Has there ever been such a mysterious 'Footprints' before? This is a masterpiece in which the legendary guitarist Shungo Sawada takes on a new mainstream style of playing. Active since the 1940s, Shungo Sawada built the foundations of the modern jazz scene in Japan through the formation of the famous combo Double Beats and the presidency of the Mocambo Sessions. Although he is a legendary guitarist, he has surprisingly few albums under his own name. Among them, this work 'Formation' from the Victor 'Japanese Jazz' series is Sawada's ambitious work and is highly regarded as his masterpiece. The album opens with Wayne Shorter's 'Footprints'. It is dignified and refined, but there is a hint of simplicity in it's cool appearance, making it very tasteful. The album also features the explosive and fast-paced 'Formation' and the jazz-rock approach of 'Unlucky Guy,' before concluding with 'Chief Crazy Horse,' also written by Shorter. The album is diverse yet unified in tone, making it an extremely polished album. It's a special release that captures the image of the 'new mainstream' in Japan. Text by Ogawa Yusuke (UNIVERSOUNDS / DEEP JAZZ REALITY)
