Stomu Yamashta - Seasons: The Island Albums 1972-1976 (2022) {7CD Box Set}

• THE FIRST EVER BOXED SET CELEBRATING THE WORK OF STOMU YAMASHTA FOR ISLAND RECORDS BETWEEN 1972 and 1976.

• REMASTERED SET INCLUDING THE ALBUMS ‘FLOATING MUSIC’, ‘THE MAN FROM THE EAST’, ‘FREEDOM IS FRIGHTENING’, ‘ONE BY ONE’, ‘RAINDOG’, ‘GO’ AND ‘GO… LIVE FROM PARIS’.

• FEATURING STEVE WINWOOD, KLAUS SCHULZE, MICHAEL SHRIEVE, AL DI MEOLA, HUGH HOPPER, GARY BOYLE, MORRIS PERT AND MORE.

Born in Kyoto, Japan, Yamashta studied music at Kyoto University and Berklee College of Music. His athletic and virtuoso percussion style came to prominence in the early 1970s when his work with the Red Buddha Theatre brought him to Europe. He teamed up with percussionist Morris Pert and members of his band Come To The Edge to record the album ‘Floating Music’ for Island Records in 1972. This was followed in 1973 by the release of the soundtrack album ‘The Man From The East’, which also featured Morris Pert and keyboard player Peter Robinson.

Later the same year Yamashta formed the band East Wind with Gary Boyle (guitar), Hugh Hopper (bass) and Brian Gascoigne (keyboards) and recorded the excellent jazz rock album ‘Freedom Is Frightening’. This was followed in 1974 by another soundtrack work, ‘One By One’, also featuring a fine ensemble of acclaimed jazz and rock musicians. The 1975 album ‘Raindog’was met with critical acclaim and featured vocal contributions from singer Murray Head.

1976 would see Yamashta’s work reach an ever wider public thanks to his contribution to the soundtrack of the film The Man Who Fell To Earth (starring David Bowie) and the release of his concept album ‘Go’. The outstanding record saw him assemble a cast of outstanding musicians such as Steve Winwood (vocals, keyboards), Michael Shrieve (drums), Al Di Meola (guitar), Pat Thrall (guitar), Klaus Schulze (synthesisers) and Rosko Gee (bass). Featuring stunning arrangements by Paul Buckmaster, the album’s fusion of rock, jazz and electronics was greeted with much acclaim. The success of ‘Go’, led to a series of live concerts in Europe featuring the musicians who had appeared on the album. A concert at the Palais des Sports in Paris in June 1976 was recorded and released later that year.