Toru Takahashi: Tokyo Groovin’ High!
Toru Takahashi: Tokyo Groovin’ High! Jazz of Japan #341 • Dec 6, 2025 • Brian McCrory Drummer Toru Takahashi’s debut album is Tokyo Groovin’ High, a 2021...
Seiji Tada: Workout!!
Seiji Tada: Workout!! Jazz of Japan #89 • Jan 13, 2020 • Brian McCrory Seiji “Taddy” Tada cooks with bebop, blues, and ballads on Workout!! from 2018. This...
Emiko Voice x Suga Dairo: Phase 2
Emiko Voice x Suga Dairo: Phase 2 Jazz of Japan #106 • Feb 26, 2020 • Brian McCrory Vocalist Emiko Voice and pianist Dairo Suga perform jazz standards in...
Hara Dairiki Trio: You’ve Changed
Hara Dairiki Trio: You’ve Changed Jazz of Japan #39 • Apr 12, 2018 • Brian McCrory The Hara Dairiki Trio creates a jubilant atmosphere on You’ve Changed,...
Akane Matsumoto: Memories of You
Akane Matsumoto: Memories of You Jazz of Japan #126 • Nov 12, 2020 • Brian McCrory As the sentimental mood hints at in the cover photo and album title, Akane...
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...
Akane Matsumoto: Playing New York
Akane Matsumoto: Playing New York Jazz of Japan #69 • Feb 19, 2019 • Brian McCrory New York-style jazz with a fresh Japanese take is the focus on 2010’s...
Akane Matsumoto: Night & Day
Akane Matsumoto: Night & Day Jazz of Japan #2 • Jan 30, 2018 • Brian McCrory Fun and buoyant bebop jazz in the style of Oscar Peterson and Phineas Newborn...
Yasumasa Kumagai & Ryu Kawamura: Ol’ School Jazz
Yasumasa Kumagai & Ryu Kawamura: Ol’ School Jazz Jazz of Japan #260 • Aug 30, 2024 • Brian McCrory In the style of classic apostrophe-bearing jazz album...
Miyuki Moriya: Beyond the Sea
Miyuki Moriya: Beyond the Sea Jazz of Japan #291 • Feb 9, 2025 • Brian McCrory Beyond the Sea is saxophonist Miyuki Moriya’s fourth album as a leader, which...
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...
Reikan Kobayashi: Gakudan Hitori
Reikan Kobayashi: Gakudan Hitori Jazz of Japan #101 • Feb 13, 2020 • Brian McCrory A novel album in several ways, Gakudan Hitori from musician Reikan...
Ami Fukui Trio: Urban Clutter
Ami Fukui Trio: Urban Clutter Jazz of Japan #147 • Dec 30, 2021 • Brian McCrory The twinkling chords which open Ami Fukui’s debut album Urban Clutter from...
Bully's
Bully's Jazz of Japan #173 • Jun 1, 2023 • Brian McCrory Bully’s jazz club, located near Yotsuya Sanchome and Akebonobashi stations in Tokyo, Japan...
Seiji Harakawa Quartet: Skipping Down the Street
Seiji Harakawa Quartet: Skipping Down the Street Jazz of Japan #186 • Jul 14, 2023 • Brian McCrory Phrases like good honest work and good clean fun convey...
Kaori Vibes Quartet: Starry Nights
Kaori Vibes Quartet: Starry Nights Jazz of Japan #210 • Nov 3, 2023 • Brian McCrory Starry Nights is the latest album from the Kaori Vibes Quartet. This is...
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...
Akane Matsumoto & Ayumi Koketsu: Trust
Akane Matsumoto & Ayumi Koketsu: Trust Jazz of Japan #302 • Apr 12, 2025 • Brian McCrory Trust is a 2024 release from the duo of pianist Akane Matsumoto and...
Kaoru Azuma: Footprints in New York
Kaoru Azuma: Footprints in New York Jazz of Japan #339 • Nov 29, 2025 • Brian McCrory Vocalist Kaoru Azuma’s Japanese debut release is Footprints in New...
Takuji Yamada: Lite Blue
Takuji Yamada: Lite Blue Jazz of Japan #18 • Feb 17, 2018 • Brian McCrory Takuji Yamada is a professional jazz musician who takes care with his jazz. His...
Tokuhiro Doi Quartet: Amalthea
Tokuhiro Doi Quartet: Amalthea Jazz of Japan #65 • Jan 7, 2019 • Brian McCrory Tokuhiro Doi’s Amalthea from 2011 presents a modern jazz quartet from Japan...
Akihiro Yoshimoto Quartet: Moving Color
Akihiro Yoshimoto Quartet: Moving Color Jazz of Japan #51 • Aug 18, 2018 (rev. Apr 6, 2024) • Brian McCrory Moving Color is the second album from saxophonist...
Atomi Hamada: This is Atomi
Atomi Hamada: This is Atomi Jazz of Japan #33 • Mar 20, 2018 • Brian McCrory Jazz singer Atomi Hamada releases This is Atomi, a five-track debut featuring...
Michiyo Matsushita: Sally Gardens
Michiyo Matsushita: Sally Gardens Jazz of Japan #60 • Oct 25, 2018 • Brian McCrory Pianist Michiyo Matsushita’s Sally Gardens is a lively solo piano album...
Daiki Yasukagawa Trio: Trios II
Daiki Yasukagawa Trio: Trios II Jazz of Japan #99 • Feb 10, 2020 • Brian McCrory Similar in concept to Ray Brown’s Some Of My Best Friends Are… album series...
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...
About
Welcome to Jazz of Japan This site is dedicated to showcasing modern jazz albums from Japan and Japanese musicians. On Jazz of Japan, my motivation is to...
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...
Hideaki Hori: Horizon
Hideaki Hori: Horizon Jazz of Japan #215 • Dec 8, 2023 • Brian McCrory Jazz pianist Hideaki Hori kicked off his recording career 20 years ago, and it all...
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...
Akane Matsumoto & Nanami Haruta: For My Lady
Akane Matsumoto & Nanami Haruta: For My Lady Jazz of Japan #189 • Jul 21, 2023 • Brian McCrory For My Lady is a relaxing package of jazz standards performed...
Emiko Voice: Standard Trio
Emiko Voice: Standard Trio Jazz of Japan #207 • Oct 15, 2023 • Brian McCrory Emiko Voice is always an interesting, active, and boundary-exploring musician,...
Salt Peanuts
Salt Peanuts Jazz of Japan #246 • Jun 13, 2024 • Brian McCrory Salt Peanuts jazz club, located near Ekoda and Shin-Egota stations in Tokyo, Japan Salt...
Apple Jump
Apple Jump Jazz of Japan #264 • Sep 16, 2024 • Brian McCrory Apple Jump jazz club, located near Ikebukuro station in Tokyo, Japan Hideaki Hori (piano) Trio...