November 25, 2025:
Busy days in the world of squids as we gear up for our annual Black Friday (Weekend) Sale, make some much-needed improvements to our shopping cart, and continue production on the next three albums for our Squid Note Records label. It's one of those stretches where everything seems to happen at once — the behind-the-scenes tuning of the site, the planning that goes into a big sale, and the creative work of bringing new music into the world. All of it keeps the shop humming, and all of it reminds us how alive and wide-ranging this community can be.
For Wilmington-area music obsessives, we're also deep into preparations for our annual Hooked on Sonics "X-Mess" show at The Barzarre, where we'll be presenting six performances of pure, year-end chaos. If you're nearby, mark your calendar for Wednesday, November 25th — it's always one of our most gloriously ridiculous nights of the year.
Squid Note Records Teaser:
Our own digital label is preparing for three new releases in January of 2026. Here are the album covers, I will have much more to write about all three in the coming weeks!
For more than twenty years beginning in 2001 — with a long pause after 2007 — pianist Satoko Fujii has assembled a formidable quartet featuring bassist Hayakawa Takeharu, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura (her husband), and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida. I was first drawn to this particular configuration among Fujii's many ensembles because of Yoshida, best known for his work with the fiercely inventive, instrumentally driven rock duo Ruins and his own Magaibutsu label. Yoshida injects a rock-fueled intensity into the group, matched by Hayakawa's deep experience across both jazz and rock. Together they bring out the most energetic and assertive sides of Fujii and Tamura, creating a powerfully expressive band that smashes through boundaries of jazz, rock, and experimental music — always with humor, spontaneity, and wonder.
Below are the quartet's albums featuring Yoshida that remain available. For me, Burning Wick stands as one of the year's highlights. Though the quartet lay dormant for eighteen years, Fujii's collaborations with Yoshida continued in other striking ensembles: Amanojaku, Kira Kira (with Alister Spence), and Toh-Kichi, her fiery duo with Yoshida. Each offers a brilliant example of their sometimes blistering improvisation — music that brims with excitement and fearless invention.
 Satoko Fujii Quartet (Fujii / Tamura / Yoshida / Takeharu): Burning Wick (Libra)
Founded in 2001 and reunited after their last album in 2007, the quartet of Satoko Fujii (piano), Natsuki Tamura (trumpet), Hayakawa Takeharu (bass), and Tatsuya Yoshida (drums) unleashes a high-energy blend of avant jazz-rock, shifting from atmospheric fragments to dense, electric-edged turbulence, driven by sharp contrasts, ferocious rhythms, and the group's volatile, genre-bending interaction.
 Amanojaku (Yoshida / Fujii / Tamura): Bishamonten (Magaibutsu)
Emerging from an improv session during the pandemic, Natsuki Tamura (trumpet), Satoko Fujii (piano), and Tatsuya Yoshida (drums) formed Amanojaku, named after the contrarian demon of Japanese folklore, embracing a balance of composition, improv and mischievous interplay with a uniquely Japanese sensibility through virtuosic spontaneity and irreverent humor, captured live at Koen-dori Classics.
 Kira Kira (Fujii / Tamura / Spence / Yoshida): Kira Kira Live (Alister Spence Music)
Picking up from their 2018 album Bright Force, the quartet of Libra label leaders Satoko Fujii on piano and Natsuki Tamura on trumpet, with Australian improviser Alister Spence on Fender Rhodes electric piano, and now with Magaibutsu/Ruins legend Tatsuya Yoshida on drums, are heard in two wildly powerful 2024 concerts at Koendori Classics in Tokyo and at Jazz Inn Lovely, Nagoya, with compositions from each member.
 Fujii, Satoko Quartet (w/ Tamura / Takeharu / Yoshida): Dog Days of Summer (Libra)
One of Satoko Fujii's wildest groups, the quartet of Fujii on piano, Natsuki Tamura on trumpet, Hayakawa Takeharu (HAYAKAWA, Dr. Umezu Band) on bass and Magaibutsu label leader & Ruins drummer Tatsuya Yoshida present their first album since 2007, expanding their assertive approach to improv in an adventurous set that merges rock and jazz forms with lyricism and power.
 Toh-Kichi (Satoko Fujii / Tatsuya Yoshida): Baikamo (Libra)
The duo of Japanese improvisers, pianist Satoko Fujii and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida, continue their collaborations which includes many albums with the Satoko Fujii Quartet, their duo "Erans" record on Tzadik, and the original "Toh-Kichi" album on Victo, here in a new studio album of intricate, energetic and ebullient improvised dialogs, named for the aquatic flower "Baikamo".
 Fujii Quartet, Satoko: Minerva (Libra)
"The Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii sure took her followers by surprise with Vulcan, the first album by her quartet. Minerva pushes things a bit further down the rocky road without crossing over to the extremes of Toh-Kichi, her live duo set with Ruins drummer Tatsuya Yoshida. This second opus features the same lineup: Yoshida, bassist Takeharu Hayakawa, and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura. If it moves further away from the avant-garde jazz of Fujii's trio than Vulcan did, it packs less of a punch, mostly because of a somewhat weaker sound. The drums remain too low in the mix, and when Hayakawa steps on the distortion pedal, the bass should roar instead of fizzing out like this. The album begins with "Tatsu Take," a quirky and light composition by Tamura (the other four are by Fujii). If you forget the fact that it fades in awkwardly, it works out very well. Then comes "Warp," menacing with its heavy bass riff, reminiscent of Frank Zappa's "Filthy Habits." Yoshida pitches in some of his trademark vocals, but more importantly drums the tune all the way to hell. In contrast, "Weft" includes a swinging piano solo. The closer, "Caught in a Web," consists of a free-form first half dominated by some of the drummer's most delicate work to date and Tamura's bubbling interventions, before moving into the metrically challenging theme and variations. More convincing in its fusion of avant jazz and avant-prog idioms but less riveting sonically, Minerva still has quite a ride to offer if you dare step inside."-François Couture, All Music
 Fujii, Satoko Quartet: Angelona (Libra)
"Forming a progressive alliance of jazz and rock, Satoko Fujii unleashes Angelona with a flash-bang authority that grabs you hard and fast. It's her quartet's best performance to date. While Vulcan (2001) was named after the Roman god of fire, Minerva (2003) was named after the Roman goddess of wisdom, and Zephyros (2004) was named after the Greek god of the west wind, this one contains an allure that applies to all audiences. Angelona's program represents a collage of musical ideas that spans the entire world of contemporary music.
Angelona, a goddess of secrecy, represents the power that Fujii has injected into her compositions. Her piano surges with an intimidating percussive force that carries you away on golden rails. The impressionistic landscape turns in many directions, allowing the listener to interpret at will. Aside from her intriguing musical ideas and the freedom that her quartet exhibits, one thing sets the ensemble apart from the rest: its spirit. Fujii's piano pushes and pulls, cajoling her quartet with basic musical elements, all finely tuned through experience.
Electric bassist Takeharu Hayakawa lends an exciting presence that dominates the session with powerful throbs. Drummer Tatsuya Yoshida propels the unit with sparks of rhythmic anxiety. Trumpeter Natsuki Tamura provides a beautiful tone with creative strokes that feed the ensemble, while Fujii fashions her musical interpretations through an intricately woven web of silk. Together, the four artists combine fire and ice, balancing their effusive performance with lovely melodic statements and a rhythmic groove.
While Angelona represented secrecy applied to the body of mythological beliefs of an ancient society, Angelona comes to us with wide-open expression through Satoko Fujii's progressive ensemble."-Jim Santella, All About Jazz
 Fujii, Satoko Quartet : Vulcan (Libra)
"In October 2001, Satoko Fujii released two albums simultaneously: a fourth CD of her trio with Mark Dresser and Jim Black (titled Junction) and this much more surprising CD with a new quartet. Vulcan showcases the pianist and her husband, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, paired with bassist Takeharu Hayakawa, regular collaborator Kazutoki Umezu, and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida, the dynamo behind the avant-rock maelstrom that is the duo the Ruins. The promises this lineup holds beautifully come to fruition on Vulcan, a clash of avant-garde jazz and free rock. Yoshida is as powerful and inventive as ever, but fans of Satoko Fujii may feel worried when after pressing the play button "The Sun in a Moonlight Night" starts: The drummer's trademark vocal improvising is not the most reassuring greeting for the unsuspecting listener. But don't worry too much; after all, the project is led by the pianist, who composed most of the material (Tamura contributes two pieces). The aforementioned opening track is the best example of fusion on the CD. Afterwards, things drift more toward Fujii's usual grounds. "Ninepin" and "Junction" are also featured on this album's twin brother, but the former piece is much more satisfying here with an inspired bass introduction. The title track from the other CD turns into ferocious fusion and may very well be the most eloquent proof of Fujii's talent as an arranger. The rhythm section lets loose, almost breaking into an incarnation of the Ruins for a brief moment. Tamura sounds especially at ease in the more extreme passages. Vulcan is hotter than anything Satoko Fujii recorded before, closer to her recordings with her orchestra than her trio sessions. Strongly recommended for those who think they can handle it."-François Couture, All Music
 Fujii, Satoko / Tatsuya Yoshida: Toh-Kichi (Les Disques Victo)
"Fujii, a great big band composer and eclectic post-Taylor pianist, and Yoshida, drummer for the Ruins, might have seemed an odd match. But Fujii has great ears and knew just how to steer the powerful Yoshida. There were some incredible stop-time passages, some locked-hands playing from Fujii, strange vocalising, and even a zipper solo from Yoshida. Altogether, the two seemed to be having a great deal of fun! Mike Chamberlain, Signal to Noise, Fall 2002.
Compatriots Satoko Fujii and Tatsuya Yoshida thrillingly demonstrated the virtues of Speed Metal Improv. The piano/drums duo threw itself headlong into a wild and bogglingly precise exchange of hammering percussion and jabbering voices – part battle, part hyperactive dance. A flawless composite of jumpcuts, the set spanned the musical map from hardcore and Metal to boogie-woogie and tango, ending with a hilarious impromptu rendition of “The Girl From Ipanama”.-Christopher Cox, The Wire, July 2002
577 Colored Vinyl Issues:
Last week we added 16 colored vinyl albums on the 577 label previously only available from the label itself. These came from the earliest vinyl issues on the label, and contrasted with the black vinyl issues. For this week you can see them listed in our introductory sale, authorized by the label to be introduced at a special price before returning to their full $24.95 retail price.
Here are the top sellers in the set, a number of which will be out of print soon.
Squidco Publishing Roundup:
You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.
You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.
To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.
And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.
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Webb Crawford / Michael Foster / Joey Sullivan:
Lawrence Casserley / Emil Karlsen:
Magda Mayas / Jim Denley:
Steve Swell:
Irene Schweizer / Rudiger Carl / Johnny Dyani / Han Bennink:
Sylvain Kassap / Steve Swell / Benjamin Duboc / Chad Taylor:
Mats Gustafsson / Ken Vandermark / Tomeka Reid / Chad Taylor:
Elliott Sharp / Scott Fields:
Queen Bee, Mezzacappa and The Bay Area:
Thanos Chrysakis:
Carter, Daniel / Tobias Wilner / Djibril Toure / Federico Ughi: New York United Volume 2 [COLOR VINYL] (577 Records)
Carter, Daniel / Matthew Shipp / William Parker / Gerald Cleaver: Welcome Adventure! Vol. 2 [COLOR VINYL] (577 Records)
Carter, Daniel / Evan Strauss / 5-Track / Sheridan Riley: The Uproar In Bursts Of Sound And Silence [COLORED VINYL] (577 Records)
Mela, Francisco feat. Matthew Shipp / William Parker: Music Frees Our Souls, Vol. 1 [BLUE VINYL] (577 Records)
Ackerley, Jessica / Patrick Shiroishi / Chris Williams / Luke Stewart / Jason Nazary: SSWAN: Invisibility is an Unnatural Disaster [COLORED VINYL] (577 Records)
Amba, Zoh / William Parker / Francisco Mela: O Life, O Light Vol. 2 [COLOR VINYL] (577 Records)
Cleaver, Gerald / Brandon Lopez / Hprizm: In The Wilderness [COLOR VINYL] (Positive Elevation / 577 Records)
Tucker, Dave / Pat Thomas / Thurston Moore / Mark Sanders: Educated Guess Vol. 1 [COLORED VINYL] (577 Records)
