Today's playlist. For the 45th installment, we have "Sam Taylor".
I bought it at Flash Disc Ranch, my favorite record store in Shimokitazawa.
This is a record store I've been going to ever since I first moved to Setagaya. It's popular because of its amazing point card system, which is valid as long as the store is open. Once you collect 50 stamps, you can buy any number of records under 15,000 yen for half price.
Sam Taylor: The moody tenor saxophone sound that graced the nights of the Showa era.
Imagine the good old days of Showa-era cabarets and sophisticated social venues. In the dimly lit interiors, filled with the scent of cigarette smoke, the moody sound of a tenor saxophone resonated. The owner of that sound was Sam Taylor, a legendary saxophonist in the American jazz, rhythm and blues, and blues world who graced Japanese nights.
Born in Lexington, Tennessee, Taylor honed his musical talent at Alabama State University and later collaborated with renowned musicians such as Scatman Crothers, Cootie Williams, Lucky Millinder, and Cab Calloway. In 1950s New York, he was a highly sought-after session saxophonist, creating numerous classic songs.
His saxophone playing is sweet, poignant, and somehow melancholic. Anyone who hears his solos on hit songs like Big Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle, and Roll," Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters' "Money Honey," and The Chords' "Schboom" will be captivated by his charm.
In the 1960s, he led his own band, the Blues Chasers, and in the 1970s, he actively performed in Japan. The sound of Sam Taylor's tenor saxophone is deeply etched into the Japanese nightscape and continues to captivate many music fans to this day.
Sam Taylor's music transcends mere jazz and blues; it's a timeless sound for adults that will be loved across generations. Immerse yourself in the sounds of his saxophone, and you'll feel as if you've traveled back in time to the Showa era, immersing yourself in a nostalgic mood.
WAITER-U offers not only camping gear, but also a curated selection of music, books, and movies.
I've also created a playlist on Spotify, so please feel free to listen to it in the car on your way to a camping trip.
