It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX

The year 2K3’s slowly reachin’ its limits with holidays for many of us here or there. We nevertheless have thought about those of you stayin’ home, In Da Mix takin’ you on a trip to Far East with Nik Weston’s selection of the latest japanese goodies. Check dis out !

JAPAN’s CORNER with Nik Weston

Gilles Peterson is responsible for the latest collection of Shibuya Jazz Classics series on Solid Records with Trio Issue on CD and there’s a limited edition 7'' vinyl single at the moment with two tracks : “Early Summer“ by Ryo Fukui Trio (awesome !) and Irene Kral with a cover version of “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' on the flip. Other bullets on the album include “Nowin“ by Masuru Imada, Dee Dee Bridgewater's “Love From The Sun“ & “Little B“ + “Tokyo“ by Richie Beirach. I won’t go through the whole tracklisting but you get the general idea and if you have a remote interest in jazz then, I'd say go and buy as your ears will thank you !

Village Again Records continue to release great albums in Japan, often by UK or non japanese artists.There's material from Break Reform, Seek, Directions, Sandboy and Galera, either out recently or to come in the not too distant future on the label.

Incognito have finally had their remixes released and I've seen a few copies floating around London town… Dimitri from Paris, Danny Krivit, Kyoto Jazz Massive, Toshio Matsuura, Yukihiro Fukutomi and Little Big Bee are all represented, so search out.

Recent guests to Tokyo have included Trevor Jackson, Mark De Clive-Lowe featuring Bembe Segue, Jori Hulkkonen, Freq Nasty and The Roots. Meanwhile in London, Sleepwalker from Tokyo ripped up the Jazz Cafe with four days of performance warming up for the legendary Pharoah Saunders here for two nights I was lucky enough to DJ & spin a jazzzzz set. The Sleepwalker 4 piece band, lead by Hajime Yoshizawa, had come to London after they'd done some gigs in Europe including Croatia and Austria. I’ve put some stock of their recent album in some London shops… For the vinyl, check Soulbrother in Putney (www.soulbrother.com) and Sounds Of The Universe just off Berwick Street in London's Soho (0207 494 2004) or www.vinyl-junkies.co.uk. There are also limited quantities of the Japan only CD in Soulbrother & Sounds Of The Universe.

The killer new Bakura 12'' in a fetching purple swifty sleeve (a project of Domu & Marin) is out on Especial now and in all the usual London shops. Check all of the above record emporiums as well as Record Room, Picadilly in Manchester, Store Records in Sheffield, If Records, Release The Groove, Disque in Islington, Dragon etc etc. There will be a new Sleepwalker album in 2004 preceeded by a single featuring Pharoah Saunders. Also soon, two new releases (mid january 2004) of Da Lata and Jazztronik both on vinyl 12“ on the Especial Distribution arm. Both are essential club floor pressure......

Nathan Haines tells me his Japan tour has now been put off to work on projects back in his home country New Zealand, but I'll be venturing over for a DJ tour myself in january, taking in Miyazaki & Kumamoto as well as several dates in Tokyo promoting my japanese compilation, Sakura Aural Bliss album & 4 track EP. Listen to snippets here (http://www.kriztal.com/catalog/enlarge.asp?id=31). It’s a USA CD release but is also available in Japan (or through www.dustygroove.com) and Timewarp in the UK have picked up the vinyl EP for european distribution, so it’s soon to be out.

Fat Jon (the Ohio rapper/producer from the 5 Deez) released an instrumental hipity hop album that only came out in Japan so far. Exceptional Records (www.exceptionalrecords.co.uk) is to release the aformentioned in february preceeded by a single remixed by Swell Session (Gonkyburg's finest ! ) for a massive floorfiller inna disco boogie showdown stylee.

This is the last Japan column till 2004, so I'll see you all next year !

Peace,

NW