Mase Hiroko Quintet: First Contact
Mase Hiroko Quintet: First Contact Jazz of Japan #222 • Jan 5, 2024 • Brian McCrory “Hard bop jazz aimed towards the universe” might be a good way to...
Ruriko Kawamura: Blossoms
Ruriko Kawamura: Blossoms Jazz of Japan #146 • Oct 19, 2021 • Brian McCrory Vocalist Ruriko Kawamura released Blossoms in 2016, her second album following...
Boozy Muse
Boozy Muse Jazz of Japan #190 • Jul 25, 2023 • Brian McCrory Boozy Muse jazz club, located near Okubo and Shin-Okubo stations in Tokyo, Japan (permanently...
Sul Madrugada: Luar
Sul Madrugada: Luar Jazz of Japan #198 • Aug 25, 2023 • Brian McCrory While leading and participating in different groups through the years, musicians Hiroe...
Mikiko Nagatake: Solo
Mikiko Nagatake: Solo Jazz of Japan #205 • Sep 29, 2023 • Brian McCrory In welcome succession for eager fans, pianist Mikiko Nagatake released a batch of...
Somethin’
Somethin’ Jazz of Japan #255 • Aug 6, 2024 • Brian McCrory Somethin’ jazz club, located near Ikebukuro station in Tokyo, Japan As far as friendly jam...
Jazzspot J
Jazzspot J Jazz of Japan #261 • Sep 3, 2024 • Brian McCrory Jazzspot J jazz club, located near Shinjuku-Sanchome and Shinjuku-Gyoemmae stations in Tokyo,...
Hiroco Nagano: Okurimono
Hiroco Nagano: Okurimono Jazz of Japan #11 • Feb 1, 2018 • Brian McCrory Okurimono is a two-track release from vocalist Hiroco Nagano with pianist Seiji...
Ami Fukui Trio: New Journey
Ami Fukui Trio: New Journey Jazz of Japan #32 • Mar 16, 2018 • Brian McCrory Ami Fukui’s third album New Journey grabs the listener’s attention with...
Paco
Paco Jazz of Japan #159 • May 12, 2023 • Brian McCrory Paco jazz club, located near Kojimachi and Hanzomon stations in Tokyo, Japan Paco is a tiny jazz bar...
Alfie
Alfie Jazz of Japan #155 • May 5, 2023 • Brian McCrory Alfie jazz club, located near Roppongi station in Tokyo, Japan The Harumi Nomoto trio playing at Alfie...
Rie Taguchi: The Gift II
Rie Taguchi: The Gift II Jazz of Japan #169 • May 26, 2023 • Brian McCrory Vocalist and pianist Rie Taguchi delivers a follow-up to her debut album The Gift...
Duo Tremolo: Resonance
Duo Tremolo: Resonance Jazz of Japan #131 • Mar 3, 2021 • Brian McCrory Pianist Hideaki Hori and guitarist Takayoshi Baba create beautiful music together on...
Motoi Kanamori: The Live
Motoi Kanamori: The Live Jazz of Japan #288 • Jan 25, 2025 • Brian McCrory Bassist Motoi Kanamori released his third album The Live in 2023. This is a double...
What's J Jazz?
What's J Jazz? Jazz of Japan #217 • Dec 16, 2023 • Brian McCrory Japanese jazz magazines and coffee What’s J Jazz? J Jazz, or Japanese Jazz, is a...
Yosuke Sato & George Nakajima: Longing
Yosuke Sato & George Nakajima: Longing Jazz of Japan #311 • May 30, 2025 • Brian McCrory Longing is the title of a 2023 jazz duo album from saxophonist...
Ami Fukui Trio: MCY
Ami Fukui Trio: MCY Jazz of Japan #292 • Feb 16, 2025 • Brian McCrory It was a surprise when Ami Fukui released even more new songs and arrangements with her...
In F
In F Jazz of Japan #314 • Jun 19, 2025 • Brian McCrory In F jazz club, located near Oizumi-gakuen station in Tokyo, Japan Niigata sake, oden, and modern...
Thelonious
Thelonious Jazz of Japan #310 • May 23, 2025 • Brian McCrory Thelonious jazz club, located near Higashi-nakano and Ochiai stations in Tokyo, Japan/deep “The...
Cafe Cotton Club
Cafe Cotton Club Jazz of Japan #344 • Dec 31, 2025 • Brian McCrory Cafe Cotton Club jazz club, located near Takadanobaba station in Tokyo, Japan Cafe Cotton...
On A Slow Boat To…
On A Slow Boat To… Jazz of Japan #328 • Sep 25, 2025 • Brian McCrory “On A Slow Boat To China”, (“(I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China”) is a...
Manhattan
Manhattan Jazz of Japan #340 • Dec 3, 2025 • Brian McCrory Manhattan jazz club, located near Asagaya station in Tokyo, Japan The sign outside advertises...
Akiko Suda: Flowers On The Hill
Akiko Suda: Flowers On The Hill Jazz of Japan #10 • Feb 1, 2018 • Brian McCrory Flowers On The Hill is a beautiful album of tender and impeccably delivered...
Rie Taguchi: The Gift
Rie Taguchi: The Gift Jazz of Japan #21 • Feb 21, 2018 • Brian McCrory Vocalist Rie Taguchi leads a swinging sextet on her first full-length album, The Gift....
Tomoka Miwa: Colors in Silence
Tomoka Miwa: Colors in Silence Jazz of Japan #28 • Mar 7, 2018 • Brian McCrory Tomoka Miwa, Tokyo-based jazz and pop singer, uses her jazz palette on Colors...
Les Komatis: Les Komatis
Les Komatis: Les Komatis Jazz of Japan #35 • Mar 28, 2018 • Brian McCrory Three established musicians join up to release Les Komatis, a rich fusion of jazz,...
Seiji Endo: Sakura Meditation
Seiji Endo: Sakura Meditation Jazz of Japan #59 • Oct 22, 2018 (rev. Apr 13, 2024) • Brian McCrory Sakura Meditation from pianist Seiji Endo is a gorgeous...
Blue Dot: Halo
Blue Dot: Halo Jazz of Japan #70 • Mar 6, 2019 • Brian McCrory United by a stellar theme of the universe, the Tokyo jazz quartet Blue Dot explores stars and...
Masako Kunisada: M
Masako Kunisada: M Jazz of Japan #71 • Mar 14, 2019 • Brian McCrory The deep, soulful voice of Masako Kunisada warmly embraces the listener on her 2014...
Layla Tomomi Sakai: The Island
Layla Tomomi Sakai: The Island Jazz of Japan #78 • Jul 23, 2019 • Brian McCrory Easy and breezy, as if dozing in a hammock between palm trees, Layla Tomomi...
Hideaki Kanazawa & Sumire Kuribayashi: Nijuso
Hideaki Kanazawa & Sumire Kuribayashi: Nijuso Jazz of Japan #94 • Jan 28, 2020 • Brian McCrory Veteran bassist Hideaki Kanazawa and stellar pianist Sumire...
Sanae Ishikawa: Feel Like Makin’ Love
Sanae Ishikawa: Feel Like Makin’ Love Jazz of Japan #45 • May 10, 2018 • Brian McCrory Tokyo-based jazz singer Sanae Ishikawa sings from her heart,...
Ten Top 10s for Live Jazz in Tokyo
Ten Top 10s for Live Jazz in Tokyo Jazz of Japan #280 • Dec 4, 2024 • Brian McCrory “I’m going to be in Tokyo for a few days and want to catch some live...