BBE Music concludes its celebrated J Jazz compilation series with the fifth and final volume, showcasing the rich and diverse Japanese jazz scene spanning from the late 1960s to the late 1980s. This collection maintains the exceptionally high standard established since volume one in 2018, offering deep cuts that reflect a golden era of innovation and creativity in Japanese music.

Compilers Tony Higgins and Mike Peden have unearthed tracks that span myriad styles. Listeners will find white hot jazz funk fusion from Toshiyuki Honda (Eastern Legacy) and Mikio Masuda (Sonic Barrier). The compilation features super rare ethnic jazz crossover by Christal Zone from their one-off 1971 45 promo release, "Rai Rai." Experience Yasuhiro Kohno's deconstructed and abstract jazz classic with his solo piano rendition of "My Favourite Things," alongside Mile and Half's intense, shredding freak-out from their mega rare private press album.

This final volume includes hand-picked selections embracing hard-driving samba (Seiichi Nakumura's "Judy's Samba"), epic head-nodding soul jazz (Masaru Imada's "World Line"), psychedelic private press fusion (Aoyama Gakuin 101's "Fervor"), angular post-bop tear-ups (Akira Miyazawa's "Nijimasu"), intense and insistent fusion (Motohiko Hino's "Olive Step"), serene cinematic pianism (Hideo Ichikawa's "On the Trade Wind"), and tripped-out hallucinogenic tribal funky jazz (Masahiko Sato's Garandoh's "Africa to Africa").

A significant portion of the tracks on this collection are being reissued for the first time, many having only been previously available on extremely limited and rare private press or independent releases. J Jazz volume 5 serves as a fitting conclusion to a compilation series that successfully cultivated a new audience and appreciation for Japanese jazz.

• Final volume in the acclaimed J Jazz compilation series.
• Features deep cuts reflecting Japanese jazz from the late 1960s to the late 1980s.
• Showcases diverse styles including jazz funk fusion, ethnic crossover, post-bop, and soul jazz.
• Most tracks are being reissued for the first time, many from rare private pressings.

This 2-CD set is an essential document for enthusiasts of deep, innovative, and rare Japanese jazz.