Shikou Ito Trio Syncretia: Kakusareta Guwa
Jazz of Japan #352 — Kakusareta Guwa is a 2025 release from pianist Shikou Ito’s Trio Syncretia. A translation of...
Mikiko Nagatake Trio: Breathe Beneath the Sun
Jazz of Japan #345 — From 2022, Breathe Beneath the Sun is pianist Mikiko Nagatake’s second release, a jazz piano...
Harumi Nomoto: I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Jazz of Japan #343 — The 2023 release I’ll Be Home for Christmas is a pleasant holiday collection of seasonal...
Fumie Chiba Trio: Echoes
Jazz of Japan #336 — Echoes is the title of the second album from the Fumie Chiba Trio, made up...
Michiyo Matsushita Trio: Free
Michiyo Matsushita Trio: Free Jazz of Japan #322 • Aug 10, 2025 • Brian McCrory Free is the third album from the Michiyo Matsushita Trio. With the members...
Natural
Jazz of Japan #319 — Natural music salon, located near Mitaka station in Tokyo, Japan
Taeko Kurita: Ko-tsu-ko-tsu
Taeko Kurita: Ko-tsu-ko-tsu Jazz of Japan #317 • Jul 5, 2025 • Brian McCrory Taeko Kurita’s Ko-tsu-ko-tsu is a solo piano album from 2012 featuring eight of...
Taeko Kurita & Akira Sotoyama: Duo
Taeko Kurita & Akira Sotoyama: Duo Jazz of Japan #316 • Jun 28, 2025 • Brian McCrory Pianist Taeko Kurita and drummer Akira Sotoyama present us with Duo, a...
Strings
Strings Jazz of Japan #294 • Feb 27, 2025 • Brian McCrory Strings jazz club, located near Kichijoji station in Tokyo, Japan Strings is a friendly jazz bar in...
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...
Seiji Endo: Piano Pieces Collection II
Seiji Endo: Piano Pieces Collection II Jazz of Japan #281 • Dec 6, 2024 • Brian McCrory Piano Pieces Collection II is pianist Seiji Endo’s follow-up to his...
Seiji Endo: Piano Pieces Collection
Seiji Endo: Piano Pieces Collection Jazz of Japan #279 • Nov 30, 2024 • Brian McCrory Piano Pieces Collection is a 2021 album from pianist and composer Seiji...
Fumie Chiba: Rougequeue
Fumie Chiba: Rougequeue Jazz of Japan #276 • Nov 15, 2024 • Brian McCrory Rougequeue is a 2015 mini-album from pianist Fumie Chiba that features five of her...
Sumire Kuribayashi Trio: Toys
Sumire Kuribayashi Trio: Toys Jazz of Japan #266 • Sep 27, 2024 • Brian McCrory Toys is pianist Sumire Kuribayashi’s debut leader album from 2014. Since...
Koichi Sato: Embryo
Koichi Sato: Embryo Jazz of Japan #258 • Aug 23, 2024 • Brian McCrory Koichi Sato’s two-disc album Embryo is another remarkable showcase for the talented...
Yuka Yanagihara Trio: Inner Views
Yuka Yanagihara Trio: Inner Views Jazz of Japan #223 • Jan 12, 2024 • Brian McCrory Pianist Yuka Yanagihara’s second piano trio album is Inner Views from...
Hideaki Hori: Melodies for Night & Day
Hideaki Hori: Melodies for Night & Day Jazz of Japan #216 • Dec 15, 2023 • Brian McCrory As a companion piece to the previous article on Hideaki Hori’s...
Akane Matsumoto: Little Girl Blue
Akane Matsumoto: Little Girl Blue Jazz of Japan #212 • Nov 20, 2023 • Brian McCrory Akane Matsumoto’s solo piano album Little Girl Blue from 2022 is full of...
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...
Yuichi Narita: Urban Nocturne
Yuichi Narita: Urban Nocturne Jazz of Japan #197 • Aug 18, 2023 • Brian McCrory With many jazz bars and performance opportunities reduced during the pandemic...
Tetsuji Yoshida & Mikiko Nagatake Duo: Live at Knuttel House
Tetsuji Yoshida & Mikiko Nagatake Duo: Live at Knuttel House Jazz of Japan #195 • Aug 11, 2023 • Brian McCrory Trumpeter Tetsuji Yoshida and pianist Mikiko...
Hitomi Nishiyama: Vibrant
Hitomi Nishiyama: Vibrant Jazz of Japan #181 • Jun 23, 2023 • Brian McCrory Vibrant is a 2020 solo piano recording from Hitomi Nishiyama, her second solo...
Shunichi Yanagi Trio: Slope
Shunichi Yanagi Trio: Slope Jazz of Japan #166 • May 20, 2023 • Brian McCrory Jazz pianist Shunichi Yanagi’s Slope is his second trio release, a 2015...
Our Delight
Our Delight Jazz of Japan #161 • May 13, 2023 • Brian McCrory Our Delight jazz club, located near Warabi station in Tokyo, Japan (permanently closed, now...
Fumie Chiba: Beautiful Days
Fumie Chiba: Beautiful Days Jazz of Japan #138 • May 27, 2021 • Brian McCrory On her fourth and latest album Beautiful Days (2017), pianist Fumie Chiba...
Yukiko Hayakawa Trio: Gallery
Yukiko Hayakawa Trio: Gallery Jazz of Japan #135 • Apr 13, 2021 • Brian McCrory Gallery is the 2008 debut release from jazz pianist Yukiko Hayakawa’s trio,...
Harumi Nomoto Trio: Belinda
Harumi Nomoto Trio: Belinda Jazz of Japan #115 • Apr 4, 2020 • Brian McCrory Among the modern J-Jazz piano trio mainstays in the collection, Harumi Nomoto...
Manabu Ohishi Trio: Gift
Manabu Ohishi Trio: Gift Jazz of Japan #110 • Mar 9, 2020 • Brian McCrory With the jazz album Gift from 2012, pianist and composer Manabu Ohishi reunites the...
Yukari Inoue: Sakura
Yukari Inoue: Sakura Jazz of Japan #108 • Mar 3, 2020 • Brian McCrory Pianist Yukari Inoue’s Sakura from 2016 blooms with colorful variety as she jumps...
Miki Hayama: Prelude to a Kiss
Miki Hayama: Prelude to a Kiss Jazz of Japan #88 • Jan 9, 2020 • Brian McCrory Jazz pianist Miki Hayama’s 2006 album Prelude to a Kiss features beautiful...