GEMINI, a new band formed around Shigeto Otake (cro-magnon), has released its first full-length album, *GEMINI:zed*, on limited-edition vinyl via Jazzy Sport.

Centered around cro-magnon drummer Shigeto Otake, the lineup features Inushiki bassist Shoji Ishiguro, Razoku guitarist Ryuta Koshino, keyboardist Shota Hishiyama (known for his work with urb and the Kyoto Jazz Massive Live Set), percussionist Yohei Takada, known for his work with Hotel New Tokyo and stim; and Taiga Tanimoto, saxophonist and flutist for SANABAGUN.—a super session band bringing together a lineup of talented musicians who have long been pillars of the Japanese music scene.

An instrumental jazz-funk sound that fuses 1970s jazz and soul with the beat and groove sensibilities of hip-hop and beyond, the dynamism of Latin American music, the essence of smoky reggae and dub, and the thrill of improvisation and jam sessions.

From the Latin-percussive, mellow jazz groove of “Kalavinka” to the jazz-funk track “Glowin’” that will appeal even to hip-hop fans, the warm and groovy “Shadow of the Tiger,” “Kind of Green,” which lets you savor reggae/dub grooves, and even a cover of “Recorda-Me” from Joe Henderson’s *Page One*, brimming with ’70s jazz-funk flavor—for a total of 9 tracks.

The vinyl mastering was handled by Taiji Okuda (Studio MSR), who has also worked with cro-magnon, Tabito Nanao, Tempalay, and cero.