Midnight Sugar

The middle member of the Three Blind Mice “Great Three” is the debut headline performance by legendary Japanese pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Midnight Sugar. This sweet and low session, recorded mere five months before his masterpiece Misty, creates a bewitching mood of late night rambling and soulful yearning. No one in Tee Fujii’s circle of fine players better exemplifed the style and substance of the Three Blind Mice sound and it is evident here in Yamamoto’s first try. Stunning dynamics, wide soundstaging, and idiosyncratic interpretations make Midnight Sugar an enjoyable introduction into the deep world of Japanese jazz.

Available for the first time in pristine 24K gold compact disc, Yamamoto and drummer Tetsujiro Obara and bassist Isoo Fukui make musical poetry of three classic standards (“I’m a Fool to Want You”, “The Nearness of You”, and “It Could Happen to You”), while introducing Yamamoto’s own compositional genius with “Sweet Georgia Blues” and the title track, all captured with the kind of supreme fidelity Three Blind Mice would later be heralded for.

Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio from the same sources as the classic Cisco/Impex 45 rpm vinyl, you can bring one of TBM’s early greats into your listening room, your car, or computer playback system, with the assurance of quality Impex is also heralded for.

Impex has created a dynamic package for this Japanes jazz chestnut, with hardcover book package, new design elements and photos and “Rhythm Planet” host Tom Schnabel’s liner notes, written especially for this release.