Featuring Dolby Atmos and AURO-3D
The video edition of A Shade of Blue by the Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio, recorded and mixed by Hideo Irimajiri of the Irimajiri Immersive Audio Laboratory, was released by evosound (Evolution Media Limited) on October 30, 2026.
The Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio is a piano trio led by pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, featuring Hiroshi Kagawa on bass and Toshio Osumi on drums, all three renowned figures in the Japanese jazz scene. Since the release of their acclaimed 1974 album Misty, the trio has earned recognition both in Japan and internationally. Their music is distinguished by a deep blues feeling reminiscent of authentic jazz and a powerful, tightly knit swing. The trio is also known for its high-quality recordings and has long been appreciated by audiophiles.
This album was recorded from the outset with immersive audio production in mind, and this video release represents the project in its intended final form. It is available in two editions: a two-disc MQA-CD + Blu-ray set and an Ultra HD Blu-ray (UHD-BD). In addition to Dolby Atmos, the UHD-BD also features an AURO-3D mix.
Release Information
- Title: A Shade of Blue
- Artist: Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio (Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, piano; Hiroshi Kagawa, bass; Toshio Osumi, drums)
- Release Date: October 30, 2026
- Label: evosound (Evolution Medial Limited)
- Formats:
MQA-CD + Blu-ray (2-disc set) - EVSA2521MB
Audio: Dolby Atoms / Stereo
Ultra HD Blu-ray (UHD-BD) - EVOB2538U
Audio: Dolby Atoms / AURO-3D / Stereo - Recording: Live recording at Gotanda Cultural Center Music Hall, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan, on December 9, 2021
- Recording and Mixing: Hideo Irimajiri (WOWOW Omicross Studio, Japan)
- Mastering (CD and SACD): Bastiaan Kuijt (BK Audio, the Netherlands)
- Audio Finishing (Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray): Hideo Irimajiri (Naramachi Studio, Japan)
- Where to Buy (Japan): https://bio.to/AShadeOfBlueJapan
From left: Hiroshi Kagawa (b), Tsuyoshi Yamamoto (p), Toshio Osumi (ds)
About the Release
The album was first released in October 2023 in three formats: MQA-CD (stereo), hybrid SACD (5.1-channel surround), and a two-disc 180g audiophile vinyl edition. In December of the same year, music streaming and downloads of the immersive audio versions (5.1-channel FLAC and Dolby Atmos) also became available. From these initial releases through to the immersive audio versions featured in the video release, all recording and mixing have been handled by Hideo Irimajiri.
The audio for the CD and SACD editions was finalized through mastering by mastering engineer Bastiaan Kuijt of BK Audio. For video releases such as Blu-ray, however, the final audio adjustments are made during audio post-production (MA). This process was handled by Hideo Irimajiri. The 96 kHz stereo audio included on both the Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray editions was also finalized through this process, with adjustments that differ from those made for the CD and SACD editions.
The MQA-CD + Blu-ray edition offers listeners the opportunity to explore the differences between two stereo versions: the MQA-CD audio mastered by Bastiaan Kuijt and the stereo audio on the Blu-ray's second audio track, finalized by Hideo Irimajiri through MA.
The Ultra HD Blu-ray edition does not include an MQA-CD, but features 4K video along with two immersive mixes: Dolby Atmos and AURO-3D. Listeners can also enjoy comparing these two distinct mixes.
Reviews and Recognition
Since its release on CD and SACD, A Shade of Blue has been featured in audio magazines and jazz publications in Japan and abroad, earning high praise. Here are some of the notable reviews and articles.
• Tower Records Online (Japan, September 14, 2023)
Published ahead of the Japanese release, this feature introduces the album as a live recording captured in a single take at a concert hall, under the theme of “reproducing the sound as the artists originally perform it.” It highlights the tension and immediacy unique to a single-take recording, along with the rich acoustics of the hall.
Tower Records Online – Special Feature: Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio ‘ A Shade of Blue ’ (Japanese)
• UK Vibe (UK, October 21, 2023; Review by Mike Gates)
Rated 4 out of 5, the review praises the delicate and romantic performances, as well as the distinctive character reminiscent of the trio’s Three Blind Mice recordings from the 1970s. It also commends the recording and production, describing them as “beautifully recorded and produced.”
UK Vibe – Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio ‘ A Shade of Blue’ (Album Review)
• Audiophile Style (USA, December 8, 2023, Review by Chris Connaker)
This review is based on listening to the Dolby Atmos version on a 7.1.4-channel system. Describing it as an “instant classic,” the reviewer, who has long been familiar with the Three Blind Mice recordings of the 1970s, says this Dolby Atmos edition is his favorite among the trio’s albums.
He gives particular praise to Hideo Irimajiri’s recording and mixing, noting that the piano sound surpasses that of earlier Three Blind Mice releases. He also compares the drum recording and immersive mix favorably with outstanding recordings by Grammy-winning engineer Bill Schnee.
Audiophile Style – Tsuyoshi Yamamoto - A Shade of Blue (Immersive Edition)
• Magic of Analog, Vinyl, Digital and Spatial Sound (January 8, 2024)
This detailed review compares eight versions of the album: LP, SACD (stereo and 5.1-channel), CD layer, streaming, 5.1-channel FLAC, and Dolby Atmos in both lossy and lossless formats.
The reviewer gives particular praise to the lossless Dolby Atmos (TrueHD) version of the album, recorded and mixed by Hideo Irimajiri. The review highlights its realistic reproduction of the concert hall's acoustic space and the depth and spaciousness of the instrument placement. It ultimately describes this version as “a reference album for Dolby Atmos.”
Magic of Analog, Vinyl, Digital and Spatial Sound – Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio: A Shade of Blue
• The Absolute Sound (USA, September 2025 and February 2026)
The Absolute Sound, a leading American high-end audio magazine founded in 1972, has repeatedly included the Dolby Atmos mix of this album in its lists of outstanding immersive releases, curated by senior writer Andrew Quint.
The first edition of “42 Best Sounding Atmos Mixes,” published in September 2025 (Issue 363), ranked the album third in the Jazz category. The second-place entry in the same category was Feel Like Making LIVE! by the Bob James Trio, also mixed by Hideo Irimajiri. This meant that two immersive mixes by Hideo Irimajiri ranked among the top three in the category.
The Absolute Sound – 42 Best Sounding Atmos Mixes (September 2025)
The subsequent second edition, “50 Best Sounding Atmos Mixes,” published in February 2026, saw A Shade of Blue rise to second place in the Jazz category.
Andrew Quint – The Absolute Sound
QuadraphonicQuad – The Absolute Sound’s “50 Best Atmos Mixes”
Having earned high praise in both stereo and surround formats, A Shade of Blue can now be enjoyed in two immersive audio formats, Dolby Atmos and AURO-3D, in this video release. Experience the music's full appeal alongside the video.
Related Article
A news article on the release of the video edition (in Japanese).
PHILE WEB – “Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio’s A Shade of Blue Arrives as a Video Release: Out October 30 on MQA-CD + Blu-ray and UHD BD” (Source: PHILE WEB, September 17, 2026; editorial staff: Tatsuya Ishii; title translated by us)
