Michael and Jessika
Ok, here we go again…
Sincere apologies to all that it’s taken me a full half year and change to get back on this horse. It got moved to the back burner while I fully throttled the Tokyo Record Style YouTube channel (which has actually become NEARLY as equally rewarding a type of storytelling – please follow), but photos and prose are in my blood, and now it’s time to bring this back to the front burner. My only hope is that the next sabbatical isn’t nearly as long. But hey, these things have their own way, and sometimes you just gotta surrender to the flow. (#gamehendge)
So, welcome back to Tokyo Record Style and welcome Michael from Denmark and Jessica from Sweden/Japan, who I met on the streets of Tokyo back in July of 2024, down near Manhattan Records and HMV, off of Udagawacho. Initially suspicious of me, as is often the case, soon they realized I meant no harm, and once some niceties were exchanged, the opened like pages of a great novel, with lots to share about music, about their lives, about bouncing between Europe and Japan. We were making friends.
Michael’s musical colors showed me that he and I were cut from the same cloth, our interests spanning the entire breadth of the record store. We both got deep into music as long-haired, girl-chasing teens, modeling attitudes on our favorite rock heroes, Bowie, The Doors, Beatles, and such. We’re both of that generation that scored records and record players when they were dirt cheap, and have been collecting ever since. His rock interests of late have given way slightly to jazz, and he had the records to prove it, a couple of very nice scores from Tower Records. He also mentioned really digging on Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, and Joe Henderson these days. Jessika too shared her musical tastes (mostly aligned with Micheal’s – though I pressed her for a few rec’s – see below) after first explaining to me about her roots in both Japan and Sweden, and how on this particular trip (her ~20th to Japan, to visit relatives), she was bringing along, for a second time, Michael, to bustling Tokyo from cool Coenhagen where they both reside.
“A few Tokyo highlights?” I asked. “Walking around Tokyo in the daytime, checking out all sorts of shops and people, night time watching the city lights, and drinking whisky in a wonderful bar around from our accommodation” said Jessika.
“Any music recommendations, particularly from Denmark?” I inquired. “YES!” said Micheal. “A hunch tells me you gotta check out Scandinavian legends Sort Sol and Thåström “You’ll love them”. “How about you, Jessika, maybe something from Japan?” I pressed. “Hirokazu Yamazaki of ‘toe’”. EXCELLENT recommendations! …What a cool couple. Thanks guys!
Ok, so there you go. One backlogged Tokyo Record Style Subject down, about 100 more to go! Thanks for your patience everyone! I’m back!
Miles Davis – Miles In Berlin
Label: Sony Records Int’l – SIJP 1094
Series: Jazz Analog Legendary Collection
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, 180 g
Country: Japan
Released: Mar 27, 2024
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop
https://www.discogs.com/release/30408605-Miles-Davis-Miles-In-Berlin
John Coltrane With The Red Garland Trio – Traneing In
Label: Jazz Wax Records – JWR 4611
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Mono
Country: Europe
Released: 2023
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop, Modal
https://www.discogs.com/release/27556236-John-Coltrane-With-The-Red-Garland-Trio-Traneing-In
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