TOKYO JAZZ JOINTS

In Part 2 of 5 Days in June, we are still in Hakodate, where we uncover the incredible Leaf, before jumping on a slightly too long train ride to the biggest city in Hokkaido - a chance for James to catch up on some sleep of course - for an amazing evening in some utterly classic joints, some of which we knew about, some of which we didn’t. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio as...

Right. Here we go. We’re back and hope you’re ready to join us! 5 Days in June: Part 1 is live and we are kicking off in Haneda before hitting Hakodate to uncover the beautiful Sōen and the incredible Bop. 行きましょう〜 Oh, and James takes the first of many naps, probably. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.

Ep 32: This week we finish up with our final joints in Kansai and take the long way home back to where we started 32 episodes ago, via the faded seaside glamour of Atami and a wealthy Tokyo suburb. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.

Episode 31: This week we hit a selection of joints that didn't quite fit neatly anywhere else and as ever, every one is a gem. We marvel at Philip's French, find out where the best place to store a bike helmet is, and finally put the great Bunca vs. Banka debate to bed once and for all. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.

Episode 30: This week is the fourth and final part of our Tokyo Deep Cuts series, and in the spirit of leaving (some of)the best till last, we cruise the funkier streets of Kichijoji to take in Scratch and Sometime, before heading back via Shimokitazawa to call on Lady Jane. We head out to the suburbs to finish up in the incredibly enigmatic Genius, and hear about the owner’s legendary record coll...

Episode 29: This week we bring you all low before ending on a high, as we focus on the original raison d'etre of the Tokyo Jazz Joints project by looking at some of the amazing joints we visited, but which are sadly no longer with us. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.

Episode 28: This week we are back in the comforting arms of Mother Tokyo as we pick off another handful of epic and lesser known joints around the capital. We find out where to get some pricey minty peas, and why you should bring your own drinks to the irrepressible Intro in Takadanobaba. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.

Episode 27: This week our international jazz joint journey of discovery continues as we bounce from North America to South and uncover the amazing Black Forest, hidden under a beautiful bookshop in the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires, and run by Jali and his partner Marcela. Jazz kissa culture really is irrepressible! All photos of Black Forest courtesy of Magdalena Diehl. Thanks as always t...

Episode 26: This week we are down in the old imperial capital to check out some of Kyoto's finest, where we encounter among other things an absolutely massive red fish and photos of Abdullah Ibrahim playing in a Japanese temple. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.

A fictionalised version of our first visit to the incredible, inimitable Basie in Northern Japan, the jazz joint to end all joints. Story written by Philip Arneill. Soundscape by Brian of Grooves Ahead. Basie photo ©Philip Arneill 2020. +++++ Credits Sound Effects: (freesound.org)scottyhigh20, cantikfrantik, sinatra314, bplayers, soapuel, khenshom, joanzz, vital-sounds, shcluppipuppie, timjpower,...

Episode 25: Sometimes less is more, and this is one of these times. This week we finally make it to our destination in this final instalment of a series of 3. Basie, the jazz joint to end all joints, speaks for itself. This episode also includes a fictionalised version of our visit to Basie. Story written by Philip Arneill. Soundscape by Brian of Grooves Ahead (groovesahead.com). +++++ Thanks as a...

Episode 24: James auditions for the Northern Japan Tourist Board and boasts about his step count this week as we continue to bicker like an old couple on our trip up north. In the second part of this trilogy we visit the deceptively named Abbey Road, a couple of other cracking joints in Yamagata, and uncover a mysterious Ron Carter business card, before being delivered by jazz joint taxi to the do...

Episode 23: Hear about the 'human cost' of the project...this is the first of a trilogy as we venture north to meet 'The Don' who presides over THE Mecca of Japanese jazz joints. We see a different side to Fukushima before hitting Sendai to experience Count, Kelly and Kabo, and finish up in the middle of nowhere in the back of a taxi (again) to uncover the incredible Ray Brown. Thanks as always to...

Episode 22: This week we are in the Bay Area. Not Tokyo or Yokohama though, but Oakland... Check out our interview spanning 3 continents and time zones as we chat to Daniel Gahr & Shirin Raza about the birth of Bar Shiru, their awesome, Japanese-inspired jazz joint proudly flying the kissa culture flag on America's west coast. Check them out on barshiru.com Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahea...

Episode 21: We’re back and as inarticulate as ever! This week we take another deep dive into Tokyo's myriad collection of lesser known joints as we hit the beautiful Ragtime, Adirondack, an Owl cafe in Ikebukuro (but not that type!) and the incomparable Corner Pocket with the second part of our ‘Tokyo Deep Cuts’ series. We even throw in a bonus buddhist bar at the end…yes, a buddhist bar. Enjoy. T...

Episode 20: We've reached our halfway point for the podcast project! As proud Tokyoites we nevertheless cross to the dark side and visit the Kansai region, taking in four awesome joints in Kobe and Osaka. James gets a somewhat less than friendly welcome in exact same place where Philip gets the red carpet treatment and an impromptu gramophone demonstration. Discuss. Thanks as always to Brian of gr...

Episode 19: This week we brave the burbs and commuter belt around Tokyo to check out four fab places. After Powell, Monks and Swan, where James gets free beer, we finish up in the awesome Umi (on our second attempt), once the heart of a thriving community centred round a postwar US Army base. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.

Episode 18: Tachibana, since reissued by the fantastic BBE records, has been one of the holy grail albums for Japanese jazz collectors for many years. This week we are in a couple of fine joints in Gunma, before Philip’s extended interview with Tohru Aizawa, the driving force behind the music on this album. As we work our way through a 10 course meal, hear about how he got started in music, his...

Episode 17: We took a break from recording this week, so instead we have a fascinating discussion for you with two members of jazz record collecting royalty,Tony Higgins and Mike Peden. This episode was recorded early in lockdown in April 2020, across 3 countries via Zoom, and as a result the sound is not of our usual quality and comes complete with cicadas, glitches and other bonus sound effects....

Episode 16: A longer episode this week as we consider the conspicuous absence of women in Japanese jazz kissa culture, and celebrate the small but dedicated number of pioneering female owners who are running their own joints through either choice, circumstance or a combination of both. We also touch on the issue of problematic names and racist tropes in Japanese jazz culture. Thanks as always to B...

Episode 15: All joints are created unique, but some are more unique than others. This week is the second episode of two in which we're skipping around the country. This time we discuss four more fabulously weird and wonderful joints; from the beautiful Bokunen to an odd little joint called Misty, and from the mysterious KissaSakaiki to an unforgettable encounter deep in suburban Saitama. Thanks as...

Episode 14: All joints are created unique, but some are more unique than others. This week we're skipping around the country to discuss five fabulously weird and wonderful joints; from antiques for sale to Zen enlightenment through coffee beans, and from student lunches to homemade liquor and Japanese cinema nerds. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic...

Episode 13: This week we return to the source, as we're back in Tokyo with some deeper cuts for the hardcore jazz joint aficionados. We head off the beaten track in the hipster 'hoods of Harajuku and Shibuya, as well hopping on the Yamanote line to the older drinking streets north of the Imperial Palace. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our th...

Episode 12: Saving some of the best for last we finish up our focus on the port cities this week by visiting one of the most iconic jazz kissa, and explore both its official story and the legend... We also visit the 2 Johns, and another gem near Chinatown that may sadly be in its twilight days. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.

Episode 11: We are back with a full episode this week, but we haven’t travelled too far as we continue to criss-cross a port city steeped in the history of cultural exchange and Occupation, exploring some of the deepest of Yokohama’s amazing selection of jazz joints. Find out also how you can donate to social justice causes with our T-shirt giveaway, or by getting your hands on an original photog...