Celebrating 75 years of musical activity! A long-awaited new studio recording album, the first in two years, from living legend Sadao Watanabe, who continues to perform on stage as an active saxophone player! Still performing around 70 live shows annually across Japan, Watanabe remains at the forefront as a leading saxophonist. This highly anticipated new album follows his previous release "PEACE," which was released in 2024, nominated for Best Jazz Album at MUSIC AWARD JAPAN 2025, and received high acclaim both domestically and internationally. The album features 11 tracks centered on ballads, beginning with the title track "BUT BEAUTIFUL" composed by Jimmy Van Heusen and famously sung by Frank Sinatra, followed by Cole Porter's "EVERYTIME WE SAY GOODBYE," Robert Graham's "YOU BETTER GO NOW," and including Watanabe's own compositions such as "REMEMBRANCE" and "SIMPATICO." As with "PEACE," the recording features an outstanding lineup: Russell Ferrante (p) of the popular fusion band Yellowjackets, Ben Williams (b), winner of the Monk Competition and one of the most important bassists in the contemporary jazz scene who has performed with Pat Metheny, Wynton Marsalis, and Jose James, and Ittetsu Takemura (ds), a drummer in Watanabe's regular Japanese quartet whom he trusts completely. Recorded on December 10 and 11, 2025.