Masaki Hayashi Group / Blur the border (LP)

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Masaki Hayashi, a pianist and composer who has showcased his exceptional talent across all music scenes.
The highly anticipated first album by the "Masaki Hayashi Group," formed with a group of elite musicians, is now available on analog.
〜On the axis of ever-flowing time, forms incessantly undulate and waver. The sounds played by six musicians weave an eternal journey.
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Masaki Hayashi, who has earned deep trust from top artists across various genres such as Lisa Ono, Sadao Watanabe, Naruyoshi Kikuchi, Ringo Sheena, and Jun Miyake, and is also highly acclaimed as a composer.
His first album with the "Masaki Hayashi Group," a project he initiated under his own name and an indispensable presence in today's music scene, is now available on analog.

The members are Kazuma Fujimoto (gt), Hiroshi Suzuki (sax, cl, fl), Atsuki Yoshida (vln, vla), Takashi Sugawa (cb, vc), and Shinya Fukumori (ds).
All of them are top musicians leading contemporary jazz. This is truly a golden lineup, bringing together the best collaborators with whom he has performed numerous acclaimed concerts in recent years.
Their performances, backed by strong mutual trust, create a unified, expansive, and vast soundscape.

The album features a total of 10 tracks, including 8 originals by Masaki Hayashi, "Oneba" by Shinya Fukumori, and "Again" by Kazuma Fujimoto.
With meticulously crafted rhythms, melodies, and harmonies, and a rich variety of timbres for each song, this album significantly expands the possibilities of acoustic instrument ensembles.

As the title "Blur the border" suggests, this is a new music originating from Japan that blurs boundaries and encompasses various musical styles.
This is the fourth release from 【S/N Alliance】, a label established by drummer/composer/producer Shinya Fukumori after 【nagalu】 to connect "fellow musicians" both domestically and internationally.

All songs composed by Masaki Hayashi
except Oneba by Shinya Fukumori
Again by Kazuma Fujimoto

Recorded at Sekiguchidai Studio on August 11 & 12, 2022
Recording & Mixing Engineer: Yuichi Takahashi
Assistant Engineer: Tomoya Nakamura
Piano Tuning: Takeshi Miyazaki
Lacquer Cut by Dave Turner (Curve Pusher)
A&R: Masayasu Hanai (S/N Alliance)
Production Management: Yuji Hirashima (King International)
Cover Illustration: Anne Kagioka Rigoulet  
Liner Photos: Toru Kometani
Art direction and Design: Tadashi Kitagawa (Kitagawa Design Office)
Creative Director: Shinya Fukumori
Produced by Masaki Hayashi

【Masaki Hayashi Group】
Masaki Hayashi 林正樹 - piano
Kazuma Fujimoto 藤本一馬 electric & acoustic guitar
Hiroshi Suzuki 鈴木広志 saxophones, flute, clarinets
Atsuki Yoshida 吉田篤貴 violin, viola
Takashi Sugawa 須川崇志 contrabass, cello, electric bass
Shinya Fukumori 福盛進也 drums

【Product Information】
Artist：Masaki Hayashi Group
Title：Blur the border
Label：S/N Alliance　Distribution：TUFF BEATS
Format：LP
CatNo.：SNAL-004
Barcode：4580187181953
Price (excl. tax)：5,455 yen
Release Date：May 30, 2026 (Saturday)

■Tracklist：
Side:A
1. Yuragu
2. Analogy

Side:B
1. The Magician Hutuktu
2. Oneba 
3. Flux

Side:C
1. Under the Open Sky
2. Teal 
3. Cleanse

Side:D
1. Again
2. Blur the border