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Can someone with experience with the Japanese jazz scene recommend jazz clubs in Japan (Osaka area preferred, but Tokyo/Yokohama venues also appreciated)? I'd like to find some affordable hangouts that feature traditional styles of jazz.
Japan enjoys a reputation for its vibrant jazz community, but I moved here this year, so I'm still learning my way around. Also, I prefer jazz clubs that focus more on traditional jazz, gypsy jazz, or big band, as opposed to funk, j-pop fusion, etc.
Any advice is appreciated.
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07-22-2023 08:53 PM
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Hi there,
My wife is Japanese, so I remember going to a couple of small but really nice Jazz Clubs in Kyoto (sorry, I don't remember the names!) in the early 90's. I've also been to the famous Pitt Inn and Blue Note in Tokyo. I also remember a nice Jazz Club in Yokohama (don't remember the name, either). Overall I remember the level of Japanese Jazzers as being very high... I mean: great musicianship! In the year 2004, Jazz guitarist Akio Sasajima&family spent the Summer in Italy in the same building where I live... I've been in touch with him until a couple of years ago and I know he owns a jazz-club in Sapporo, called "The Living Room" (if my memory is correct).
So, you moved to Japan... whre from?
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I visited a place in Kyoto last month called Zac Baran. I'll be in Sapporo in late August, so I'll be sure to look up your friend's place.
I'll be in Tokyo at the beginning of August, so I'd still like to find a scene to check out there as well.
I moved here in April from Los Angeles.
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Also: I met pianist Eri Yamamoto in Italy (2008, or so) and hanged out with her. I like her playing a lot. She lives and works in New York but obviously gigs a lot in Japan aswell. If you can get in touch with her on some social media (Jazz Guitar Forum is my only social medium, I don't even have Facebook) she'll undoubtedly know all the Jazz venues in Japan.
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Jazz guitarist Joshua Breakstone tours Japan. He recently did a couple of shows with the pianist Phillip Strange at Bonds Rosary in Kyoto. He has also played at Kesera in Osaka, and Slow Boat, Cafe ‘S Monk and D-Bop in Sapporo. Joshua is on FB. There used to be a website, at least before corona, that lists Tokyo area jazz jam sessions. That led me to jam sessions at a couple of small jazz clubs in Tokyo, one of them near Waseda University that had several great young players. The site and club names escape me at the moment. The jazz bassist Osamu Koichi put together the two volume “Jazz Standard Bible” that is used at sessions; it’s on Amazon Japan.
Last edited by JazzPadd; 07-24-2023 at 03:32 PM.
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Are you on Facebook? Reach out to guitarist/journalist Hiro Yamanaka Log into Facebook | Facebook
He knows the jazz guitar scene as well as anyone. We've done a number of successful duo tours in the small 'kissa' clubs from Mito City down to Osaka. Sadly, a few of the clubs, like Montgomeryland Tokyo have closed in recent years, but I think Chigusa Yokohama has reopened.
There's a great guitar shop in Osaka , Miki Gakki 三木楽器オンラインショップ | 【公式】総合通販サイト
I've done clinics and played in their booth four Sound Messe. I've also done clinics at Hoochies Tokyo Guitar shop Hoochie's , and a few other shops that I'd have to look up
Best wishes for your search!
PK
http://www.paulkogut.com
paulkogutmusic - YouTube
PK
http://www.paulkogut.com
paulkogutmusic - YouTube
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Originally Posted by paulkogut
That's what I get for ordering online.
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Originally Posted by JazzPadd
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I'm not sure who's the in-house luthier at Miki Gakki at the moment, but I'm sure anyone there would do an excellent job for your setup.
Best wishes for your music!
PK
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Originally Posted by JazzPadd
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Originally Posted by Ezuro
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There's a club called Juhla in Tokyo that has Hirofumi Asaba playing regularly, AFAIK. He has a lot of YouTube videos, mostly duos with a bassist, and he's good. I don't know what else they have there. All I know is what I've seen on YouTube.H
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Originally Posted by sgosnell
I will definitely try to catch him at Juhla while I'm in town.
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That guy is obviously really into Barney Kessel, from the ES 350 guitar w chicken head control knobs, to his playing.
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
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Yeah, he's into Kessel and Christian. He did a whole series of jazz songs, a couple a week, going from A to Z. Some were a stretch, especially the Z, to get a matching title. Now he's doing an "Exploring the Scene" series, and using mostly Charlie Christian tunes, at least at the start. I enjoy his playing, I suppose mostly because that's the type of music I like.
Moffa Mithra
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