Tokyo has the greatest number of symphony orchestras of any city in the world, and the same must be true of big bands. In an annual pre-springtime rite, jazz club Someday showcases two weeks' worth of the best.
Few jazz clubs in Tokyo can shoehorn 16 musicians inside, much less offer a sound system and acoustics crisp and subtle enough to handle the large-group sound, but the master of Someday, Mori-san, just has a thing for big bands. He designed his brand new Shinbashi space to accommodate the numbers with sufficient seats, mikes, stands and cords, and the annual festival atmosphere certainly lends itself to tight ensemble work and tasty soloing.
The presentation of this many big bands isn't easy, though, given the financial constraints and space realities of Tokyo. Furthermore, writing and arranging charts is no easy task; band leaders start preparations a year in advance. Then there's the impossibility of scheduling an advance practice session with the busiest musicians in town. (One leader said he abandoned all-night sessions after taxi fares home ate up all the profits.)
However, as the festival hits its 23rd year, the concept of horn sections and a swinging rhythm section is still alive and kicking. The range of bands has even been expanded, kicking off with the powerful, bluesy Kunizo Big Band and ending two weeks later with the strong-arm bop of the Tokyo Leaders Big Band (whose members all lead their own bands). In between, styles from swing to Latin and beyond have their own nights.
Ultimately, the success of this festival comes down to the musicians' own interest. This is where they pick up new techniques and swap licks with former bandmates and old friends. You could almost call it a homecoming reunion.
