Hot Is Cool

KATSUMI HORII PROJECT (堀井勝美プロジェクト)

PROGRAMMED BY
Keiichi Gotoh (後藤 慶一)
Hideyuki Hayashi (林 秀幸)
Yasushi Morimoto (森本 康史)

MIXED BY
Takahiro Nochimura

ASSISTED BY
Hironobu Asano (浅野 浩伸)
Toshio Misu (深須 利雄)

ILLUSTRATION
Eijin Suzuki (鈴木 英人)

PRESSING INFORMATION

LABEL:
FORMAT:
COUNTRY:
NOTE:

Air Records – RAL-8845
LP | 12”, 33⅓ RPM
Japan | 1987
Original Pressing, Promo

SYNOPSIS

Released in the late bubble-era boom of Japan’s fusion scene, Hot Is Cool is a polished showcase of Katsumi Horii’s knack for blending jazz-funk grooves with slick, city pop–tinged production. Built on sharp horn arrangements, shimmering synths, and tight rhythm sections, the record moves seamlessly from upbeat, urban dance tracks to smooth, late-night instrumentals. True to its title, the album embodies that ’80s paradox of being both fiery in energy and cool in atmosphere. A deep but rewarding dig, Hot Is Cool has become a hidden gem for collectors exploring the sophisticated soundscape of Japanese fusion.

GENRE & STYLE

Jazz, Funk / Soul
Fusion, Jazz-Funk

IDENTIFIERS

Barcode (Text): T4988 017 30243 9
Barcode (String): 4988017302439

TRACKLIST

PRODUCED, ARRANGED & COMPOSED BY
Katsumi Horii (堀井 勝美)

BASS
Yoshihiro Naruse (鳴瀬 喜博)

FLUGELHORN
Shin Kazuhara (数原 晋)

GUITAR
Hirokuni Korekata (是方 博邦)

PERSONNEL

KEYBOARDS
Katsumi Horii (堀井 勝美)
Hiroyuki Namba (難波 弘之)
Nobuo Kurata (倉田 信雄)
Ryo Moriyama (森山 良)

SAXOPHONE
Hidefumi Toki (土岐 英史)
Monty Python

PERCUSSION
Masato Kawase (川瀬 正人)