Ayumi Koketsu: Struttin’
Struttin’ is saxophone player Ayumi Koketsu’s jazz quartet album released in Japan in 2010. This is her debut album, the...
Toru Takahashi: Tokyo Groovin’ High!
Drummer Toru Takahashi’s debut album is Tokyo Groovin’ High, a 2021 release that presents addictive jazz bebop favorites performed by...
Seiji Tada: Workout!!
Seiji “Taddy” Tada cooks with bebop, blues, and ballads on Workout!! from 2018. This album, his 13th as leader, is...
Akane Matsumoto: Memories of You
As the sentimental mood hints at in the cover photo and album title, Akane Matsumoto’s 2015 release Memories of You...
Akane Matsumoto: Playing New York
New York-style jazz with a fresh Japanese take is the focus on 2010’s Playing New York, where popular Japanese pianist...
What's J Jazz?
What’s J Jazz? J Jazz, or Japanese Jazz, is a classification label found in sections of some record and CD...
Hara Dairiki Trio: You’ve Changed
The Hara Dairiki Trio creates a jubilant atmosphere on You’ve Changed, playing choice jazz standards from the bebop and straight-ahead...
Akane Matsumoto: Night & Day
Fun and buoyant bebop jazz in the style of Oscar Peterson and Phineas Newborn Junior, this is a happy jazz...
Emiko Voice x Suga Dairo: Phase 2
Vocalist Emiko Voice and pianist Dairo Suga perform jazz standards in non-standard ways on their 2009 release Phase 2~Twist &...
About Jazz of Japan
Introducing modern-day jazz of Japan through albums, musicians, and clubs
Ami Fukui Trio: Urban Clutter
The twinkling chords which open Ami Fukui’s debut album Urban Clutter from 2010 shine like a crystalline spotlight, signaling the...
Seiji Harakawa Quartet: Skipping Down the Street
Phrases like good honest work and good clean fun convey the simple and satisfying rewards that result from high levels...
Akane Matsumoto & Ayumi Koketsu: Trust
Trust is a 2024 release from the duo of pianist Akane Matsumoto and saxophonist Ayumi Koketsu. These two musicians are...
Kaoru Azuma: Footprints in New York
Vocalist Kaoru Azuma’s Japanese debut release is Footprints in New York, recorded in New York in 2008 and released in...
Hideaki Hori: Horizon
Jazz pianist Hideaki Hori kicked off his recording career 20 years ago, and it all started with this debut album...
Hideaki Hori: Melodies for Night & Day
As a companion piece to the previous article on Hideaki Hori’s Horizon, this follow-up post introduces the pianist’s recent solo...
Kaori Vibes Quartet: Starry Nights
Starry Nights is the latest album from the Kaori Vibes Quartet. This is leader Kaori Nakajima’s third album with her...
Daiki Yasukagawa Trio: Trios II
Similar in concept to Ray Brown’s Some Of My Best Friends Are… album series in which the legendary bassist plays...
Ten Top 10s for Live Jazz in Tokyo
“I’m going to be in Tokyo for a few days and want to catch some live jazz… where should I...
Akihiro Yoshimoto Quartet: Moving Color
Moving Color is the second album from saxophonist Akihiro Yoshimoto and his quartet. With eight original songs drawn from his...
Emiko Voice: Standard Trio
Emiko Voice is always an interesting, active, and boundary-exploring musician, often simultaneously involved in a number of projects. Emphasizing her...
Miyuki Moriya: Beyond the Sea
Beyond the Sea is saxophonist Miyuki Moriya’s fourth album as a leader, which she released in 2024 with her regular...
Sumire Kuribayashi Trio: Toys
Toys is pianist Sumire Kuribayashi’s debut leader album from 2014. Since then, the spirited musician has been on a tear,...
Salt Peanuts
Salt Peanuts jazz club, located near Ekoda and Shin-Egota stations in Tokyo, Japan
Reikan Kobayashi: Gakudan Hitori
A novel album in several ways, Gakudan Hitori from musician Reikan Kobayashi contains interesting dimensions and juxtapositions. Kobayashi is proficient...
Yuichi Narita: Urban Nocturne
With many jazz bars and performance opportunities reduced during the pandemic period, musicians used novel approaches to create and record...
Fumie Chiba: Beautiful Days
On her fourth and latest album Beautiful Days (2017), pianist Fumie Chiba records eleven new compositions with a jazz sextet,...
Akane Matsumoto & Nanami Haruta: For My Lady
For My Lady is a relaxing package of jazz standards performed by a sensitive trombone and piano duo. Akane Matsumoto,...
Tokuhiro Doi Quartet: Amalthea
Tokuhiro Doi’s Amalthea from 2011 presents a modern jazz quartet from Japan led by the evocative tones of jazz clarinet....
Apple Jump
Apple Jump jazz club, located near Ikebukuro station in Tokyo, Japan