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Blue Note Tokyo: Still Holds Praise From Jazz Musicians & Fans Alike

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Courtesy Blue Note Tokyo

By Doug Hall
February 4, 2023
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Opened in 1988, the Blue Note Tokyo nightclub has a long-established history of providing top-tier jazz performances and holds a special place in the veins of many renown jazz artists.

Over several decades, the A-list of jazz performances include

Sarah Vaughan

vocals
1924 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Sarah Vaughan,

Oscar Peterson

piano
1925 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Oscar Peterson,

Tony Bennett

vocals
1926 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Bennett,

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea,

Stan Getz

saxophone, tenor
1927 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Stan Getz,

McCoy Tyner

piano
1938 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner,

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie,

Joe Pass

guitar
1929 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Pass, the

Milt Jackson

vibraphone
1923 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Milt Jackson Quartet, the

Jim Hall

guitar
1930 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Hall Quartet,

Incognito

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Incognito,

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock,

Michael Brecker

saxophone, tenor
1949 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Brecker,

David Sanborn

saxophone
1945 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">David Sanborn,

John Scofield

guitar
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">John Scofield,

Diana Krall

piano and vocals
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Diana Krall,

Joe Zawinul

keyboards
1932 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Zawinul,

Dr. John

piano
1940 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Dr. John,

Joni Mitchell

vocals
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Joni Mitchell and the

Kyle Eastwood

bass
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Kyle Eastwood Band, as well as the legendary

Phyllis Hyman

vocals
1941 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Phyllis Hyman.

Many exceptional Japanese jazz artists have also been regulars on the schedule including

Hiromi

piano
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Hiromi,

Eric Miyashiro

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Miyashiro,

Takeshi Ohbayashi

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Takeshi Ohbayashi,

May Inoue

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">May Inoue, and

Toshiko Akiyoshi

piano
b.1929

" data-original-title="" title="">Toshiko Akiyoshi (who has released several albums that were recorded at the club, such as Last Live in Blue Note Tokyo (Wounded Bird Records, 2011) and Toshiko Akiyoshi Live at Blue Note Tokyo '97 (Nippon Crown Records, 1997).

Walking into the club you are reminded immediately of the legends that have performed here, as a collage of photographs of familiar jazz icons, frozen in moments on stage, surround you on three walls. Descending the staircase into the darkly lit ambience of the inner lobby, the mood is set as if you've arrived at the inner sanctum, being greeted by sharply dressed attentive hosts. Escorted to your seats, you enter the club floor which offers side tiered-level seating, booths and a center section of nightclub tables that complete a semi-circle around the stage. The atmosphere remains intimate, with reserved-only seating for about 300 people, with a surrounding wood-paneled space with low lighting, that creates an elegant cocktail lounge setting. In formal black attire, your waiter welcomes you, offering a menu of drinks and dinner options before the show.

As Asian jazz listeners are dedicated to their subject, and very knowledgeable about the artist performing, there is a corresponding respectful silence during each piece or song. This is in part why many jazz musicians hold this venue (and Japanese jazz enthusiasts) in such high regard.

Bobby West

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby West, an Los Angeles-based jazz pianist, who has been performing in Asia for over 30 years, including several years in Tokyo at the Grand Hyatt jazz lounge, shared his thoughts in a 2021 All About Jazz interview,' "in my humble opinion, the greatest jazz audience in the world are Japanese—just extraordinary man. The only rival would be New York. There's a thing they have here called 'jazz mania'—anything they get themselves into, it's like one-hundred and ten percent. When it comes down to jazz, they are so knowledgeable, they are well-read on it, they've studied it, there are second and third generation 'jazz maniacs.' Even though it only applies to a small fraction of the population, these people are so serious."

Though Blue Note Tokyo is now a part of the Blue Note Japan franchise, which offers other clubs throughout Japan, this venue was the founding anchor, setting a standard of excellence. Even now, in a much more commercial world where nightclubs in any major international city are competing just to stay open, the philosophy at Blue Note Japan has remained directed towards the audience's experience as shared with the performer. In an excerpt from their web page, the franchise defines itself with this description, "A place where you want to be, the time you want to be there, and the people who want to be there—Blue Note Japan will continue its efforts towards the dream of connecting various 'encounters' and 'joys' and continuing to create a two-way environment." A refreshing credo and ideology that reflects the Japanese tradition, even in a jazz venue, to be the responsible host. In the case of the Blue Note Tokyo, this tradition means a continuance of the reputation for stellar performances and the respect of the international jazz community.

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