Come out Swingin'

June 23, 2018 10:25 AM

Gentle Forest Jazz Band (Japanese-language site) is a 21 (or so) piece Japanese big band-style jazz group.

• Dolls Look the Moon - Come for the hot playing, goggle at the manic bandleader, and stay for the Andrews-sisters harmonies of the women after they make their way down the stairs.
• Otokotte Otokotte - In which our singers turn into goldfish and everyone plays barefoot in a river. Contains a traveling clarinet soloist.
• Nica's Band - Standout guest vocals, shoes, and posing by Nikaido Kazumi.
• Thrilling the Band - It's never good when you're being chased by someone in a black tinted motorcycle helmet. As more people join the pursuit, the band pulls out all the stops.

Hope this puts a smile in your day!
posted by freecellwizard (14 comments total)

That C-flat progression in "Blues Banana" starting at 0:34 is hot fire. And there are subtitles too! Thanks for the smile
posted by kurumi at 11:31 AM on June 23, 2018 [2 favorites]

The singing goldfish. I love them
posted by sweetjane at 11:36 AM on June 23, 2018

Hope this puts a smile in your day!

Several smiles, a guffaw or two, and much toe-tapping. Perfect!
posted by Celsius1414 at 12:03 PM on June 23, 2018

Do you want to put a smile in my day?

Because that’s how you put a smile in my day.
posted by azpenguin at 12:05 PM on June 23, 2018 [1 favorite]

Is this the place where we post our favorite Asian Jazz video?
posted by ambulocetus at 3:07 PM on June 23, 2018 [1 favorite]

Thanks for the smile! If those videos weren't enough for you, definitely check out this one, where the singers play coffee cups: "Undecided".
posted by Tsuga at 5:26 PM on June 23, 2018 [1 favorite]

Nice, I missed the coffee cup one!
posted by freecellwizard at 6:16 PM on June 23, 2018

Favorite Asian Jazz Video you say? May I submit Kiyohiko Senba & the Haniwa All-Stars
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 7:15 PM on June 23, 2018 [3 favorites]

So these are all great, but are they waiting for an invitation to do "Tank" or....?

Because I'm pretty sure it's illegal to have that many horns together and not do a cover of "Tank".
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 7:55 PM on June 23, 2018 [2 favorites]

There's also Hiromi Uehara & Kazunori Kumagai, which is another strain of jazz but still great fun.
posted by Tsuga at 9:24 PM on June 23, 2018 [1 favorite]

This seems like a good time to mention that there's a live action remake of 'Kids On The Slope'
posted by BinaryApe at 1:54 AM on June 24, 2018 [2 favorites]

Mei's lost sandal Favorite Asian Jazz Video you say? May I submit Kiyohiko Senba & the Haniwa All-Stars

my god! That was great! Thank you Mei's last sandal!
posted by james33 at 4:03 AM on June 24, 2018

They swing!
posted by tommasz at 5:38 AM on June 24, 2018

This feels like an appropriate post for the Kyoto Tachibana High School Band.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 11:41 AM on June 24, 2018