Overwhelming sound pressure and the resonance of each note, with both elasticity and tenacity. A gem of a Japanese jazz masterpiece, where Japan's distinctive sense of independence met recording technology, is being released on cassette tape for the first time. At a time when Japanese jazz was searching for its own identity while absorbing trends from the U.S. and Europe, Jiro Inagaki focused on "groove." Glimpses of that can also be heard on the previous work "In the Groove," which attempted to fuse jazz rock and funk. However, on this work, "Funky Stuff," that jet-black groove, combining both elasticity and tenacity, finally reached its completed form. The album includes "Painted Paradise," where the finger-picking bass in the intro creates a tight groove; "Breeze," highlighted by a mellow arrangement by Hiromasa Suzuki, also known as Colgen; and the title track "Funky Stuff," a cover of a Kool & The Gang song with the band's own unique interpretation. Another indispensable part of this work's appeal is its distinctive recording style. Close miking, thorough sound absorption treatment, and assertive compression created a recording aesthetic unique to Japan. The dense, dry, yet vivid sound image makes the groove of this work even more striking. Text by Kenjiro Tsutsumi (223 Music Lab.)