Greetings and salutations Hivers. Today let's go into another Evening Groove / Three Tune Tuesday post.

As always, thanks to @ablaze for making this series. Lots of people participate in it! Follow the tags to find a ton of good music recommendation.

Today let's jump back into Japanese jazz with the quintet TRI4TH. These guys have been at it since 2010, playing what they call "danceable jazz". It is high energy jazz that while it does call back to some classic sounds from the 20s and 30s, it is very much a fusion of modern styles. If we tried to shove it into a jazz subgenre, I might say Nu Jazz or Acid Jazz.

I love all the bands I've posted in this Japanese Jazz series, but this group may be my favorite. I don't know—I don't usually pick favorites, but these guys are high on my list anyway.

Let's lead off with this. It is probably a good introduction to the group.

Freeway

This is an amazing four minutes, so amazing that it will go fast and you'll want more. Tons of energy in this one, which is pretty normal for the group. It's from their 2015 album Awakening, which is all good.

Green Field

From the album Defying, this one starts is a little more downtempo from their usual fare. It is a great meandering piece, like a long walk through a forest trail in the middle of a nature area. Given the title, they seem to have felt the same way. I love the journey it takes us on. The only bad part of this track is that just like the first I posted, it ends far too soon.

Dance 'Em All

From the album 4th Rebellion this one starts off with a bang with a great sax part. The others slowly join in and weave us a banger.

Guns Of Saxophone

I saved the best for last.

From the same album as the above, this is another uptempo, high energy, wild track. More than anything else, this track gives me flashes of the 1936 classic jazz hit Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing) by Louis Prima. It's different so we're not talking a cover, but something about it always reminds me of that classic. This is one of my favorite tracks from them.

As with everyone I've covered, there are many many more on Youtube, so if you enjoyed any of these and want more, just head over there and search for "TRI4TH. That is pronounced "tri-forth" by the way. Not sure what the meaning of the name is or if they just picked it because it looks and sounds cool.

Anyway, so what's your favorite track?

❦

David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku.