J Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan Vol. 5Various Artists

• – Aoyama Gakuin 101 - Fervor
• – Hideo Ichikawa - On The Trade Wind
• – Toshiyuki Honda & Burning Waves - Eastern Legacy
• – Masura Imada - World Line
• – Christal Zine - Rai Rai
• – Masahiko Sata Trio & Akira Miyazawa - Nijimasu
• – Hot Session - Run After
• – Seechi Nakamura Quintet - Judy's Samba
• – Yasuhiro Kohno - My Favorite Things
• – Masahiko Sato's Garandoh - (History Of Jazz)
• – Mile & Half - Mile & Half
• – Mikio Masuda - Sonic Barrier
• – Tomoki Takahashi Meets Elvin Jones - Another Soil
• – Motohiko Hino Quartet - Olive's Step

• 1. Aoyama Gakuin 101 - Fervor
• 2. Hideo Ichikawa - On The Trade Wind
• 3. Toshiyuki Honda & Burning Waves - Eastern Legacy
• 4. Masura Imada - World Line
• 5. Christal Zine - Rai Rai
• 6. Masahiko Sata Trio & Akira Miyazawa - Nijimasu
• 7. Hot Session - Run After
• 8. Seechi Nakamura Quintet - Judy's Samba
• 9. Yasuhiro Kohno - My Favorite Things
• 10. Masahiko Sato's Garandoh - (History Of Jazz)
• 11. Mile & Half - Mile & Half
• 12. Mikio Masuda - Sonic Barrier
• 13. Tomoki Takahashi Meets Elvin Jones - Another Soil
• 14. Motohiko Hino Quartet - Olive's Step

There has been no shortage of excavations from Japanese jazz in recent years, a steady stream of reissues and compilations that have turned what was once a niche collecting pursuit into something closer to a minor industry. Which raises the question of what a fifth volume can add.

Quite a bit - as it turns out - by digging further into the margins as they delve into the oddities. Toshiyuki Honda's 'Eastern Legacy' runs on clipped horn bursts and a rhythm section that sounds almost over-disciplined, holding everything in place. Yasuhiro Kohno's 'My Favorite Things' pulls the standard apart, spacing the melody into hesitant, slightly awkward piano phrases. Then Motohiko Hino's 'Olive's Step' barrels in, drums pushed forward, bass circling the same figure with stubborn intent.

It's a lot, certainly, but it rarely feels excessive.