Our Exclusive Jazz Lounge

We had been checking out Jazz Clubs online for a few days, and finally decided to visit Soul Trane, not far from our hotel. It was a hoot! We walked into a very friendly small space the size of a big loungeroom that had a grand piano, full drum kit, double bass in one corner and a big bar with every whisky from around the world on display. There was one big central table and two small tables. A group of about 7 musicians sat around the big table or on bar stools, and we joined the one other guest, a young Chinese guy. They played lots of sets, rotating the musicians. One little ancient Japanese guy wearing tiny dark glasses played amazing double bass. The owner of the bar explained to us that he was the most famous Jazz bassist in Japan, had several albums and played all around the world. In old photos he looked like Jimmy Hendrix (or his hair did anyway). There was also a young 19 year old that had a go at the trumpet, he got lots of encouragement from the old guys. We sat listening to great music, sipping very nice Scottish and Japanese whiskies with the surreal background of the bullet trains winding through towering buildings on its elevated tracks, and the ever present Asahi Golden Flying Turd looming in the background (ref previous post). It all wound up about 10.30pm and they gave us a very warm farewell. It was an extraordinary experience all round, classically Japanese!Read more