Toku - Tributes

2026

Japan's singular vocalist and flugelhorn player TOKU returns after six years with Tributes, one of the most emotionally resonant statements of his career. The album is dedicated to three towering figures who shaped his musical identity: Miles Davis, whose centenary falls in 2026 and whose live performance TOKU witnessed as a ten-year-old in his hometown of Niigata; Roy Hargrove, a close friend and collaborator over fifteen years who passed away in 2018; and Hisatsugu Suzuki, the Osaka-born saxophonist and kindred spirit who left us in 2024. The repertoire draws primarily from Miles's songbook, alongside pieces associated with Hargrove and Suzuki, and three original compositions penned by TOKU himself as personal dedications.

What makes Tributes so compelling is the rare duality at its core: TOKU's warm, smoky voice and his flugelhorn playing carry equal dramatic weight throughout, creating a sound that is unmistakably his own. The rhythm section — pianist Akira Ishii, bassist Hideaki Kanazawa, and drummer Shun Ishiwaka — provides a supple, swinging foundation, while guests Chloe Kibble, Yosuke Onuma, James Macaulay, and Akihiro Yoshimoto add colour and depth to select tracks. Recorded in February 2026 at NK Sound Tokyo and engineered throughout by Neeraj Khajanchi, the album achieves a beautifully rounded, immersive sonic character. The CD booklet features liner notes written by TOKU himself, offering an intimate window into the memories and friendships that inspired every track.