Flying Beagle

Himiko Kikuchi

1987

3.32

Rating

Votes

26%

23%

45%

Distribution

Genres: Jazz Styles: Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz

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Album Summary

Himiko Kikuchi (菊池ひみこ, Kikuchi Himiko; born March 2, 1953) is a Japanese jazz pianist, keyboardist, composer and arranger. After performing with vocalists and musicians such as Takuro Yoshida, Tsunehiko Kamijō, and Mayumi Itsuwa, Kikuchi began studying under jazz pianist Sadayasu Fujii around 1975. On July 11, 1979, Kikuchi was the keyboardist for Bingo Miki & the Inner Galaxy Orchestra during their set at Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. In 1980, Kikuchi released her debut studio album, Don't Be Stupid, through the Teichiku Records sublabel Continental. The following year, she arranged the tracks for the 1981 album Cool "C" by American musician Richie Cole. Her next albums, Flashing (1981), All Right (1982), Woman (1983), and Reverse It (1984), were all issued by Continental. The 1987 album Flying Beagle and 1988 album Sevilla Breeze were released by CBS/Sony Records. Kikuchi composed the music for the 1993 film Yakuza Ladies Revisited 2; her album Beam, released through RCA Records, serves as the film's soundtrack.

Reviews

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Length: All Short Long

Apr 23 2026 Author

Between the production and arrangement lies a whole heap of feel-good vibes twirling about. At times it does verge a but deep into that cheesy, almost "corporate" type of sound, but it is so relentlessly cheery through it that I don't mind at all.

Apr 21 2026 Author

Absolutely hell yeah. I am so into Japanese Jazz right now. Submit more

Apr 21 2026 Author

I love beagles. This was a nice listen

Apr 21 2026 Author

Well this list certainly keeps me guessing. Back to back hair metal, then this. I liked it, a nice chunk of frenetic jazz energy.

Apr 21 2026 Author

Jazz, jazz fusion. Instrumental. Está bien. Un 4, venga.

Apr 25 2026 Author

Na man what is this 2 I mean. It allright 4

Apr 25 2026 Author

Good fun jazz fusion album. Great album cover and just a feel good album great choice.

Apr 25 2026 Author

This was a bit mixed for me. Some of the songs were really cool, but some sounded a bit like the soundtrack to a 1970's Chevy Chase/Goldie Hawn romantic comedy. 3 stars.

Apr 26 2026 Author

Last August “News at 11” by Cat Systems Corp. came up on this list featuring music from the Weather Channel interposed with news clips from an alternate world where 9/11 didn’t happen. That album was completely fascinating and sent me down a path of mallcore and other subcultures of music I had no idea existed. Listening to this gives me very similar feelings - the lite jazz feel of this album would seem very at home to me playing under some lo-res graphics of the current weather conditions. While in this rabbit hole I discovered The Weather Channel actually released a smooth jazz album that I checked out on YouTube “The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz”. Any track here would seem quite at home amidst that compilation. In what is a surprising discovery over the last year, it appears Smooth Jazz has taken up residence and made a cozy little nest in me. Never would have imagined that but here we are! I love listening to this and looking at that beagle on the cover. The opening “Look Your Back!” is thrilling opening with that groovy bass. I’m all in on “Fluffy”’s syncopated beat and light piano. “Baby Talk” seems to be the epitome Weather Channel perfection. “Ducky Ducky” started off with an organ that and piano that had me thinking of a smooth jazz version of the classic “Gimme Some Lovin’” then takes off on its own journey that I’m all-in on. I want to imagine that I love this album in some ironic way but my feelings transcend irony and loop around to something genuine. I’d likely drive a lot of people crazy if I played this on a road trip but I would love to have this soundtrack for my next long drive. Terrific!

Apr 22 2026 Author

Sweet uptempo jazz

Apr 24 2026 Author

Late 80s jazz fusion is a lot. This was fine for sure, but it was a lot.

Apr 26 2026 Author

Flying Beagle is a jazz fusion album by Himiko Kikuchi. It sounds like the soundtrack for a cheap romantic 1980s show like The Love Boat. Also it's great as background music in a shopping mall or elevator music. To listen to it directly is sooo boring as it's too predictable and harmless.

Apr 25 2026 Author

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Sand storm