Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Little is documented about the creators of 1975's Funky Stuff. Jiro Inagaki and his band's legacy is almost entirely musical, devoid of the personal details that often accompany jazz musicians. To understand this album, it must be placed within its cultural context. Japan's jazz scene, one of the largest per capita, has faced accusations of imitation and unoriginality. However, Inagaki's work, particularly in the late '60s and early '70s fusion era, defies these stereotypes. Inagaki's genre-blending began with 1970's Head Rock, less experimental than Bitches Brew but equally dynamic. By 1975, Inagaki had embraced funk, culminating in Funky Stuff. The album, laden with rich bass-lines, wah-wah pedals, and layered percussion, opens with the danceable 'Painted Paradise'. Pianist Hiromasa Suzuki, who wrote most tracks, shines, especially on the melancholic 'Breeze' and the bossa-nova 'Gentle Wave'. Covers like Kool & The Gang's 'Funky Stuff' and Wayne Henderson's 'Scratch' are highlights. Funky Stuff joyously engages with funk's rhythms, making it a delightful hidden gem.

Review: Japan meets funky disco in an explosive fusion led by maestro Jiro Inagaki here on a classic album that gets a worthy reissue. In a particularly inspired year during which he also released Funky Stuff on Nippon Columbia, Inagaki masterfully reinterprets tracks by Quincy Jones, Commodores, Graham Central Station, B.T. Express, Kool and The Gang, Stevie Wonder, Sly and The Family Stone, Ohio Players, Ripple, and Billy Preston on this one. He does so in collaboration with Hiromasa Suzuki, a prominent name in Japanese jazz, and seasoned session musicians who add their own spice. Inagaki brings a fresh, danceable sound here with a broad mix of inspirations from jazz to city pop all shining through.