A powerfully lyrical improvisor, Akira Sakata returns to OTO with Italian pianist Giovanni di Domenico and London favourites Roger Turner and John Edwards. Based on a traditional folk song, 'Kaigara-Bushi' is both meditative and theatrical - Sakata-san's cracked vocals complementing Domenico's classical-style piano. The quartet swell and prickle, open the room up with melodic clarity, and then tear it down with 'Tornado' - a screaming sax-led five minute freak out.  Recorded by James Dunn on Wednesday 15th January 2014. Mixed by John Chantler. Mastered by Adam Matschulat. Original photo by Fabio Lugaro.

Tracklisting 1 - Tosaka to Watashi (The Combe and I ) [10:55] 2 - Yujyufudan na Kaeru (The Indecisive Frog) [12:33] Please note that were are a few short gaps in the raw audio of this recording. We have decided to keep these in the mastered version in order to preserve the flow and quality of Akira Sakata's performance.So pleased to present this new intimate solo saxophone recording by the utterly singular Akira Sakata. We can't wait to have you back at OTO some day, Akira! “Under the Covid 19 pandemic all the musicians and live music venues’ livelihoods are under threat. Currently, August 5, 2021 is in the middle of the TOKYO 2020 Olympics. Over 5,000 infected people, It jumped 10 times more than before the Olympics. We have entered an unknown territory. I am lucky to live. This solo is a continuation of the recording prepared to take a video in memory of the late John Russell. It was recorded at Bar Isshee in Tokyo. Many musicians, including Toshinori Kondo, died this year, but I couldn't even go to the funeral. I'm sorry. I can't help but hope that cafe OTO will hold up and this pandemic will end soon. " - Akira Sakata Japanese translation: 「Covid-１９のパンデミックの中でミュージシャンとlive houseは誠に残念な状況下にあります。 現在２０２１年８月５日はTOKYO ２０２０ Olympic の真っ最中です。感染者は５０００人を超えて、 オリンピック前の１０倍に跳ね上がりました。最早未知の領域に入りました。私は幸運にも生きています。 このsoloは　故John Russel追悼の映像を撮るために用意した録音の続きであります。東京にあるBar Issheeで録音したものです。今年も近藤等則をはじめ多くのミュージシャンが亡くなりましたが、葬式にも行けませんでした。残念でなりません。cafeOTOが持ちこたえられること、このパンデミックは早く終息することを願わずにはおれません」 -- Recorded at Bar Isshee Tokyo Recorded on 13 Feburuary 2021 Recorded by Eriko Suzuki(suzueri) Mastering & cover design by Oliver Barrett

OTO favourites Rie Nakajima and Akira Sakata team up for a delectable 2nd release together, seeing Akira's exploratory saxophone wind-around, lean against and coalesce with Rie's dexturous kinetic sound world.  "Our second album ‘Umihiko Yamahiko’ was recorded at Bar Isshee on 11 December 2020 in Tokyo. Only 10 audience members were allowed in the room, which created a very intimate and shy atmosphere as usual. There was a zoom recorder quietly sitting on a chair. It belongs to one of the audience members. He said it’s his hobby to record live concerts. He wanted to archive as many show as possible and publish these 50 years later. We laughed that most of us wouldn’t be here by then. He kindly let us use the recording to publish it from TakuRoku. Only 3 months after!! That must be really too quick for him." -- Rie Nakajima - objects Akira Sakata - saxophone -- Mastered by Oli Barrett

Fisherman’s.com was released originally on CD, Japan-only, by Starlets Records in 2001 – now for the first time on vinyl. Fisherman’s.com is Sakata’s ode to folksongs of the sea - an intense personal statement on the fluidity of tradition. --- Akira Sakata / alto saxophone, vocals, synthBill Laswell / electric bass & synth bassHamid Drake / drums & congaPete Cosey / guitar---Fisherman’s.com is a great piece of trivia but not an album that’s heard much. A reissue on Trost Records makes clear it’s one of the great dark funk records.- Daniel Bromfield, Spectrum Culture Blog 2018 --- Recording: Robert Musso Mix: Robert Musso Mastering: Michael Fossenkemper Artwork: Shinro Ohtake