1978 Hideyasu Terakawa Quartet “Introducing Hideyasu Terakawa Quartet Live Featuring Hiroshi Fujii” on Red Horison.

Man, this is such a beautiful record. Thoughtful, compositional, in the pocket modal jazz of exceptional musicianship. It’s Terakawa’s sole release as leader, in truth featuring his tenor and soprano chops as much as Fujii’s slick vibes, which are more Lionel Hampton than Bobby Hutcherson. This is the kind of particularly Japanese jazz filled with tons of empty space, which, if you asked John Cage, is the essence of music, or at least an instrument of its own to be manipulated to emphasize harmony and mood. Aki-Hiro “Thunder” Nakaya is effortlessly casual and reminding no one of a rough weather system, on drums, and Tetsuo Miura a gentle, velvet-gloved support on bass. Of course, the fine people at BBE have released a comprehensive re-issue, which everyone should grab, because it’s an unfairly obscure and finely delivered gem. Not to mention that less than 100 of the OG were initially released. Apparently Red Horison was really more a record store than a label, and Terakawa and Fujii never played together again after this amazingly well-recorded live date. Super elegant, lovely music.