snobb
Kosuke Mine is a Japanese reeds player better known by his collaboration on sound early Japanese advanced jazz albums, partially playing in pianist Masabumi Kikuchi late-60s sextet and percussionist Masahiko Togashi more straight band few decades later.
Mine released some albums as leader as well, some earliest releases are high-rated obscurities between Japanese jazz collectors. "Mine" LP is important not only as early Kohsuke advanced release,but even more as very first album released on just established Japanese legendary label Three Blind Mice,known by his audiophile quality and accessible but advanced repertoire (especially during first years of existence).
Full-Japanese quintet play quite characteristic for the time hard/post bop hybrid with anchoring mainstream rhythm section and freer soloists, especially Kohsuke on alto/soprano sax and keyboardist Hideo Ichikawa. Three sextet originals plus Joe Henderson "Isotope" all sound pretty nice, with delicate and restrained rhythm,melodic but freer Kosuke solos and tasteful Rhodes licks. Well-balanced mix and uncompressed sound are both pros too on this not too original but professional and well-played album.
Not on the level of adventuress of Japanese avant-garde jazz of the time, "Mine" is nice work for those searching on advanced mainstream jazz of 60s or 70s,rooted in Dolphy's free-bop.