Doubtmusic

Doubtmusic is a Japanese independent record label dedicated to contemporary and improvised music by Japanese and international musicians. It was founded in 2005 and is led by Jun Numata. The label's catalogue spans free jazz, avant-garde jazz, experimental and improvised music, and it has released work by artists such as Otomo Yoshihide (solo and with his New Jazz Orchestra), Kazutoki Umezu, Kato Hideki, Makigami Koichi, Mats Gustafsson, Nasuno Mitsuru, Itaru Oki, Imai Kazuo, Keiki Midorikawa and Altered States. Doubtmusic operates primarily as a physical-media label, issuing CDs and, in some cases, vinyl LPs. Its releases are distributed in Japan by BRIDGE INC., and the label also runs an online shop through the BASE platform, selling its own titles directly to customers. Domestic shipping within Japan is offered free of charge for standard mail, while international customers are asked to contact the label by e-mail before ordering so that shipping costs and payment instructions can be arranged; major credit cards and PayPal are accepted. The label's output reflects a curatorial focus on the Japanese and international improvised-music scene. Representative releases include Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra's 'Out To Lunch' — a reinterpretation of Eric Dolphy's landmark album, originally released on CD in 2005 and later issued as a two-LP set remastered by Rashad Becker — as well as solo and small-group recordings by Kazutoki Umezu, including the bass-clarinet solo album 'Show The Frog', and Kato Hideki's 'Green Zone', a heavy, dark project reuniting early Ground-Zero members Kato Hideki, Otomo Yoshihide and Uemura Masahiro. As a small, artist-driven label, Doubtmusic is not a major commercial player but occupies a recognized niche in Japan's experimental and improvised music ecosystem. Its catalogue documents work by musicians associated with the Tokyo free-improvisation and avant-rock scenes, and its direct-sales model keeps it close to its audience. The label remains active, with its web shop serving as the primary point of purchase for its releases.

Doubtmusic was founded in 2005 as a Japanese record label focused on contemporary and improvised music. It is led by Jun Numata, who also handles direct customer contact for the label's web shop. From its early years the label documented the work of musicians active in Japan's free-improvisation and avant-garde scenes, including Otomo Yoshihide, Kazutoki Umezu, Kato Hideki, Makigami Koichi, Mats Gustafsson, Nasuno Mitsuru, Itaru Oki, Imai Kazuo, Keiki Midorikawa and Altered States. A notable early release was Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra's 'Out To Lunch', originally issued on CD in 2005 (catalogue number dmf-108). The album was a contemporary reinterpretation of Eric Dolphy's classic, performed by a large ensemble including Axel Doerner, Mats Gustafsson, Sachiko M, Nakamura Toshimaru, Unami Taku and others. It was later reissued as a two-LP set, pressed in Germany/Italy, with remastering by Rashad Becker. The label also released Kazutoki Umezu's bass-clarinet solo album 'Show The Frog' in 2005, distributed by BRIDGE INC., and Kato Hideki's 'Green Zone', a project reuniting early Ground-Zero members Kato Hideki, Otomo Yoshihide and Uemura Masahiro. Doubtmusic has continued to operate as a small independent label, selling its releases through its own online shop on the BASE platform. It offers free standard domestic shipping in Japan and handles international orders by e-mail, accepting major credit cards and PayPal. Its catalogue remains centered on improvised and experimental music, and the label is recognized as part of the Japanese experimental music infrastructure.

• 2005

  Doubtmusic founded as a Japanese record label for contemporary and improvised music.

• 2005

  Release of Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra / Out To Lunch on CD (dmf-108).

• 2005

  Release of Kazutoki Umezu / Show The Frog, distributed by BRIDGE INC.

• 2005

  Release of Kato Hideki / Green Zone.

• Reissue of Out To Lunch as a two-LP set, remastered by Rashad Becker.

Independent Japanese label for contemporary and improvised music, artist-driven and direct-to-customer.

• Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra / Out To Lunch

• Kazutoki Umezu / Show The Frog

• Kato Hideki / Green Zone

• Shania Ezra Blumenkranz & Yoshigaki Yasuhiro / WE PRAY

• MNE / MNE is not NME

1. 1doubtmusic official websitedoubtmusic.com
2. 2ABOUT | doubtmusicdoubtmusic.com
3. 3Kazutoki Umezu / Show The Frog | doubtmusicdoubtmusic.com
4. 4Hideki Kato / Green Zone | doubtmusicdoubtmusic.com
5. 5Doubtmusic - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Doubtmusic - Wikipedia (NL)nl.wikipedia.org