UPDATE (February 1, 2012): CD jacket designs added.
UPDATE (January 12, 2012): Song details added.
UPDATE (December 15, 2011): CDJapan preorder link added.

Megumi Nakajima’s second full solo album is coming out in March 2012!

Details:

Release Title: Be With You (First Press Release)
Catalog No.: VTZL-38
Release Date: March 7, 2011
Price: Y4,830
Purchase through CDJapan.

Release Title: Be With You (Regular Release)
Catalog No.: VTCL-60291
Release Date: March 7, 2011
Price: Y2,940
Purchase through CDJapan.

Track with Kanno:

12. Kiniro ~ Kimi wo Suki ni Natte Yokatta [trans: Gold ~ I'm Glad I Like You]

Composition: Yoko Kanno
Arrangement: Rasmus Faber
Lyrics: Toshiaki Yamada

Source: Megumi Nakajima’s blog

UPDATE (January 30, 2012): Translations, other items added.

My dream team! Read more about it in Anime News Network, and in Coma if you can read Japanese.

The description of the the anime at the official website is as follows (translated by me):

In “Sakamichi no Apollon”, classical pianist Kaori and Sentarou meet, and the story develops from a place that will be enveloped in jazz. One of the highlights of the show are the jazz songs in each scene, and the performances alongside them. Produced by Yoko Kanno, this anime’s sessions will have Takashi Matsunaga (Kaori) for the piano, and Jun Ishikawa (Sentarou) for the drums.

Alongside popular, old-time favorite pieces such as “Moanin’”, “My favorite things”, and “Someday my prince will come”, are the performances of jazz music improvisations which are comparable to “dialogues”… fun moments, lonely moments, hesitation, angry moments, when all emotions become one… Another highlight is how the emotion and musical performance of those moments are carried out. These are “sessions” of image and music by Director Watanabe. Please look forward to this fresh and heart-pounding show.

The words from Kanno in the website (translated by Yyrkoon):

This is jazz in all its youth. I have been waiting for a long time for this work. I transcribed the sounds I felt when reading the manga. Please listen to the sounds of these young genius who rehearse at the rhythm of their life.

UPDATE (January 10, 2012): Release date pushed back to February 15.
UPDATE (December 9, 2011): More details added.
UPDATE (January 19, 2012): Jacket art added.

Title: [Aquarion EVOL first single] Title TBA
Release Date: February 15, 2012
Price: Y1100 (1155yen Tax incl.) [approx. 14.17 USD]
Publisher: Flying Dog
Purchase through CDJapan.

Track List:

1. Kimi no Shinwa ~ Aquarion Dai Ni Shou [trans: Your Legend ~ Aquarion Chapter 2] (Opening Theme)
Vocals: AKINO with bless4
Lyrics: Gabriela Robin
Composition and Arrangement: Yoko Kanno
2. Gekkou Simfonia [trans: Moonlight Symphonia] (Ending Theme)
Vocals: AKINO and AIKI from bless4
Lyrics: Gabriela Robin
Composition and Arrangement: Yoko Kanno
3. Kimi no Shinwa ~ Aquarion Dai Ni Shou Karaoke
4. Gekkou Simfonia Karaoke

As mynavi.jp reports, the OP will be part of an early release through the Joysound line-up.

Minor update: The newest episode of Evol (depending on the rip publisher, they might list it as either the second or third episode, because the first showing was actually two episodes broadcast as one) has the animated sequences for both the OP and ED. Look for them, they’re both visual and auditory treats

Head on down to the Victor Flying Dog Website to hear a sample of Gekkou Symphony. It’s a ballad and I’m looking forward to hearing the rest!

The main theme of the new Code Geass OVA “Boukoku no Akito”, entitled “More than Words”, will be composed by Kanno, sang by Maaya, lyrics by Yuuho Iwasato. It will air summer this year.

Awesome, I enjoyed this series quite well.

Source: @miyaishiho, tower.jp

Thanks to grunty for the tip! (Do sing this as a joke sub if it pleases you )

As some of you might know, the first episode of Aquarion EVOL has aired yesterday, January 8. I’m not sure right now who to thank, be it Kanno or Ayako Otsuka, but the music sure is a delight to listen to. It’s very much fitting to sit beside the other Aquarion OSTs. Please do sample the music, the ones we hear in the first episode are really nice.

When I first heard the Aquarion OSTs, without looking at the credits, I guessed about 90% right which were Kanno’s and which were Hogari’s, and which were collaborations. I think it would be harder in this set, but I have a strong hunch that the first set of vocals that we hear is Kanno’s work. It reminds me of a more operatic Voices.

Also, some pieces from the first Aquarion series were used at the episode, so I am wary that she isn’t really much involved in the music.

For those who have seen the episode, what do you guys think?