Velvet Sun

Jazz of Japan #289 • Jan 29, 2025 • Brian McCrory

Velvet Sun jazz club, located near Ogikubo and Asagaya stations in Tokyo, Japan

Velvet Sun is a music spot in the Ogikubo neighborhood off the Chuo train line in Tokyo. This is a train route that has been called the “Jazz Line” for a number of live spots and jazz stops along its stations, such as Kichijoji’s Sometime, Asagaya’s Manhattan, Koenji’s After Hours, Nakano’s Sweet Rain, and Shinjuku’s many great spots like Pit Inn and Polka Dots.

After a peaceful ten-minute stroll from the station to the venue, which works wonders to create a sense of distance and travel, taking in Velvet Sun’s distinctive outer appearance sets a special tone. There is a mostly blank white wall with a narrow, oblong window slotted in the center, lined with shadowy bottles and shapes illuminated by subdued light coming from the interior. The name velvet sun is printed inconspicuously on the window, and a VS marks the door. The overall façade conveys the feeling of arriving at a cozy hideout on an alien planet, something from Star Wars, or a place where a giant star was created out of soft black fabric.

Velvet Sun may be a jazz spot that is less known or even less frequented by typical jazz fans who are looking for standards, straight-ahead, or more conventional jazz acts. There is a somewhat non-genre mix on the schedule here, with musicians and groups spanning the gamut from standards and new jazz to ambient, experimental, free jazz, and unclassifiable music. On occasion, there are shows featuring acoustic units, vocalists, folk or traditional instruments, unusual instruments, music with tap dance, and other interesting groups.

The website for Velvet Sun includes great posters for their schedule of upcoming shows. Aside from what be gleaned from the designs of the flyers and the composition of the groups, little to no information is provided about the genre expectations or descriptions of the acts. This can create a sense of adventure if you don’t have any other knowledge about a night’s particular show or the musicians playing.

Like some other venues that diverge from the mainstream jazz bar image and system, Velvet Sun has a pay-on-entry system, where you can pay and optionally order a drink before taking a seat.

Speaking of seats, the several chairs, couch seats, and mini-tables arranged in the middle of the room are simple and functional. There isn’t a lot of space left over for large bags or luggage, but it doesn’t feel cramped.

The layout is casually comfortable, if a bit spartan, like a cross between a music lover’s cozy den and a retrofitted garage with vintage lamps, wallpaper, and odds-and-ends. The dimly lit and calm atmosphere is appropriately eclectic, like the schedule and music created at Velvet Sun.

One regular act at Velvet Sun is fretless electric bassist Ryoji Orihara’s BGA (Back Ground Ambient) experience, where he conjures “transparent furniture”. It’s intentionally not a music performance, much less BGM (Back Ground Music), but rather sounds and effects layered upon the environment while listeners are encouraged to read, drink, study, or do as they like during the session.

There is usually a nice discount offered if an online reservation was made at least a day before, and there is also an under-25 student discount.

For more information:

• Velvet Sun’s website
• Located near Ogikubo and Asagaya stations in Tokyo, Japan

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