record label
"Big Three" music labels
A record label or record company is a brand or trademark of Sound recording and reproduction, music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a Music publisher, ...
founded in June 1970 as a showcase for Japan's emerging jazz performers. More than 130 albums have been released since then. So far they have won the Jazz Disc Award five times in
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
. Produced by
Takeshi Fujii
is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9- dan. He is a former Ryūō title holder, and a former non-executive director of the Japan Shogi Association.
Fujii is known for developing the Fujii System, a class of strategies for Fourth F ...
and often recorded by the Yoshihiko Kannari, TBM created jazz records by Japanese players since the 1970s and became known for its audiophile sound quality. TBM's records captured a very important, vibrant era in the development of Japanese jazz. Stars like
Isao Suzuki
was a Japanese jazz double-bassist.
Biography
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Suzuki learned to play bass on United States military bases, and played early in his career with Shotaro Moriyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Sadao Watanabe. He led his own ense ...
,
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
,
George Kawaguchi Joji "George" Kawaguchi (川口譲二) (June 15, 1927, Fukakusa, Kyoto - November 1, 2003, Tokyo) was a Japanese jazz drummer and bandleader.
Kawaguchi was raised in Dairen, Manchukuo, at that time a Japanese-occupied territory. He played in his f ...
,
Terumasa Hino
is a Japanese jazz trumpeter. He is considered one of Japan's finest jazz musicians. His instruments include the trumpet, cornet, and flügelhorn.
Early life
He was born in Tokyo, Japan, and his father was a trumpeter and tap dancer. Hino start ...
and Mari Nakamoto recorded their very first albums with the label. Artists also include Shuko Mizuno's "Jazz Orchestra '73", Toshiyuko Miyama and Masaru Imada.
Discography
*TBM-1
Kosuke Mine
Kosuke Mine (峰厚介) (born Kenji Wakabayashi, February 6, 1944, Tokyo) is a Japanese jazz saxophonist.
Mine played clarinet as a youth before switching to saxophone as a teenager. He began recording as a leader around 1970, and worked during th ...
Quintet -Mine (LP) 1970
*TBM-2
Masaru Imada
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Imada was born in Tokyo on 21 March 1932. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University
is a Private university, private research ...
Kosuke Mine
Kosuke Mine (峰厚介) (born Kenji Wakabayashi, February 6, 1944, Tokyo) is a Japanese jazz saxophonist.
Mine played clarinet as a youth before switching to saxophone as a teenager. He began recording as a leader around 1970, and worked during th ...
Quintet -2nd Album (LP) 1970
*TBM-5
Albert Mangelsdorff
Albert Mangelsdorff (September 5, 1928 – July 25, 2005) was a German jazz trombonist. Working mainly in free jazz, he was an innovator in multiphonics.
Early life
Mangelsdorff was born in Frankfurt on September 5, 1928, as the son of the book ...
Quartet -Diggin' - Live At Dug, Tokyo (LP) 1971
*TBM-6 Hideto Kanai Group -Q (LP)
*TBM-7
Allan Praskin
Allan Conrad Praskin (December 17, 1948, in Los Angeles) is an American jazz musician (alto saxophone player, composer and bandleader). He has been living in Europe for more than 30 years.
Life and works
Praskin had clarinette lessons when he ...
Quartet -Encounter (LP, Album) 1971
*TBM-8 Kimiko Kasai With
Kosuke Mine
Kosuke Mine (峰厚介) (born Kenji Wakabayashi, February 6, 1944, Tokyo) is a Japanese jazz saxophonist.
Mine played clarinet as a youth before switching to saxophone as a teenager. He began recording as a leader around 1970, and worked during th ...
Quartet -Yellow Carcass In The Blue (LP) 1971
*TBM-9
Masayuki Takayanagi
was a Japanese jazz / free improvisation / noise musician. He was active in the Japanese jazz scene from the late 1950s. In the 1960s he formed New Direction (later New Direction Unit), which recorded several albums throughout the 1970s. He also ...
& New Century Music Institute -Ginparis Session - June 26, 1963 (LP) 1971
*TBM-10 New Direction For The Arts -Free Form Suite (LP, Album) 1972
*TBM-11 Toya Shigeko With The Imada Masaru Trio (LP) 1972
*TBM-12 Sunao Wada Quartet/Sextet -Coco's Blues' (LP) 1972
*TBM-13 George Otsuka Quintet -Go On (LP) 1972
*TBM-14
Masaru Imada
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Imada was born in Tokyo on 21 March 1932. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University
is a Private university, private research ...
Solo/Trio -Poppy (LP) 1973
*TBM-15
Isao Suzuki
was a Japanese jazz double-bassist.
Biography
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Suzuki learned to play bass on United States military bases, and played early in his career with Shotaro Moriyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Sadao Watanabe. He led his own ense ...
Trio/Quartet -Blow Up (LP) 1973
*TBM-16 Shigeko Toya & Her Jazz Friends -Fine And Mellow (LP) 1973
*TBM-17
Terumasa Hino
is a Japanese jazz trumpeter. He is considered one of Japan's finest jazz musicians. His instruments include the trumpet, cornet, and flügelhorn.
Early life
He was born in Tokyo, Japan, and his father was a trumpeter and tap dancer. Hino start ...
Quintet -Live! (LP) 1973
*TBM-18
Teruo Nakamura
was a Taiwanese soldier of the Imperial Japanese Army who fought for Japan in World War II and did not surrender until 1974. He was the last known Japanese holdout to surrender after the end of hostilities in 1945.
Military service
Nakamura ...
Masaru Imada
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Imada was born in Tokyo on 21 March 1932. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University
is a Private university, private research ...
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
Trio -Midnight Sugar (LP) 1974
*TBM-24
Isao Suzuki
was a Japanese jazz double-bassist.
Biography
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Suzuki learned to play bass on United States military bases, and played early in his career with Shotaro Moriyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Sadao Watanabe. He led his own ense ...
Quartet Plus One -Blue City (LP) 1974
*TBM-25 Sunao Wada Quartet/Quintet -Blues World (LP) 1974
*TBM-26 Kunihiko Sugano Trio +1 -Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (LP) 1974
*TBM-27 Kenji Mori, Hideo Ichikawa Trio -Solo & Trio (LP) 1974
*TBM-28 Takashi Mizuhashi Quartet+2 -When A Man Loves A Woman (LP) 1974
*TBM-29
Isao Suzuki
was a Japanese jazz double-bassist.
Biography
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Suzuki learned to play bass on United States military bases, and played early in his career with Shotaro Moriyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Sadao Watanabe. He led his own ense ...
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
Trio, George Otsuka Quintet+2 -Now's The Time (LP) 1974
*TBM-30
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
Kosuke Mine
Kosuke Mine (峰厚介) (born Kenji Wakabayashi, February 6, 1944, Tokyo) is a Japanese jazz saxophonist.
Mine played clarinet as a youth before switching to saxophone as a teenager. He began recording as a leader around 1970, and worked during th ...
Quartet -Yellow Caracas In The Blue (LP) E:TBM-81974
*TBM-35 George Otsuka Trio -You Are My Sunshine (LP) 1974
*TBM-36
Isao Suzuki
was a Japanese jazz double-bassist.
Biography
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Suzuki learned to play bass on United States military bases, and played early in his career with Shotaro Moriyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Sadao Watanabe. He led his own ense ...
Quartet+1 -All Right (LP) 1974
*TBM-37
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
Trio -Live At The Misty (LP) 1974
*TBM-38 Takashi Furuya Quintet -Solitude (LP) 1975
*TBM-39
Masaru Imada
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Imada was born in Tokyo on 21 March 1932. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University
is a Private university, private research ...
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
Trio -Blues For Tee (LP) 1974
*TBM-42
Masaru Imada
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Imada was born in Tokyo on 21 March 1932. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University
is a Private university, private research ...
Isao Suzuki
was a Japanese jazz double-bassist.
Biography
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Suzuki learned to play bass on United States military bases, and played early in his career with Shotaro Moriyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Sadao Watanabe. He led his own ense ...
Masaru Imada
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Imada was born in Tokyo on 21 March 1932. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University
is a Private university, private research ...
Trio -One For Duke (LP) 1975
*TBM-48 Toshiyuki Miyama And The New Herd Orchestra -Take The A Train (LP) 1975
*TBM-49 Sunao Wada Quintet /
Hitomi Ueda
is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Aoni Production. After graduating from 's Osaka campus, she debuted as a voice actress and has starred as Gold Ship in '' Uma Musume Pretty Derby'', Leyli Haltija in '' Warlords of Sigrdrifa'', Hakase ...
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
Trio -The In Crowd (LP) 1974
*TBM-53 Seiichi Nakamura Trio/Quintet -Adventure In My Dream (LP) 1975
*TBM-54 Yoshiko Goto With Inaba & Nakamure Duo -A Touch Of Love (LP) 1975
*TBM-55 Toshiyuki Miyama & The New Herd Plus All-Star Guests* Shuko Mizuno's -"Jazz Orchestra '73" (LP) 1973
*TBM-56 Mari Nakamoto With
Isao Suzuki
was a Japanese jazz double-bassist.
Biography
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Suzuki learned to play bass on United States military bases, and played early in his career with Shotaro Moriyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Sadao Watanabe. He led his own ense ...
&
Kazumi Watanabe
is a Japanese guitarist. Other guitarists such as Luke Takamura and Sugizo have cited him as an influence.
Career
Watanabe learned guitar at the age of 12 from Sadanori Nakamure at the Yamaha Music School in Tokyo. He released his first album ...
Duo -Mari Nakamoto III (LP) 1975
*TBM-57
Isao Suzuki
was a Japanese jazz double-bassist.
Biography
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Suzuki learned to play bass on United States military bases, and played early in his career with Shotaro Moriyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Sadao Watanabe. He led his own ense ...
& His Fellows -Touch (LP) 1975
*TBM-58 Koji Moriyama With The
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
Trio -Night And Day (LP) 1975
*TBM-59
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
Masaru Imada
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Imada was born in Tokyo on 21 March 1932. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University
is a Private university, private research ...
-Masaru Imada Piano (LP) 1975
*TBM-61
Motohiko Hino
Motohiko "Toko" Hino (January 3, 1946 in Tokyo – May 13, 1999) was a Japanese jazz drummer.
Hino's father, who was a dancer and musician, taught Hino and his brother, Terumasa Hino, tap dancing as children.George Otsuka Quintet -Physical Structure (LP) 1976
*TBM-63
Isao Suzuki
was a Japanese jazz double-bassist.
Biography
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Suzuki learned to play bass on United States military bases, and played early in his career with Shotaro Moriyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Sadao Watanabe. He led his own ense ...
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
Trio -Summertime (LP) 1976
*TBM-70 Toshiyuki Miyama & The New Herd -The World Of Shuko Mizuno (LP) 1976
*TBM-71 Shigeko Toya, Mari Nakamoto With The
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
Isao Suzuki
was a Japanese jazz double-bassist.
Biography
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Suzuki learned to play bass on United States military bases, and played early in his career with Shotaro Moriyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Sadao Watanabe. He led his own ense ...
Sextet -Ako's Dream (LP) 1976
*TBM-77
Masaru Imada
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Imada was born in Tokyo on 21 March 1932. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University
is a Private university, private research ...
Trio -Standards (LP) 1976
*TBM-78 Isoo Fukui Quartet -Sunrise Sunset (LP) 1976
*TBM-1001 Toshiyuki Miyama & The New Herd Plus All-Star Guests* Shuko Mizuno's -"Jazz Orchestra '73" (LP) E:TBM-551973
*TBM-1002.3 George Otsuka Quintet -In Concert (2LP) 1973
*TBM-1004 Toshiyuki Miyama & The New Herd + All Star Guests -Shuko Mizuno's Jazz Orchestra '75" (LP) 1975
*TBM-1005 Tatsuya Takahashi and The Tokyo Union + 3 -Scandinavian Suite (LP) 1977
*TBM-3001 Tatsuya Takahashi and The Tokyo Union -Maiden Voyage (LP) 1976
*TBM-3002 Kunio Ohta Quintet -My Back Page (LP) 1976
*TBM-3003 Kenji Mori Quartet -Firebird (LP) 1977
*TBM-3004
Fumio Karashima
was a Japanese jazz pianist.
Life and career
Karashima began playing the piano at the age of three. His father was a music teacher at Kyushu University; Karashima attended the same university. He stayed in New York in 1973, but returned to Japa ...
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
And The Strings -Mr. Wonderful (LP) 1977
*TBM-3009
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
Isao Suzuki
was a Japanese jazz double-bassist.
Biography
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Suzuki learned to play bass on United States military bases, and played early in his career with Shotaro Moriyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Sadao Watanabe. He led his own ense ...
And
Masaru Imada
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Imada was born in Tokyo on 21 March 1932. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University
is a Private university, private research ...
-Blues-Blues-Blues (LP) 1977
*TBM-5002 Koji Moriyama +
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
Trio -Smile (LP) 1977
*TBM-5003
Masaru Imada
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Imada was born in Tokyo on 21 March 1932. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University
is a Private university, private research ...
&
George Mraz
George Mraz (born Jiří Mráz; 9 September 1944 – 16 September 2021) was a Czech-born American jazz bassist and alto saxophonist. He was a member of Oscar Peterson's group, and worked with Pepper Adams, Stan Getz, Michel Petrucciani, Stepha ...
Masaru Imada
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Imada was born in Tokyo on 21 March 1932. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University
is a Private university, private research ...
Quartet -Remember Of Love (LP) 1978
*TBM-5008 Tee & Company -Spanish Flower (LP) 1977
*TBM-5009 Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio - Midnight Sun (LP) 1978
*TBM 5010 Bingo Miki & Inner Galaxy Orchestra (LP) 1978
*TBM-5011 Shoji Yokouchi Trio Plus Yuri Tashiro - Greensleeves (LP) 1978
*TBM-5012 Hideto Kanai Quintet - Concierto De Aranjuez (LP) 1978
*TBM-5013 Ayako Hosokawa With T. Miyama & The New Herd - Call Me (LP) 1979
*TBM(P)-5014 Hidehiko Matsumoto Quartet - Samba De Sun (LP) 1979
*TBM(P)-5015 Hideto Kanai Quintet - What (LP) 1979
*TBM(P)-5016 Toshiyuki Miyama & The New Herd - Gallery (LP) 1979
*TBM(P)-5018 Jojo Takayanagi Second Concept - Cool Jojo (LP) 1980
*TBM(P)-5019
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Yamamoto was largely self-taught as a pianist, although he did have piano lessons as a child. He attended Nihon University. As a student there, he played professionally, first as an accom ...
Trio -Live in Montreux (LP)
*TBM(P)-5020 Mari Nakamoto - What A Difference A Day Made (LP) 1980
*TBM(P)-5022 Zap - Oh! Sunshine (LP) 1980
*TBM(P)-5023 New Direction Unit - Live At Moers Festival (LP) 1980
*PAP-25022 Eiji Nakayama With
Masaru Imada
is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career
Imada was born in Tokyo on 21 March 1932. He had classical piano lessons. He played jazz in student bands while a student at Meiji University
is a Private university, private research ...
Shunzo Ohno
is a Japanese trumpeter, composer and arranger.
In 1974 Ohno accepted Art Blakey's offer and went to the U.S. He made recordings in cooperation with famous musicians, and some of his songs sold very well. He played active parts as a member of M ...
Duke Jordan
Irving Sidney "Duke" Jordan (April 1, 1922 – August 8, 2006) was an American jazz pianist.
Biography
Jordan was born in New York and raised in Brooklyn where he attended Boys High School. An imaginative and gifted pianist, Jordan was a regul ...
- So Nice Duke (CD) 2002
*TBM-CD-1890 Takayuki Kato - Synapse (CD) 2004
*TBM-CD-2842 Takeshi Kamachi -Spread (CD) 2002
*TBM-CD-9001 The Famous Sound Of Three Blind Mice vol. 1
*TBM-CD-9002 The Famous Sound Of Three Blind Mice vol. 2
*TBM-CD-9003 The Famous Sound Of Three Blind Mice vol. 3
*NKCD-1486 Mayumi Lowe -It's My Love (CD) 2004