Jazz Stroll: "A place to enjoy drinks, jazz, and atmosphere: JAZZY AFTER HOURS"
"The city of Yokohama is an indispensable presence when discussing Japanese jazz."
Yokohama hosts numerous jazz festivals, including the "Yokohama Jazz Promenade," the "Asahi Jazz Festival," and the "Yokohama Honmoku Jazz Festival," and boasts many jazz venues where you can enjoy live performances.
In this series, we will introduce jazz spots within the prefecture so that even those who have never been to a jazz cafe or live music venue can easily enjoy jazz.
The place I visited this time was "JAZZY AFTER HOURS," a jazz bar located in Kannai-Bashamichi. Drawn in by the colorful neon lights, I climbed the stairs and opened the entrance door to be greeted by pleasant jazz music. The calming blue lighting, the neatly arranged glasses, and the sounds of people enjoying their conversations—it suddenly felt as if time had changed from the bustling weekend night in the city.
"When you think of jazz, you think of Kannai," says owner Jun Shibata, explaining that he deliberately chose to open his shop in this area, which already boasts over 30 jazz bars. After retiring from his company in 2017, he decided to open a jazz-related establishment, something he had always loved. After two years of training and preparation, he opened "JAZZY AFTER HOURS" in March 2019.
Having studied bartending during his apprenticeship, the drink menu is extensive. They reportedly have 70-80 different whiskies and cocktails. Their original Jazzy Highball offers a delightful smoky flavor.
Not only is the selection of alcoholic beverages impressive, but the food menu is also quite extensive. The owner's wife, who is in charge of the cooking, studied under a French chef, and the menu is filled with tempting dishes. The garlic sautéed whelk, with its strong garlic flavor, was exquisite and paired perfectly with the alcohol. I blurted out, "I'm afraid I might drink too much," to which Mr. Shibata kindly smiled and replied, "Please, by all means, drink as much as you like." While savoring the whelk, I noticed that the pork cutlet ordered by the customer next to me looked so delicious that I resolved to come back with a bigger appetite next time.
While you enjoy your meal, pleasant jazz music fills the restaurant. It's a live-sounding music that's easy on the ears. Mr. Shibata's concept is "a place to enjoy drinks, jazz, and the atmosphere." A place where you can stay for a long time without getting tired, and where you can also enjoy conversation. He says he thought "there aren't that many places like that," so he established a concept that sets it apart from other establishments.
Therefore, he is very particular about sound. He uses a Japanese-made Esoteric CD player, British-made Tannoy main speakers, and Danish-made DALI sub-speakers. He mainly plays standard jazz from the 50s and 60s, but sometimes plays other music as well! He calls it "Japan's most laid-back jazz bar," and laughs cheerfully.
"JAZZY AFTER HOURS" is a listening bar where you can enjoy jazz music while also enjoying drinks and food. But that's not all; they also host jam sessions (improvised live performances) and vocal jam sessions once a month. Furthermore, you can enjoy concert-style live performances several times a year.
The comfortable atmosphere I felt upon entering the bar must stem from Mr. Shibata's desire to ensure every customer has a good time. "JAZZY AFTER HOURS" is frequented by many customers who aren't particularly familiar with jazz. They drop in for a casual drink or a second round of drinks, each spending their time as they please. The jazz music playing in the background doesn't interrupt conversation, but it's more than just background music. It gently envelops every customer, creating a space where you're free to quietly listen to the sound or enjoy conversation while moving to the rhythm.
"This is a place where you can relax, not just with jazz music, but with anything. Music lovers, please feel free to drop by. You can also use it as a coffee shop; even just a cup of coffee is fine."
Shibata-san, who spoke these words, awaits you at "JAZZY AFTER HOURS." Why not unwind your mind and body with delicious food and drinks, and soothing jazz music?
