Jazz in Japan | Blues Alley Japan

ブルース・アレイ・ジャパン

Meguro Hotel Leon B1F, 1-3-14 Meguro, Meguro-ku. (03)5496-4381.

〒153-0063 東京都目黒区目黒1-3-14目黒ホテルレオンインターナショナルB1F

Cover charge can range from 4,000 to 7,000, a bit more for name acts. Sets start from between 16:00 and 20:00, depending on the performer. Be sure to call ahead for a reservation to get a better-reserved seat.

https://www.bluesalley .co.jp/
www.bluesalley.co.jphttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10006 0216738252
https://x.com/BLUES ALLEY_jp
https://www.instagram.com/bluesal leyjapan/

From Meguro Station on the Yamanote line, it's a few minutes walk downhill.
From the west exit of Meguro station, two parallel streets head downhill away from the station. Take the right hand street (Meguro Dori) and go downhill. The club is about 200 meters down on the right hand side. Look to the right carefully or you can walk right past it. If you get to where the two streets join back together, you've gone too far.

Blues Alley Japan has a swank that relaxes. Out of the way of the big entertainment areas of Tokyo, the club has a snug, unimposing calm to it. Large, wooden tables fill the large (by Tokyo standards) space. Tables are not packed in too tightly, though, so you never feel cramped. The space is small enough, though, to maintain real intimacy and atmosphere. Service is impeccable, but never imposing or cold. They'll hang your coat up for you, and you don't have to beg for a glass of water, but none of this comes with fake politeness. Rather, the club has a natural feel for comfort.

Food and drinks are reasonably priced and appetizing. Very decent plates of pasta and nouveau French cum Californian are served up in solid, satisfying portions. Wine, too, is a nice change from the canned beer, bitter coffee and bottled whiskey of most jazz joints. The sound system here is always set just right, even though two central pillars and oddly angled walls threaten to disrupt it along with the view from a couple tables (don't come late!). For some shows, the sound is loud, but the mix is always right.

Performers here cut across a spectrum of blues, jazz and other genres. The choice of acts is from the upper tier of Tokyo performers. Even if you do not like the style on one particular night, the music is one of the most accomplished in that style. It's a stop on most CD release tours, so the quality gets an extra kick up. Keep an eye out for foreign blues musicians, who are featured once every couple months. Those nights are always special at Blues Alley as the place is packed with enthusiastic blues fans. Blues has a loyal contingent of fans in Tokyo who know how to get cranked up for the real players, and on those nights, Blues Alley shows its truest character.

On non-blues nights, the performers range through an intriguing variety. Jazz musicians here are always ones with a well-established group, usually with recent CDs, and always ready to respond to the club's good vibes with more of their own. The jazz musicians also pick up on the near-concert feel of the space, and tend to play just a little bit more intently than they might at other clubs where a jam session atmosphere can take over. Other groups ranging from contemporary big band to Latin to soulful pop have their own followings, and on those nights, the club can be standing room only. Blues Alley is a very easy place to like.