Three Blind MIce (TBM): TBM 1-50(1970-1975)

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Probably best known label, presenting its own specific sound and excellent sound quality is German ECM ("ECM sound" is widely known tag for characteristic cool,groovy-less jazz,heavily influenced by European chamber music). It's less known that Japanese jazz at the same time had established their own "audiophile label" - Three Blind Mice. Founded in 1970 and active till late 70s, this label released about 130 jazz albums, mostly of excellent quality (sound and music itself).

Differently from ECM sound, TBM sound is rich,acoustic,very groovy,often warm,with deep physical bass - of excellent mix and instruments balance. In fact, almost all leading Japanese labels starting from late 60s are known by their near audiophile sound quality, but TBM is king among them. For decades TBM releases had their fans and collectors, and generally were expensive collectors rarities. During some last years there are lot of re-released on CD TBM albums on market (often of SACD or SHM-CD quality),so even if still not so cheap, lot of TBM classic recordings are accessible for listeners.

First ever TBM album was released in 1970 - sax player Kohsuke Mine Quintet's debut "Mine" (TBM-1).Re-issued on SACD in 2007

TBM 2: Pianist Masaru Imada Quartet, four leader originals, ballads and freer hard-bop

TBM 5:  Rare Western musician release on TBM - German free jazz trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff concert in Japan. Extremely rare album, almost unknown

TBM 6 is Mingus-influenced bassist Hideto Kanai Group's album (Kosuke Mine plays here as well) - freer work than "Mine". Reissued on SACD and Blue-spec by Sony.One of Japanese free jazz classic

listen here:

http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/mp3/hideto-kanai/5011

TBM 7 is American sax player Allan Praskin album "Encounter". Quite a rare release, reissued on CD by TBM (TBM CD 1807).  

TBM 10 recorded live by group of Japanese progressive musicians under "New Direction For The Arts" project tag. Reissued on SADCD under one of collective member's - guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi name

Edited by snobb - 05 Apr 2015 at 2:08am

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Three Blind MIce (TBM): TBM 1-50(1970-1975) Posted: 29 Apr 2014 at 3:03am
	Probably best known label, presenting its own specific sound and excellent sound quality is German ECM ("ECM sound" is widely known tag for characteristic cool,groovy-less jazz,heavily influenced by European chamber music). It's less known that Japanese jazz at the same time had established their own "audiophile label" - Three Blind Mice. Founded in 1970 and active till late 70s, this label released about 130 jazz albums, mostly of excellent quality (sound and music itself). Differently from ECM sound, TBM sound is rich,acoustic,very groovy,often warm,with deep physical bass - of excellent mix and instruments balance. In fact, almost all leading Japanese labels starting from late 60s are known by their near audiophile sound quality, but TBM is king among them. For decades TBM releases had their fans and collectors, and generally were expensive collectors rarities. During some last years there are lot of re-released on CD TBM albums on market (often of SACD or SHM-CD quality),so even if still not so cheap, lot of TBM classic recordings are accessible for listeners. First ever TBM album was released in 1970 - sax player Kohsuke Mine Quintet's debut "Mine" (TBM-1).Re-issued on SACD in 2007 TBM 2: Pianist Masaru Imada Quartet, four leader originals, ballads and freer hard-bop TBM 5: Rare Western musician release on TBM - German free jazz trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff concert in Japan. Extremely rare album, almost unknown TBM 6 is Mingus-influenced bassist Hideto Kanai Group's album (Kosuke Mine plays here as well) - freer work than "Mine". Reissued on SACD and Blue-spec by Sony.One of Japanese free jazz classic listen here: http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/mp3/hideto-kanai/5011 TBM 7 is American sax player Allan Praskin album "Encounter". Quite a rare release, reissued on CD by TBM (TBM CD 1807). TBM 10 recorded live by group of Japanese progressive musicians under "New Direction For The Arts" project tag. Reissued on SADCD under one of collective member's - guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi name Edited by snobb - 05 Apr 2015 at 2:08am

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Apr 2014 at 1:37am
	TBM 11 - Shigeko Toya & Masaru Imada Trio, it looks has never been reissued on CD . TBM 12 - Sunao Wada's "Coco's Blues", reissued on CD in 2000(TBM-XR-0012) .Takehiro Honda on piano: TBM 13 - drummer George Otsuka's "Go On", another rarity TBM 14 - Masaru Imada's "Poppy", pianist debut album TBM 15 - legendary Japanese bassist Isao Suzuki "Blow Up",reissued on CD in 1998 and as double LP (vinyl) in 2008. Eclectic collection of tuneful pop-jazz,post-bop and fusion listen here: http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/mp3/isao-suzuki/4671 Edited by snobb - 28 Sep 2016 at 12:47am

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 May 2014 at 12:57am
	TBM 16 - vocalist Shigeko Toya's album, extremely rare, it looks has never been reissued. Both guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi and pianist Masaru Imada play here. TBM 17 is well known Terumasa Hino Quintet final album (live). One of Japanese classic album TBM 18 - Japanese bassist Teruo Nakamura US-recorded fusion album with lot of American jazz and fusion artists as guests (incl. Alphonse Mouzon,Lenny White,Ronald Jackson,George Cables,etc) TBM 19 - trombonist Hiroshi Fukumura Quintet post-bop album listen here: http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/mp3/hiroshi-fukumura/5012 TBM 20 - another rarity, Sadao Watanabe's bassist Naosuke Miyamoto debut solo album "Step!". Excellent post-bop. listen here: http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/mp3/naosuke-miyamoto/5010 Edited by snobb - 05 Apr 2015 at 2:18am

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 May 2014 at 2:21am
	TBM 21: debut album of jazz and pop singer Mari Nakamoto (incl. sax player Akira Miyazawa).She will become TBM regular artist later TBM 22: TBM 23: pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto "Midnight Sugar" TBM 24: Second on TBM legendary bassist Isao Suzuki album - "Blue City" TBM 25: Second guitarist Sunao Wada album on TBM, "Blues World": Edited by snobb - 29 Jan 2017 at 4:15am

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 May 2014 at 1:57am
	Next four albums are all live recordings coming from "5 Days In Jazz 1974" festival TBM 26: pianist Kunihiko Sugano "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" TBM 27: alto sax player Kenji Mori and pianist Hideo Ichikawa Trio's split release TBM 28: Bassist Takashi Mizuhashi album "Whan A Man Loves A woman" (live) TBM 29: legendary bassist Isao Suzuki led all-stars trio (with guitarist Sunao Wada and drummer Tsuyoshi Yamamoto) plus second drummer George Otsuka as guest TBM 30: piano player Tsuyoshi Yamamoto trio album "Misty" Edited by snobb - 17 Apr 2016 at 5:49am

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 2014 at 2:01am
	TBM 31: second bassist Takashi Mizuhashi album on TBM TBM 32: significant release - Japanese veteran orchestras lead Toshiyuki Miyama with his "New Herd" plays Monterey'74! Toshiyuki is one of very first Japanese progressive big band leader and most influencial genre artist TBM 33: vocalist Mari Nakamoto album "Little Girl Blue" TBM 34: one of most popular Japanese jazz vocalist Kimiko Kasai album with Kosuke Mine quartet on support TBM 35: drummer George Otsuka album "You Are My Sunshine" TBM 36: bassist Isao Suzuki album "All Right!", with gutarist Kazumi Watanabe TBM 37: second pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto album on TBM, live one Edited by snobb - 29 Jan 2017 at 4:16am

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09 May 2014 at 2:41pm
	TBM 38: sax player Takashi Furuta - "Solitude" (1975), obscure release TBM 39: pianist Imada Masaru trio fusion album "Green Caterpillar", one of Japanese jazz golden collection release: Edited by snobb - 17 Mar 2016 at 4:59pm

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 May 2014 at 1:46am
	TBM 40: lesser known vocalist Yoshiko Goto,with bassist Takashi Mizuhashi Quartet: TBM 41: pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio's "Blues For Tee",live recordings,great straight-ahead jazz: Edited by snobb - 01 Nov 2015 at 12:15pm

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 May 2014 at 4:22am
	TBM 42: Pianist Masaru Imada debut for TBM reissue (originally released in 1970 as TBM 2). TBM 43: another rarity, bassist and guitarist duo TBM 44: album from Japanese jazz golden collection, bassist Isao Suzuki classic work "Orang-Utan" Edited by snobb - 25 Oct 2014 at 4:50pm

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 May 2014 at 2:10am
	TBM 45: two compositions ,credited to Hideto Kanai (one is his own,the other - Masahiko Sato's),played by unusual brass/percussion quintet (no Kanai participated) Edited by snobb - 17 Mar 2016 at 5:02pm

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 May 2014 at 2:21am
	TBM 46: Hidefumi Toki Quartet with guitarist Kazumi Watanabe Edited by snobb - 25 Oct 2014 at 4:52pm

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 May 2014 at 2:23am
	TBM 47: one more Masaru Imada album Edited by snobb - 01 Nov 2015 at 12:16pm

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 May 2014 at 2:28am
	TBM 48: live recordings of probably most popular Japanese progressive big band of that time - Toshiyuki Miyama New Herd. Recorded in "5 Days In Jazz'75" Jazz Festival

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 May 2014 at 2:31am
	TBM 49: Guitarist Sunao Wada Quintet play live with Hitomi Ueda and Ushio Sakai Trio,recorded on the same Fest as above. Three Charlie Parker compositions, one Sunao original Edited by snobb - 01 Nov 2015 at 12:17pm

snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 29520	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 May 2014 at 9:36am
	TBM 50 : singer Sanae Mizushima album Edited by snobb - 01 Nov 2015 at 12:18pm