Independent labels have always been a mainstay of the Tokyo jazz scene, but this year saw a bumper crop of good music coming from small labels. While many of these artists' recordings can only be found at their shows, stacked up neatly on fold-up tables at the back of the club, a number of the larger music stores have started stocking them. That alone must be considered progress for these little-known groups, since their small labels are dedicated to vibrantly creative Tokyo jazz, rather than churning out ear candy. Recorded at small studios, homes or out-of-the-way clubs and produced, mastered or mixed by the musicians, these recordings feel handcrafted. These CDs are the top 10 picks of the past year. If you want to hear them live, check out their Web sites to get the performance schedules.
Saxophobia -- "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" (Saidera Records, www.saidera.co.jp)
This saxophone quartet opens its shows by marching onto the stage playing loud and loose, and that carnival entrance sets the stage for their exuberant reworkings of jazz and popular tunes. They reharmonize numbers such as Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" into four layers of funkiness. With their distinct, individual voices, they sound at times like a sultry barbershop quartet or like free-jazz gospel. Their tight interplay, especially on the well-arranged originals, engages the audience with a swirl of rhythm, counterpoint and texturing. You'll never miss the rhythm section.