Osaka Monaurail (オーサカ-モノレール, Ōsaka Monorēru) is a funk band, formed in Osaka, Japan. It has been active since 1992. The group is now based in Tokyo, Japan.

+DJs Miss Mar-V-Lus K. & Daddy Rolling Stone as double decking duo “The Midnight Movers” spinning Funky & Rare Soul 7” Vinyl. After two decades, the wheels are very much still turning on the Funk orchestra that Japan has to offer. Merged from a university combo to one of the worlds leading group in the genre.

The eight musicians on stage in sharp uniforms inspired by 60s fashion; trumpets are spinning up in the air; leader Nakata dancing -Mashed Potato-; from jumping Bebop instrumentals to James Brown funky dancers. Osaka Monaurail still keep touring many cities in Japan, Europe, Canada and Australia appearing top venues, nightclubs and festivals including Montreal International Jazz Festival (July 2012), North Sea Jazz Festivals (2015), Womad's (2014, 2015 and 2016) and many others. Formed in 1992, all of the members were from the same Jazz society at Osaka University (Osaka, Japan). Nakata recalls 'I was 19. We were having fun playing/learning Jazz. Our team was known as the best university/college band in playing Count Basie tunes.

I was a trumpet player. But, I dropped out because I could not hit high notes.

I finally gave up on trumpet and decided to do what I had been struggling to do ever since I was 16, which was to start a Funk band.' The group was named after the Funk classic, 'It is The J.B.s Monaurail' by the J.B.s (misspelling intentional.) It originally held more than 20 people including many horn players, but soon the band shaped itself up into a 13 piece group. After a couple of university gigs, they started to play local bars & nightclubs in Osaka circa 1994-1995.

Signed to RD Records in 1999, OM released its first album “What it is – What it was” (2000) followed by nine albums: three more albums on RD Records (until 2005); four albums on P-Vine Records (2006-2009); one on King Recorrds (2011); and the latest 'Riptide' on Shout! In Europe, the last four albums are available on Unique Records (Dusseldorf, Germany).

Between 2006-2009 Osaka Monaurail toured with and recorded for a Soul/Funk legend, Marva Whitney, known as one of the James Browns original Funky Divas. She left two albums with OM “I Am What I Am” and 'Live In Japan'. California Drivers License Hole Punched.

One of the highlights in OM's career was November 2012. They played a special one-night-only special show with the great Fred Wesley, the worlds funkiest trombonist, best known for his works with James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic and the Count Basie Orchestra. Currently Osaka Monaurail is producing the new album of Martha High, longtime vocalist in the James Brown Show (1965-2000) and the Maceo Parker band (2000-2016). The album will contain many covers of James Brown's 'funky divas' including Marva Whitney and many more. It will be called 'Tributes to the Funky Divas' and is announced to be released in summer 2016. In Japan OM is also known for its works in motion picture field. Not soundtrack, but distribution.

Nakata is an independent film distributor and have distributed Superfly (1972), Coffy (1973), 'Edification of Weldon Irvine' (1976) and recently 'Still Bill' (2011). After all, as Nakata says, '.the Japanese kids long journey of learning how to play Funk never ends'. The current lineup is - Ryo Nakata (vocals/keyboards); Kentaro Yamagata & Taihei Awaji (trumpets); Shimon Mukai (tenor saxophone); Katsutoshi Hiraishi (trombone); Dan Hayami & Yuichi Ikeda (guitars); Tsuyoshi Ouchi (bass); Soki Kimura (drums).

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• If you are using an old version of your operating system or browser, upgrade to the current supported version. • You can try using the. You may try to continue using the Dusty Groove website, and if you have any trouble placing your order online we suggest you make a list of the items you wish to buy order by phone at Monday through Friday, 10am–4pm, Central Time. We realize that there are many different interpretations of the standard grades used for pre-owned vinyl record albums & CD, so we thought we'd offer you the ones that we are working with, so you have an idea what we mean when we give the grade for a non-new item on our pages. Used Vinyl Grades Below are stated conditions for a used vinyl records at Dusty Groove. Grading for the cover should be assumed to be near (within a '+' or '-') the grading for the vinyl.

If there is significant divergence from the condition of the vinyl, or specific flaws, these will be noted in the comments section of the item. However, please be aware that since the emphasis of this site is towards the music listener, our main concern is with the vinyl of any used item we sell. Additionally, please note that all of our records are graded visually; considering the volume of used vinyl we handle, it is impossible for us to listen to each record.

If we spot any significant flaws, we make every attempt to listen through them and note how they play. The following grading conditions apply to the vinyl component of an album or single. Sealed This is what it says, that the record is still held fast in shrink-wrap. We tend to be pretty suspicious about these things, so if the shrink-wrap doesn't look original, or if the record seems to have undergone some damage over time, we'll probably take it out of the wrapper to ensure that it's in good shape — which is why we don't have more of these. In some cases the shrink-wrap may be torn in spots, but if it's not possible the record has been taken out and played, the record will still qualify as 'Sealed'. Near Mint - (minus) • Black vinyl that may show a slight amount of dust or dirt. • Should still be very shiny under a light, even with slight amount of dust on surface.

• One or two small marks that would make an otherwise near perfect record slightly less so. These marks cannot be too deep, and should only be surface marks that won't affect play, but might detract from the looks. • May have some flaws and discoloration in the vinyl, but only those that would be intrinsic to the pressing.

These should disappear when the record is tilted under the light, and will only show up when looking straight at the record. (Buddah and ABC pressings from the 70's are a good example of this.) • May have some slight marks from aging of the paper sleeve on the vinyl. • Possible minor surface noise when played.

Very Good + (plus) • Vinyl should be very clean, but can have less luster than near mint. • Should still shine under a light, but one or two marks may show up when tilted. • Can have a few small marks that may show up easily, but which do not affect play at all. Most marks of this quality will disappear when the record is tilted, and will not be felt with the back of a fingernail.

• This is the kind of record that will play 'near mint', but which will have some signs of use (although not major ones). • May have slight surface noise when played. Very Good • Vinyl can have some dirt, but nothing major. • May not shine under light, but should still be pretty clean, and not too dirty. • May have a number of marks (5 to 10 at most), and obvious signs of play, but never a big cluster of them, or any major mark that would be very deep.

Most marks should still not click under a fingernail. • May not look near perfect, but should play fairly well, with slight surface noise, and the occasional click in part of a song, but never throughout a whole song or more. • This is clearly a copy that was played by someone a number of times, but which could also be a good 'play copy' for someone new.

Very Good - (minus) • Vinyl may be dirty, and can lack a fair amount of luster. • Vinyl can have a number of marks, either in clusters or smaller amounts, but deeper.

• This is the kind of record that you'd buy to play, but not because it looked that great. Still, the flaws should be mostly cosmetic, with nothing too deep that would ruin the overall record. • Examples include a record that has been kept for a while in a cover without the paper sleeve, or heavily played by a previous owner and has some marks across the surface. The record should play okay, though probably with surface noise. Good + (plus) • Vinyl may be dirty, or have one outstanding flaw, such as a light residue, which could be difficult to clean. • May have marks on all parts, too many to qualify as Very Good-, or several deeper marks, but the record should still be ok for play without skips. • In general, this is a record that was played a fair amount, and handled without care.

A typical example may be a record which has been heavily played by a DJ, and carries marks from slip cueing. Depending on the quality of the vinyl, may play with surface noise throughout. Fair This is a grade we rarely use, as we try not to sell records in very bad condition, though in some rare cases we will list a record in such bad shape that it does not conform to the standards above. A 'Fair' record will have enough marks or significant flaws that it does not even qualify as 'Good', but is a copy you might consider for playing, if you're willing to put up with noise and/or flaws. An example might be a recording with surface noise so heavy that it is equal to the volume of the music. For records listed as 'Fair', we will describe the extent of the condition in the comments. Used CD Grade We have only one grade for non-new CDs at Dusty Groove — 'Used CD'.

This grade is somewhat all-encompassing, but we choose it because we try to offer Used CDs in the best shape possible. All of our Used CDs are guaranteed to play without skipping or flaws. If you purchase a Used CD from Dusty Groove, you have 1 week to play it to determine that it plays correctly — and if it does not, then you may return it for a full refund. With our Used CDs, you can expect the disc to be free of all but the lightest of surface marks — clean, and not dirty at all. You can also expect the case to be clean (we often change the cases ourselves — putting fresh cases on Used CDs we handle) — and you can expect the booklet to be in good shape, unless noted otherwise. We will list any specific details/defects underneath the item — so look for notes on cutout marks in the case, stamps on the barcode, or details like that. You might be interested.