Great jazz, in styles ranging from traditional swing to eclectic free jazz, can be heard nightly in Tokyo. Two of the most popular and listenable acts are the cool-jazz guitarist Sadanori Nakamure and the hard-bop group Alto Nakayoshi Koyoshi. Though both play styles of jazz that originated in the '50s, their enthusiasm and technique make their gigs glisten with a thriving jazz spirit.
These two groups play regularly around town at different venues but really show their skills during weekday gigs at the relaxed, intimate jazz clubs Sometime in Kichijoji and Someday in Kagurazaka, whose nightly live shows consistently pull in a good crowd of jazz fanatics and those just looking for a good time.
Equally conversant with both sides of the crowd, I settled in with a couple of Stoli on the rocks for two nights in a row of great, blow-away-the-rainy-season jazz, first at Nakamure's three-set gig at Sometime last Sunday and then for Alto Nakayoshi Koyoshi's lengthy two sets at Someday the following Monday.