The Joy of Meeting and the Sorrow of Parting Are Two Sides of the Same Coin

Spring is said to be a season of new beginnings, but it is also a season of farewells. Forgive me for starting with a personal matter, but my child, now in junior high, declared they wanted their own room. This prompted me to finally tackle the organization of my own workspace, which had become a mountain of CDs, records, music equipment, and documents, resembling a storage unit more than a room. I decided to sell about 3,000 records to a specialty shop and rent a trunk room (storage) for another 5,000 records and various other "mountains" of belongings.

First, I packed records and CDs into the shipping boxes provided by the specialty store. Records I thought I might not listen to often, but could potentially use someday, were designated for the trunk room. The same applied to documents and important sound sources. By clearing out my room, I managed to secure a corner of the living room to set up about 1,000 records and a minimal amount of music equipment, thus reaching an agreement with my child.

I can't help but feel that perhaps no definitive resolution was necessary, but without an occasion like this, I would never have dared to enter that room, nor would I have wasted an hour searching for a single record. In that sense, it was a valuable opportunity.

Each record I acquire carries its own memories. I've often spent nearly 3,000 yen on shipping and cash-on-delivery fees for a 1,800 yen record purchased online. There was also the time I had to go to customs to pick up a record I'd won at an overseas auction that never arrived. And I've even returned from a trip to Europe with a record I bought for 200 euros, only to find the same one already at home.

Disposing of 3,000 records means letting go of all those memories as well. While I don't know who they'll end up with, I hope they find homes with appreciative listeners. However, buying records is my job, so even as I'm getting rid of them, I find myself browsing record stores and making new purchases. I check online sites daily, and even as I write this, couriers are arriving one after another. Despite my efforts to reduce my collection, it continues to grow.

I never digitize my records for archival purposes. I believe that encounters and partings are all part of the "karma." It's a state of being, perhaps even a "drunkenness," that comes with being a record enthusiast.

Speaking of which, I bought another expensive record this week. In the 1970s, jazz labels run by Black artists, linked to the Civil Rights Movement, emerged in the United States, such as TRIBE and BLACK JAZZ. These labels were characterized by their unique sound, incorporating elements of African music, spirituality, groove, and hymns, reflecting a return to their roots.

While these records are highly sought after by DJs due to their recent reappraisal on dance floors, I've always been captivated by European jazz. I had relegated these particular works to the realm of collectors or DJs, considering them outside my personal scope (after all, one must make choices; it's impossible to follow all of jazz). However, fortunately or unfortunately, I had the chance to listen to one at "Universal Sounds," a record store in Koenji. The impact was so profound, it felt like a blow to the head, and I found myself rushing to the ATM.

(AROJ-1001)

The price was equivalent to one month's rent for a small studio. What a busy "season of meetings and farewells" this has been.

The Second Spin-Off in the "Tatsuo Sunaga's Yo-Jazz" Series is Released

The second spin-off in the "Tatsuo Sunaga's Yo-Jazz" series, a jazz compilation album that can be considered Tatsuo Sunaga's life's work, has been electrifyingly released by Playwright.

Starting with bohemianvoodoo, and featuring exclusive tracks (first time for national distribution) from the 10th-anniversary best albums of PRIMITIVE ART ORCHESTRA and TRI4TH, it culminates with fox capture plan.—This compilation not only delights fans of the Playwright label but, by bringing together 16 tracks from bands currently active in Japan with "jazz" as their keyword, offers a compelling answer to the question of why the Japanese jazz scene is thriving today.

A miraculous album, made possible by someone who has been at the forefront of the scene for over 30 years as a DJ, watching over its evolution!

“Tatsuo Sunaga's Yo-Jazz Spin-Off 2”

Price | ¥2,315 (excluding tax)
Release Date | May 25 (Wed)
Label | Playwright
Compiled by Tatsuo Sunaga

Tatsuo SUNAGA
DJ/producer, including his solo unit "Sunaga t experience." As a DJ, he hosts regular parties in Tokyo and Osaka and has performed in all 47 prefectures of Japan. He has also held numerous overseas performances in Europe and Asia. His "World Standard" mix CD series spans 10 installments, and his jazz compilation album "Tatsuo Sunaga's Yo-Jazz," considered his life's work, has over 15 releases. He has also produced numerous compilation CDs for domestic and international labels. In addition to many remix works, he has released four albums with his solo unit "Sunaga t experience." His latest works include "Yo-Jazz Digs Venus Opus 1-5" (Venus), "World Standard Crazy Ken Band" (UNIVERSAL), and "Vee Jay no Yo-Jazz" (Victor). Including compilations he has supervised or produced, and overseas remix projects, his related works exceed 200 titles. The activities of Japan's busiest "Record Bancho" (Record Boss) are closely watched by various industries.
http://sunaga-t.com/