MADE IN JAPAN

MANHATTAN JAZZ QUINTET – (selftitled)

LP  Paddle Wheel ‎– K28P 6313  (Japan, 1984)

The Manhattan Jazz Quintet was formed in 1983 at the suggestion of Japanese jazz magazine Swing Journal and the King record label.  It was an unusual group in that they very rarely performed as a unit in the United States (much less Manhattan) but were a major hit in Japan, both for their recordings and occasional tours.

To everyone's surprise, its first recording (simply called Manhattan Jazz Quintet) became such a big seller that it was awarded Swing Journal's annual 1984 Gold Disk Award as the #1 album in Japan.   The quintet consisted originally – and on this album - of David Matthews on piano, Lew Soloff on trumpet, George Young on tenor sax, Charnett Moffett on bass and Steve Gadd on drums.  There were subsequent changes on later albums.

Due to the group's extremely limited distribution in other countries, it is not well known outside of Japan.  However this album was obviously distributed in Europe as my copy was manufactured by Bellaphon in Germany.

Tracklist.

A1       Summertime

A2       Rosario

A3       Milestones

B1        My Favorite Things

B2        Airegin

B3        Summer Waltz

Credits.

Trumpet – Lew Soloff

Tenor Saxophone – George Young 

Piano – David Matthews

Bass – Charnett Moffett

Drums – Steve Gadd

(LP rip in WAV).