange music, eventually returning to Japan in 1978. He formed The Great American Music Band in 1979, which was renamed to Arakawa Band in 1980.

Sadly the band only released 3 albums (you can add a 4th which is the OST in the next post) from 1979 to 1981 which however are perfectly played and really quite beautiful.

From the Lena album, I selected Funky Fanky & not just from the music but from the name itself you can glean an idea of what the music is like:

From Bamboo which is for some reason distinctly inferior and less fusionesque, the title track: