Shimizu san is making his 3rd or 4th appearance on TRS and he’s become quite a good friend over the course of this project and I feel really grateful that connections like this have been made through Tokyo Record Style. As a real connoisseur of all kinds and music, and with a wide spectrum of taste, I wasn’t surprised he turned up for Tokyo Record Style Day Volume 9 at Organic Music, known for an especially eclectic selection of music, curated by the knowledgeable Chee Shimizu (coincidentally ALSO a Shimizu san, perhaps a distant cousin.)
On this particular day, Shimizu scored two interesting records, both completely off my radar, WDG Big Band & Chor Des Waldörfer Gymnasiums Hamburg (completely absent from any streaming service) and a title by a band that I have never heard of (Seatrain) but one that I am really enjoying as I type this, a sorta of boogie down roots rock sound with kazoo, tuba, vibes, great vocals, and some barrelhouse piano – really fun listen, taking me back to New Orleans, but also filled with some proggy flutes, sentimental ballads, and some country sing-alongs with some futuristic instrumentation. Really a wild album that I feel like I should have known about much sooner – may have to pick this one up at some point.
Sidenote: On the previous day a plan came together rather quickly to host another event on the very following day, a DJ event connected to my “Top 5 series.” I was asked to host an impromptu test-event of sorts, replete with project, presentation, and an afternoon of DJing. My usual Top 5 buds, Michael and bemsha were unavailable to support me so I’d fly solo for this soft launch event. A told Shimizu san about the event and asked if he might want to spin a set. Well, as fate had it, he showed up at the event and ended up spinning for, some, 2 hours straight, including tracks off these records and it totally saved the day! THANK YOU Shimizu san! Last thing: Shimizu san has invited me on several occasions to spin at his events (with cohort Ryan Ryusuke Hisatomi) and I am very much trying to return in kind, so please look out for Shimizu san at a future Top 5 or Tokyo Record Style DJ event!
More Tokyo Record Style on the way!
WDG Big Band & Chor Des Waldörfer Gymnasiums Hamburg* – WDG Bigband & Chor Des Waldörfer Gymnasiums Hamburg
Label: Not On Label – WDG 58 1032, Not On Label – 66.23990
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: Germany
Released: 1986
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul
Style: Big Band, Fusion, Jazz-Funk, Afro-Cuban Jazz, Disco
https://www.discogs.com/release/8446365-WDG-Big-Band-Chor-Des-Wald%C3%B6rfer-Gymnasiums-Hamburg-WDG-Bigband-Chor-Des-Wald%C3%B6rfer-Gymnasiums-Hambu
Seatrain – Watch
Label: Warner Bros. Records – BS 2692
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country, Soul, Fusion, Dixieland, Jazz-Rock, Gospel, Jazz-Funk
https://www.discogs.com/release/1786517-Seatrain-Watch
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