Ryo Fukui – A Letter from Slowboat

A final love letter to jazz, A Letter from Slowboat is Ryo Fukui’s deeply personal farewell, recorded at his own jazz club in Sapporo just a year before his passing.

Known for Scenery and Mellow Dream, two of the most revered Japanese jazz records of the 1970s, Fukui spent his later years perfecting his craft at Slowboat, a venue he and his wife Yasuko founded in 1995. This album captures that intimate setting—fluid, masterful, and filled with breathtaking solos that showcase a lifetime of devotion to jazz.

Backed by longtime collaborators Takumi Awaya (bass) and Ittetsu Takemura (drums), Fukui moves effortlessly through a mix of standards and originals, blending technical brilliance with pure emotion. The result is a work of refined elegance—melodic, expressive, and rich with the kind of effortless swing that can only come from years of immersion in the art.

Remastered from the original masters and pressed on 180g vinyl, this limited edition reissue brings A Letter from Slowboat back to the format it deserves. A must-have for fans of Bill Evans, Yusef Lateef, and Miles Davis, and a poignant closing chapter from one of jazz’s quiet legends.

Note: All orders ship from France. VAT not charged (TVA non applicable, article 293 B du CGI). Worldwide shipping available.