Takanaka, Masayoshi: Jolly Jive (w/ OBI & Insert) [JAPANESE VINTAGE]

Jolly Jive is the fifth studio album by Japanese guitarist, composer, and producer Masayoshi Takanaka, released on December 1, 1979. The album is an excellent example of Takanaka’s bright, energetic style, blending jazz fusion with funk, pop, samba, and Brazilian influences.

The centerpiece is “Blue Lagoon,” one of Takanaka’s most famous compositions. Its catchy guitar melody, funky rhythm, and breezy tropical atmosphere helped make it a defining track of his career. “Radio Rio,” featuring Ryuichi Sakamoto on keyboards, leans further into the album’s Brazilian influences, while tracks such as “Fairy of the Coral Reef” offer a more relaxed and dreamy mood.

Other highlights include “Explosion,” “Taj Mahal,” Takanaka’s arrangement of the Jorge Ben song, and “Parallel Turn,” which also features his vocals. The album closes with “Rainy Day Blue,” a slower and more soulful track that contrasts with the upbeat material earlier in the record.

At around 33 minutes, Jolly Jive is relatively short but packed with memorable melodies and polished musicianship. It helped establish the sunny, tropical sound that would become closely associated with Takanaka and remains one of his most accessible and beloved albums.