RhoDeo 1125 J-Groove

Hello, well i stretched the perception of what is groove somewhat here , yet any orchestra needs a groove, in a classical orchestra's it's the director that lays it down. Todays groove is a translation made from ska which originated in Jamaica in the late fifties. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. It is characterized by a walking bass line accented with rhythms on the upbeat.
Tokyo Spa Paradise Orchestra is made up by experienced musicians that went beyond mere jamming together and found that Ska was an excellent focal point with its roots in bigband jazz and rhythm and blues to solidify their music and taking the energy they got from it and shape them into a big band ska outfit. That with powerful, punchy arrangements re-creates not just the jump-up energy of ska but takes on big band jazz, swing, dub even some drum and bass and makes it their own, in short there's nothing like TSPO on this planet.

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Formed by percussionist Asa-Chang, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra quickly gained popularity. Within two years of their debut release -- an eponymous 12" single released in 1989 -- and only a year after their debut album, Ska Para Toujou, dropped, the group emerged from Tokyo's underground scene to play Japan's most prestigious venue, the Budokan in Tokyo, to a crowd of 10,000. By 1993 Asa-Chang departed, which led to a reassessment of the band's working methods but ultimately ensured Ska Para's longevity. From now on, all members would take a role in arrangement and production.

Their third album, Pioneers, marked the last recording of the band with founder Asa-Chang, who decided to pursue a solo career in 93. Fantasia was recorded as a 10 piece with no permanent replacement on percussion. While the band worked on their fifth album, vocalist Cleanhead Gimura lost his ongoing battle with brain cancer and died. Grand Prix was released in 1995 as a tribute to the singer. This record continued the band’s progression into a more pop-oriented sound, and it featured a number of guest musicians and singers.

After Tokyo Strut, the band decided to leave Epic Records, as there was a feeling that the label had not been able to properly convert their popularity into record sales. They signed with indie label Avex Trax, who also created an exclusive imprint for them, Justa Record. The band recruited Rui Sugimura (brother of Cleanhead Gimura) as a full-time singer. This would become the band’s most prolific period, with a number of releases, including the Arkestra album, and various 12” and 7” records
for Justa Record. The band embarked on an ambitious tour of Japan (documented on the DVD Ska Evangelists on the Run). During this Arkestra tour, original drummer Tatsuyuki Aoki died in a train accident.

Nevertheless 80% of the band is still the same as the one of the beginning - with the whole original woodwind and brass section, composed of the best brass players of the East, trumpetist “Nargo” Nagoya, trombonist Kitahara, the indefatigable sax-guitarist-dancer Hiyamuta, tenor sax Gamo and the amazing baritone sax Yanaka. There are also the great keyboard player Oki and bass player Kawakami, who is now mixing so well with new drummer Motegi as he used to do with Aoki.

Despite the upheavals, TSPO released arguably their best album, Full-Tension Beaters, in 2000, on the Avex label. The album became the group's debut European release and a tour there soon followed. For their next record, Stomping on Downbeat Alley, the band invited three guest singers, the album and singles were a huge success and a gig at Yokohama Arena (with all three guest singers) was released as Downbeat Arena. The band also embarked on a European tour which was documented on the DVD Catch the Rainbow. High Numbers (2003) was a more low-profile release, having mostly instrumental tracks, along with Kin-Ichi Motegi’s first lead vocal track, "Ginga to Meiro". 2005’s Answer was a similar affair.

For 2006’s Wild Peace, the band once again recruited three guest vocalists: Chara, Hanaregumi, and Hiroto Komoto (The High-Lows). As with Downbeat Alley these singles became huge hits, and the band also recorded a DVD at the final show for the tour, with all three singers. They once again toured Europe with this record. The DVD Smile was released to document this tour. Perfect Future soon followed, with more jazz leanings, and only one guest vocalist, Fumio Ito (of Kemuri). Kin-Ichi Motegi also recorded a vocal track for this album.

A few months after the release of Perfect Future, Tatsuyuki Hiyamuta decided to officially leave the band in order to concentrate on healing his legs, due to an accident he suffered in 1996. It left a big void in the band’s live performance, as Hiyamuta’s role was that of agitate man, talking to crowds and essentially operating as front man. The band has decided not to replace him, thereby remaining as a nine piece. In early 2009 Paradise Blue was released, with the first line-up difference in almost a decade. This marks the 20th anniversary since the band’s first EP was released, and they have been busy touring Japan in support of the album. Their latest album thusfar is World Ska Symphony released last year, featuring guest vocals from Tamio Okuda, Crystal Kay, and Kazuyoshi Saito.

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This is a rare compilation of TSPO's (12") singles they did for "their" Justa Record label, it includes work they did in the guise of Hot Hip Trampoline School aswell, almost none of it reached western shores although obviously it has been part of their reportoire, compiled by the band this guarantees party time all around.

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra - Justa Record Compilation Vol 1.1 (flac  454mb)

101 Jon Lord (FPM Die Guy Mix) 6:43
102 'Jazzie' Speaks (Gaga Mix) 6:10
103 Ring O 'Fire (Love Sound System remix) 6:53
104 One Night (Jazz Brothers Mix) 6:41
105 All Is changed With Time (Chop the Beat Mix) 5:51
106 Brass Rockers ( FPM Afro Voice Ensemble) 6:35
107 Ska Jerk (Tsutchie Mix) 5:56
108 Abracadabra (Moodman Remix) 4:27
109 'Jazzie' Speaks (The Jazzie Samba Version) 9:01
110 'Jazzie' Speaks (The Piano Dub) 6:49

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Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra - Justa Record Compilation Vol 1.2 (flac  479mb)

211 Attack Of Fever 4:14
212 Attack Of Fever (Dub) 4:04
213 Jon Lord 3:38
214 Jon Lord (Dub) 3:19
215 Sun Fish 5:08
216 Sun Fish (Dub) 5:03
217 The E Movin' Dub (On The Whole Red Satellites) 5:07
218 Ring O 'Fire (Blue Flame Dub) 5:37
219 Ska Jerk (Dub) 4:55
220 Ska Jerk 4:53
221 Compared To What 4:22
222 One Night (Aco Vocal Version) 5:30
223 Pre-Emptive Counter-Strike 3:50
224 Skaravan (Roc-Ska 02 Mix) 3;02
225 'Jazzie' Speaks (The Ska House Version) 7:15

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Ska may be the heart and soul of their music, but TSPO are equally adept at reggae, big-band swing , jazz-laced romance, easygoing sophistication, and even dub. Culled from their previous 3 albums, Ska Me Crazy showcases the best of the group's exceptional musicianship, but it's the knees-up skankers that send the skins and checkerboarded crowds into a frenzy, and the album is stuffed with a multitude of these as well, with the R&B-doused "Howlin' Wolves," anthemic "Down Beat Stomp," and exuberant live title track guaranteed to send you into a dancing frenzy.

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra – Ska Me Crazy (flac  409mb)

01 The Last Bandolero 3:51
02 5 Days Of Tequila 3:48
03 A Quick Drunkard 3:35
04 Call From Rio 3:16
05 Soul Growl 4:42
06 (We Know It's) All Or Nothing 3:20
07 Skull Collector 3:56
08 Howlin' Wolves 3:03
09 Natty Parade 3:59
10 Lovers' Walk 5:16
11 The Movin' Dub (On The Whole Red Satellites) 5:09
12 Film-Makers Bleed 3:46
13 Theme From Enter The Dragon 4:08
14 Down Beat Stomp 4:18
15 Ska Me Crazy (Live At Eurockeénnes) 3:20

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