Jirokichi

Jirokichi

Suginami-ku, Koenji-kita 2-3-4 Koenji Biru B1

〒166-0002　東京都杉並区高円寺北2-3-4高円寺ビルB1

03.3339.2727

https://jirokichi.net/
https://x.com/jirokichimusic
https://www.instagram.com/jirokichimusic https://www.facebook.com/jirokichimusic

From the north exit of Koenji Station, turn right and walk along the tracks for 3 minutes. It’s down a street on the left (the third street depending on where you start counting). Music nightly from 7:30, several sets, cover charge 2500 yen (but sometimes more).

Jirokichi has been part of Koenji cool since before the area turned hip. The area has finally caught up with the club. Jirokichi offers an eclectic variety of improvisational music. You can hear everything from fusion to blues to salsa to funk to Okinawan music, and oh, yeah, jazz. Sometimes all on the same night. The common thread is great music. The best musicians perform with their best hands here.

The place is not large, but it doesn’t matter if you get there early enough for a seat, you’ll be popping and moving and clapping most of the time anyway. Jirokichi has a lively, youthful, high-energy vibe. It’s always a mix of young and old, with bands with a unique groove and a blended sound that draws from deep musical sources.

The bands that are not “real” jazz improvise enough to keep hardcore jazz devotees happy and provide enough rhythm for everyone else to go home re-adjusted for the better. Other nights, you’ll get straighter jazz served up hot and direct. But mostly, the bands are not out to prove anything. Instead, they’re there for a good time.

The tables are a bit small, but sufficient for one of the plentiful cocktails and satisfying small dishes. Koenji has plenty of great places to eat before and after, too. Jirokichi is a long-running and very cool place to hear great music.

 

Periguns