Helmed by DJs and producers Shuya and Yoshihiro Okino, Kyoto Jazz Massive brought a fresh nu-jazz breeze to the Japanese club scene. Their 2002 debut album Spirit of the Sun signalled the brothers’ inclination for mind-expanding dance-floor sonics—sprinkled with smoky guest vocals and glimmering electronics. This ethos guides the duo’s remixes, solo releases and albums such as 2021’s Message From a New Dawn as they glide through bossa nova and funk-inspired styles as well as collaborations with the likes of supreme fusioneer Roy Ayers.