Jazz Walk "JAZZY AFTER HOURS - A place to enjoy drinks, jazz and the atmosphere"

"The city of Yokohama is an indispensable part of the story of Japanese jazz."
Yokohama hosts numerous jazz festivals, including the Yokohama Jazz Promenade, the Asahi Jazz Festival, and the Yokohama Honmoku Jazz Festival, and has many jazz spots where you can enjoy live music.
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 house can easily enjoy jazz.

This time, we visited JAZZY AFTER HOURS, a jazz bar located in Bashamichi, Kannai. As we walked up the stairs, guided by colorful neon lights, and opened the entrance door, we were greeted by the sound of soothing jazz music. The calming blue lighting, the neatly arranged glasses, and the sounds of people enjoying conversation made it feel like the flow of time had suddenly changed from the bustling city on a weekend night.

Owner Jun Shibata says that he thought "Kannai is synonymous with jazz," and so he decided to open a bar in this area, which is home to over 30 jazz bars. After retiring from his company in 2017, he decided to open a bar related to jazz, which he had always loved, and after two years of training and preparation, he opened "JAZZY AFTER HOURS" in March 2019.

Having studied bartending during his training, the bar has an extensive drink menu. There are between 70 and 80 different whiskeys and cocktails on the menu. The original Jazzy Highball is a drink that you can enjoy with its smoky flavor.

Not only are they offering drinks, but the food selection is also quite extensive. The owner's wife, who is in charge of cooking, has studied under a French chef, and has a wide selection of delicious dishes on the menu. The garlic-sauteed whelk, with its strong garlic flavor, is exquisite and goes perfectly with alcohol. When I accidentally blurted out, "I'm afraid I might drink too much," Shibata kindly replied with a smile, "Please do drink too much." While savoring the whelk, the pork cutlet ordered by the customer next to me looked so delicious that I decided to come back hungrier next time.

While you enjoy your meal, pleasant jazz music fills the restaurant. It's a sound that feels like a live performance and is easy on the ears. Shibata's goal is to create a restaurant where you can enjoy drinks, jazz, and the atmosphere. It's a restaurant where you can stay for a long time without getting tired, and where you can also enjoy conversation. He thought, "It seems like there are restaurants like this, but it's rare," and so he came up with a concept that is different from other restaurants.

That's why they're so particular about the sound. They use a Japanese-made Esoteric CD player, British-made Tannoy main speakers, and Danish-made DALI sub-speakers. They mainly play standard jazz from the 50s and 60s, but sometimes they play music other than jazz! "We call ourselves the most laid-back jazz bar in Japan," he says with a cheerful laugh.

"JAZZY AFTER HOURS" is a listening bar where you can listen to jazz music while enjoying drinks and food. In addition, they also hold jam sessions (improvised live performances) and vocal jam sessions once a month. You can also enjoy concert-style live performances several times a year.
The comfortable atmosphere felt upon entering the bar is likely the result of Shibata's desire to ensure that all customers have a good time. Apparently, many customers who are not familiar with jazz also visit "JAZZY AFTER HOURS." They drop in to use the bar or for an after-party, and each spends their time however they like. The jazz playing in the bar does not interfere with conversation, but it is more than just background music. It gently envelops all customers, so it is a space where you can freely listen to the sound quietly or enjoy conversation along with the rhythm.

"It's a place where you can relax, not just in jazz, but in any genre. If you love music, please feel free to drop by. You can also use it as a cafe, and even just a cup of coffee is fine."
Shibata is waiting for you at "JAZZY AFTER HOURS." Why not relax and unwind with delicious food, drinks, and soothing jazz?