Ginza Swing
スウィング銀座
2F, Ginza Inz2, 2-2, Ginza-Nishi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. (03)3563-3757.
〒104-0061 東京都中央区銀座西2丁目2番地銀座インズ2-2F
Cover charge is from 3,800 yen. If you become a member, it’s from 2,500 yen. (Member fee 540 yen). 3 sets or 2 sets from 7 p.m. (some nights different). Reservations are best, especially if you like to sit close.
https://www.facebook.com/swingsince1976/
https://www.instagram.com/jazzclubginzaswing/
3 minutes walk from Yurakucho Station (JR). Also from Ginza Station (Marunouchi Line, Hibiya Line), and Ginza Itchome Station (Yurakucho Line).
This classic old-school (since 1976) jazz club features the best musicians from Japan. Though it’s housed in a shopping mall-like area, once you get inside, you get inside the heart of jazz in Japan. And a shopping mall in Ginza is still Ginza. Inside the club, the outside world falls away and you can get into the music.
The musicians range over many styles, but vocalists and straight-ahead jazz takes the stage most evenings. The stage also welcomes evenings with talks from musicians about jazz, brought alive with the best examples played by musicians right then and there. The talks are in Japanese, but for those with enough Japanese, they are a real treat to hear the musicians talk about their passion.
Ginza Swing is a marvelous space, with room to stretch out a bit and relax. Seats sweep around the stage in a horseshoe shape so the sound and visuals are easily heard and seen from anywhere. It has a very intimate vibe which fits the musicians they bring in, who are personable, focused, and experienced. Jazz is visual as well as aural, so it’s great to see up close the magic of the music. Simply put, it’s a great jazz club.
