Born in Sendai and raised in Vipa Room (a Tokyo Akasaka jazz club where she performed with Shoji Yokouchi, Yuri Tashiro, and others), Mari Nakamoto was the third female jazz singer signed to Three Blind Mice (TBM). From 1978 onwards, she was ranked No.1 in the Vocal category of Swing Journal’s readers’ polls for eight consecutive years. Her album Just in Time, released in 1975 as the third installment of Toshiba Records’ “Pro Use Series,” features a trio led by Sadayasu Fujii (piano), Masanaga Harada (bass), and Shoji Nakayama (drums). It opens with a medium-tempo “You Go To My Head,” followed by the title track which starts as a one-minute-plus duet between Mari and the bassist before developing into a trio performance. The highlight is likely A4 “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter,” rich in tension. Side B starts with B1 “Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home,” a mellow ballad with a beautiful humming intro, and also includes B3 “We’ll Be Together Again,” a slow ballad famously sung by Ella Fitzgerald. Throughout the album, listeners can fully enjoy her husky voice reminiscent of Chris Connor at her prime. Incidentally, this album has alternate cover versions, but this particular version is rarely seen.
仙台生まれ、Vipa Room育ち(東京赤坂のJAZZ CLUBで、
横内章次、
田代ユリ等と活動)で、78年より以降8年間スイングジャーナル誌における読者人気投票で
ヴォーカル部門一位だった
TBM3人目の女性JAZZシンガー、
中本マリ嬢が
75年にリリースした東芝レコードのプロユース・シリーズ3作目「ジャスト・イン・タイ
藤井貞
泰(p), 原田政長(b), 中山昭二(ds)のトリオをバックに従え、ミディアム・テンポの「You Go To My Head」にはじまり、同様にベースとマリ嬢の1分強におよぶデュエットからトリオに展開するタイトル曲、テンション的にも本作のハイライトと言えるであろうA4「I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
」、ハミングで始まる雰囲気抜群のメロウ・バラードB1「Baby, Won't You Please Come Home
」, エラ･フィッツジェラルドの名唱で知られたスロウ･バラード曲のB3「We'll Be Together Again」等、脂ののりきった和製クリス・コナーのハスキー･ヴォイスを堪能できる好盤！
ちなみに本作、ジャケ違いが存在しますが、本ヴァージョンのほうが比較的見ないでス。
Mari Nakamoto – Femele Vocal Ⅲ / Just In Time '75 ToshibaA1.
You Go To My HeadA2. Just In Time
A3. Autumn In New York
A4. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
A5. Angel Eyes
B1. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home
B2. I'm Glad There Is You
B3. We'll Be Together Again
B4. I Thought About You
B5. You Go To My Head
Credit;
Bass – Masanaga Harada
Drums – Shoji Nakayama
Piano – Sadayasu Fujii
