Hi Ted. You need to check out the podcast Tokyo Jazz Joints and their brand new accompanying photo book. It goes very deep into these wonderful places - it’s a treasure trove of information. I extended my tour in Japan once just so I could visit as many as possible. Dream places!
I just returned from a trip to Tokyo where I visited a number of excellent vinyl bars, some focused on jazz, others mixing funky beats below an underpass on a Monday night, and yet others in what seemed like the proprietor's living room. Jazz Blues Soul Bar with the soup nazi-esque demeanor of Kobayashi-san was pretty awesome, as was Grandfather's Cafe in Ebisu.
The ones I've been to in the Bay/LA (Bar Shiru, In Sheep's Clothing), while nice, lacked the charm and intimacy of the Japanese Kissas. Felt too much like trendy cocktail bars with vinyl as an afterthought, than vinyl bars with good drinks to complement what you listened to. Given that I shipped my vinyl collection to Mumbai after moving here in June, I've now been sufficiently inspired by you to start one here soon.
P.S. Ted, your son Mickey and I are good friends from Stanford. He told me he's visiting Mumbai soon - if you make the trip with him I'll have a collection of 70s Indian funk covers for you to enjoy.
Paul Brown, the jazz bassist, told me he was walking down the street in Koenji and through an upper floor window he heard his new record being played! The record had just come out. He assumed it was a cafe and went upstairs. Turns out it was a real band--they had learned the whole record!
This kind of thing is (or used to be--I haven't been there for awhile) ubiquitous in Japan. I remember a great vocalist who sang JUST LIKE Ella, with perfect diction on the lyrics. I went up to talk to her but she didn't speak English!
Thank you so much for the pleasant, esoteric adventure.
I recently directed a short play about an ol’ time DJ, and Jazz aficionado, Alan Palmer (he’s kind of the Art Bell of jazz if you will) who works overnights at an obscure public radio station, playing the old jazz greats, Quincy, Miles, Mingus, Tyner, Hubbard, Hancock and Benson. One night a young lady bursts into his sound booth in the middle of his show to tell him she’s been hired to “make some changes” to his format. It’s at that moment we realize Alan clearly has a strong audience. It’s wonderful little play called, “And This Was Our Music” by playwright Mike Rothschild. This post, like the play, is a magnificent example of the earthy richness, cerebral beauty, and universal appreciation of jazz, cushioned in mahogany, with a light scent of cherry tobacco and the aroma of Hennessy Cognac lingering in the air.
I have never heard of a Jazz Vinyl Club. I was researching material for the play, I just didn’t come across such a thing. I’m grateful to you for enlightening me. It’s a delightfully majestic way to keep the love, and the romance of what is such a spiritually wealthy and timeless genre of music. I look forward to sauntering into a Jazz Kissa coming to my community soon. I can just imagine that they have headphones at the bar and private listening booths for special groups. How artfully romantic is that?! I’m in awe.
Here’s a link to the play which I invite you and your readers to read when you visit a Jazz Bar and there’s a ten minute break in the music. It may even complement your listening pleasure.
Hmm.. I see myself in that article. I should perhaps consider a jazz cafe / restaurant / bar / whatever. My wife would certainly faint with joy at seeing all the space created by the vacated vinyl :) But, will I be able to bear being separated from all my precioussss ...
I like the idea of jazz cafes (or music cafes in general), but I'm not sure tying it to a trendy medium will result in a long-term, positive return for your investment. I say play the music from whatever medium, heck even a bootleg cassette of The Jazz Messengers might be cool to hear in a cafe (assuming such a thing exists).
A great concept. I've never been to one myself. Wish we had them here in Australia.
I think beauty of the idea is hearing music somebody else has chosen. Music that you had no idea even existed.
As a less exciting substitute I can recommend a series of compilations put together by a group of young German Jazz DJs who call themselves Jazzanova. They were allowed into the Blue Note vaults to put together four different albums under the name 'Blue Note Trip'.
Some interesting jazz choices mostly from the late 50s/60s.
I started to listen deeply to Jazz in the 70's; and become a sax player later due to my "jazz kissa (Japanese jazz coffee shop) visits" in Japan. I owe this coffee drinking establishments a lot.
I also had my first professional gig at a jazz kissa in Osaka. Ted Gioia is coming up with a great idea in his article. Check it out. (https://www.Sohrab.info)
I'll have to see if I can find one of these jazz meccas in Toronto, Canada, the next time I'm up in the "Big Smoke" one of Toronto's nicknames. Coincidentally I 'll be there to attend the UofT Faculty of Music's fall Jazz Concert, with LIVE jazz performers - students from several years of the current UofT Jazz School. These concerts are a highlight of my year, and this one falls on my real birthday date. So I'm giving myself a big birthday present in 2023. Thanks for the info!
Hi Ted. You need to check out the podcast Tokyo Jazz Joints and their brand new accompanying photo book. It goes very deep into these wonderful places - it’s a treasure trove of information. I extended my tour in Japan once just so I could visit as many as possible. Dream places!
I just returned from a trip to Tokyo where I visited a number of excellent vinyl bars, some focused on jazz, others mixing funky beats below an underpass on a Monday night, and yet others in what seemed like the proprietor's living room. Jazz Blues Soul Bar with the soup nazi-esque demeanor of Kobayashi-san was pretty awesome, as was Grandfather's Cafe in Ebisu.
The ones I've been to in the Bay/LA (Bar Shiru, In Sheep's Clothing), while nice, lacked the charm and intimacy of the Japanese Kissas. Felt too much like trendy cocktail bars with vinyl as an afterthought, than vinyl bars with good drinks to complement what you listened to. Given that I shipped my vinyl collection to Mumbai after moving here in June, I've now been sufficiently inspired by you to start one here soon.
P.S. Ted, your son Mickey and I are good friends from Stanford. He told me he's visiting Mumbai soon - if you make the trip with him I'll have a collection of 70s Indian funk covers for you to enjoy.
I’m not even that into vinyl but I would absolutely visit one of those cafes. Very cool, thanks for writing.
Paul Brown, the jazz bassist, told me he was walking down the street in Koenji and through an upper floor window he heard his new record being played! The record had just come out. He assumed it was a cafe and went upstairs. Turns out it was a real band--they had learned the whole record!
This kind of thing is (or used to be--I haven't been there for awhile) ubiquitous in Japan. I remember a great vocalist who sang JUST LIKE Ella, with perfect diction on the lyrics. I went up to talk to her but she didn't speak English!
Hey Ted, I love this!
Thank you so much for the pleasant, esoteric adventure.
I recently directed a short play about an ol’ time DJ, and Jazz aficionado, Alan Palmer (he’s kind of the Art Bell of jazz if you will) who works overnights at an obscure public radio station, playing the old jazz greats, Quincy, Miles, Mingus, Tyner, Hubbard, Hancock and Benson. One night a young lady bursts into his sound booth in the middle of his show to tell him she’s been hired to “make some changes” to his format. It’s at that moment we realize Alan clearly has a strong audience. It’s wonderful little play called, “And This Was Our Music” by playwright Mike Rothschild. This post, like the play, is a magnificent example of the earthy richness, cerebral beauty, and universal appreciation of jazz, cushioned in mahogany, with a light scent of cherry tobacco and the aroma of Hennessy Cognac lingering in the air.
I have never heard of a Jazz Vinyl Club. I was researching material for the play, I just didn’t come across such a thing. I’m grateful to you for enlightening me. It’s a delightfully majestic way to keep the love, and the romance of what is such a spiritually wealthy and timeless genre of music. I look forward to sauntering into a Jazz Kissa coming to my community soon. I can just imagine that they have headphones at the bar and private listening booths for special groups. How artfully romantic is that?! I’m in awe.
Here’s a link to the play which I invite you and your readers to read when you visit a Jazz Bar and there’s a ten minute break in the music. It may even complement your listening pleasure.
https://www.10-minute-plays.com/comedies/this_was_our_music.html
Again, thank you Ted!
The secret? Get old. Then streaming music, CDs, and vinyl all sound the same.
Hmm.. I see myself in that article. I should perhaps consider a jazz cafe / restaurant / bar / whatever. My wife would certainly faint with joy at seeing all the space created by the vacated vinyl :) But, will I be able to bear being separated from all my precioussss ...
Brazil could use a serious "wake up call" for its vintage jazz culture.
I have wanted to start a kissa for the last four years now. The problem is that I am NOT an audiophile and do not have a collection.
So if someone else wants to contribute their collection, I will set up the drinks and izakaya food.
Seems fair.
You inspired me to post on LinkedIn Ted, hope it brings you some more readers :) https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:share:7102165829131124736/
Check out Bar Shiru in Oakland.
I like the idea of jazz cafes (or music cafes in general), but I'm not sure tying it to a trendy medium will result in a long-term, positive return for your investment. I say play the music from whatever medium, heck even a bootleg cassette of The Jazz Messengers might be cool to hear in a cafe (assuming such a thing exists).
Ok, now I can't wait to open my jazz vinyl beer bar, Hoplicity
A great concept. I've never been to one myself. Wish we had them here in Australia.
I think beauty of the idea is hearing music somebody else has chosen. Music that you had no idea even existed.
As a less exciting substitute I can recommend a series of compilations put together by a group of young German Jazz DJs who call themselves Jazzanova. They were allowed into the Blue Note vaults to put together four different albums under the name 'Blue Note Trip'.
Some interesting jazz choices mostly from the late 50s/60s.
Would definitely add a zing to any party.
I started to listen deeply to Jazz in the 70's; and become a sax player later due to my "jazz kissa (Japanese jazz coffee shop) visits" in Japan. I owe this coffee drinking establishments a lot.
I also had my first professional gig at a jazz kissa in Osaka. Ted Gioia is coming up with a great idea in his article. Check it out. (https://www.Sohrab.info)
I'll have to see if I can find one of these jazz meccas in Toronto, Canada, the next time I'm up in the "Big Smoke" one of Toronto's nicknames. Coincidentally I 'll be there to attend the UofT Faculty of Music's fall Jazz Concert, with LIVE jazz performers - students from several years of the current UofT Jazz School. These concerts are a highlight of my year, and this one falls on my real birthday date. So I'm giving myself a big birthday present in 2023. Thanks for the info!