Adventurous big band jazz featuring such renowned composers and arrangers as Masao Yagi, Kiyoshi Yamaya, Norio Maeda, and Masahiko Sato. This is Sharps & Flats' greatest masterpiece.
Sharps and Flats, led by Hara Nobuo, has led the Japanese big band jazz scene with its diverse activities and outstanding musicality. In their long career, they have produced many works, but this album, "Little Giant," is considered to be one of their masterpieces. The original was released in 1970 as part of Victor's "Japanese Jazz" series. Notable features include the participation of such distinguished composers and arrangers as Yagi Masao, Yamaya Kiyoshi, Maeda Norio, and Sato Masahiko. In addition to the original songs by each member, they also perform a unique arrangement of a song by Oliver Nelson, who has a close relationship with Sharps and Flats. The arrangements are adventurously detailed, and the performance quality is high to make it a reality. The hipness of "Little Giant," the strength of "Dark Horse," the sharpness of "Orbit 8:11," the elegance of "Flexibility"... The dynamic performance with just the right amount of tension is captivating. This is a masterpiece that brings out the best of Sharps and Flats' talent and charm. [Text by Yusuke Ogawa (UNIVERSOUNDS / DEEP JAZZ REALITY)]
