Ryo Fukui – Scenery

A landmark moment in Japanese jazz, reissued in audiophile quality with the care it deserves.

Originally released in 1976, Scenery is the stunning debut from self-taught pianist Ryo Fukui—an album that helped define modern Japanese jazz and has since become a cult classic worldwide. Reissued by We Release Jazz on heavyweight 180g vinyl with half-speed mastering and housed in a Stoughton tip-on gatefold sleeve with obi, this is the definitive edition of a timeless record.

Recorded just six years after Fukui first touched a piano, Scenery showcases his deep command of post-bop, modal, and cool jazz, reinterpreting standards like “It Could Happen to You” and “Autumn Leaves” with precision, elegance, and a melodic sensibility all his own. Fukui's playing is lyrical yet technically sharp, filled with warmth and subtlety, and backed by Satoshi Denpo on bass and Yoshinori Fukui on drums—together forming one of the tightest piano trios of the era.

Often compared to McCoy Tyner or Bill Evans, Fukui channels a similar emotional depth, but his approach feels uniquely personal. Whether it’s the serene buildup of “Early Summer” or the syncopated interplay on “Scenery,” every note is carefully placed, creating a sound that feels both deeply introspective and effortlessly fluid.

This reissue sounds phenomenal thanks to half-speed mastering and direct access to the original master tapes, supervised by Fukui himself before his passing in 2016. Long praised by jazz heads, crate diggers, and audiophiles alike, Scenery is more than a genre gem—it’s essential listening for anyone who loves piano-led jazz at its most soulful and refined.

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