Tokyo Jazz Nights

Open Jam Sessions

This is a very short list of select venues in Tokyo that regularly host jam sessions—where any jazz musician can sit in:

Eddie's Lounge: http://www.eddieslounge.com

English Page(s): http://www.eddielandsberg.com

Closed shop in early March, 2006.

Owner: Eddie Landsberg (organ)

From Eddie to Bassists: Hit our Friday session if you can... bass players usually don't sit in since we're an organ room, but I'm sure I can show you some fun stuff.

Rigs: Customized Hammond A-100, etc.

First Stage: http://www2.odn.ne.jp/firststage

English Page(s):

Owner: Mitsuru Honda (trumpet)

Hours: 19:30-23:00, Wednesday thru Friday, every week

• Jam sessions also held on Mondays since Jun 2010

Rigs: Acoustic grand (Yamaha C3); vibraphone (Deegan); brass/woodwinds (Bach, Selmer, King, Yamaha); electric guitars (Gibson, Yamaha) & basses (Fender); double basses (Rubner and Takahashi); drum set (Perl); guitar & bass amplifiers (Roland, Gibson, Fender, Trace Elliot, Gallien-Krueger); vocal PAs & mixing console (Shure, Yamaha); fake books (in different keys)

Note: Several woodwind and brasswind instruments are available - if you intend to use any of these, you'd better bring your own mouthpiece with you!

Address: Uguisu Bldg., 3-15-21 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0000

Phone: +81 (0)3-3405-1910, Fax: +81 (0)3-3405-1950

Jazz Spot Intro: http://www.intro.co.jp/intro

English Page(s):

Owner: Kuniaki “Sumata” Mogushi (drums)

Note: The manager is Masakazu “God” Inoue (alto saxophone), also a great session leader.

Hours: 17:00-29:00 (12 hours straight!), every Saturday

Rigs: Acoustic grand; double bass; drum set

Address: NT Bldg., 2-14-8 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0075

Phone: +81 (0)3-3200-4396

Meguro Jam House: http://www.geocities.jp/megrojamhouse
Closed shop in 2009
Moved to Shibuya in 2007

English Page(s): http://www.geocities.jp/megrojamhouse/info.html

Owner: Masahiro Yoshida (drums, Elvin Jones alumnus)

Hours: 19:00-23:00, nearly everyday, except on Wednesdays (Vocalists usually get featured on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.)

Note: Before you decide to sit in, be sure to check the monthly timetable. There are “pros only” jams twice or so a month. To play on such an occasion, you should have at least five years of experience as a professional live performer—according to the MJH web site. Nights featuring booked musicians do not include open sessions.

Rigs: Acoustic piano; drum set

Note: The house player kindly lets you play his/her double bass.

Address: Kurita Bldg., 2-17-6 Kami-ōsaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0021

Phone: +81 (0)3-3495-1559

Miles' Café: http://www.milescafe.com

English Page(s):

Owner: Miles Kobayashi (trumpet)

Hours: Starting at 20:00, almost everyday, except on Wednesdays

Note: There are separate nights for beginners and those for the experienced.

Rigs: Acoustic grand; Fender Rhodes; double bass; Yamaha drum set

Address: Mizoguchi Bldg., 1-8-8 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0014

Phone/Fax: +81 (0)3-5951-6807

Kikuna Live & Jam: http://www.geocities.jp/kikunalivejam

English Page(s):

Owner: Mr Doi (guitar)

Hours: 19:00-23:00, everyday (i.e., throughout the year, even on Sundays & holidays!)

Rigs: Acoustic piano; brasswinds; electric guitars & basses; double bass; drum set; guitar & bass amplifiers (Fender, Hartke); PAs

Address: Kikuna Amenity Bldg., 7-5-10 Kikuna, Kōhoku-ku, Yokohama 222-0011

Phone: +81 (0)90-4413-3160

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