Yoshio Ikeda Quintet - Sketch of My Life (2024)

Yoshio Ikeda’s debut album returns via Studio Mule, marking the first reissue of a landmark recording by the revered Japanese bassist. Having performed alongside figures such as Sadao Watanabe, Masabumi Kikuchi and Terumasa Hino, Ikeda steps forward here as bandleader with a formidable quintet.

The line-up features pianist and vocalist Ichiko Hashimoto, known for her work with Yellow Magic Orchestra, Berlin-based pianist Aki Takase, and drummer Motohiko Hino. Together they shape a set that balances avant-garde exploration with a distinctly Japanese strain of melancholy.

‘Whispering Weeds’ stands out, driven by urgent piano interplay and Hashimoto’s expressive scat, later highlighted on a BBE compilation. Remastered from the original tapes by Kuniyuki, this edition restores the album with renewed depth and warmth, reaffirming its place in Japan’s modern jazz canon.