Recommended Japanese jazz bands — from classic legends to rising young groups
Jazz has a wide range of subgenres—from so-called modern jazz to big band, fusion, and even free jazz—so many people may not know where to start listening.
In fact, jazz is a form of music that has influenced every genre, including the rock and pop, hip-hop, post-rock, and electronica you listen to every day.
In this article, we’ll guide you to the gateway of the vast world of jazz by carefully curating a selection of recommended Japanese jazz bands.
From classic, time-honored groups to up-and-coming artists who captivate with genre-defying styles beyond jazz, we’ve chosen a broad lineup.
Playlist
| Recommended Japanese jazz bands — from classic legends to rising young groups | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1 | Adria Bluebohemianvoodoo |  play_arrow | Bohemian Voodoo, formed in 2008… |
| 2 | Dancing in the moodH ZETTRIO |  play_arrow | Each member’s blue, red, and silver noses are distinctive… |
| 3 | Summer GoddessSOIL&”PIMP”SESSIONS |  play_arrow | The veteran who marked his 20th year of activity in 2021… |
| 4 | Guns Of SaxophoneTRI4TH |  play_arrow | A relatively new band formed in 2018... |
| 5 | Autumn LeavesPE’Z |  play_arrow | If you think of Japan’s leading jazz band, P... |
| 6 | Asian Dancerfox capture plan |  play_arrow | Since their formation in 2011, the new-generation piano trio… |
| 7 | RISET-SQUARE |  play_arrow | A Japanese instrumental in the jazz-fusion vein… |
| 8 | To The LightSTEREO CHAMP |  play_arrow | A young, up-and-coming, highly skilled jazz guitarist born in 1991… |
| 9 | Soap Bubble Holidaykureejii kyattsu |  play_arrow | Playing authentic jazz music... |
| 10 | Midnight CruiseWONK |  play_arrow | Among the generation born in the 1990s, the world… |
| 11 | windowCRCK/LCKS |  play_arrow | I'm not very familiar with jazz, but jazzy... |
| 12 | LightningJABBERLOOP |  play_arrow | This band, pronounced Jabarupe, is a four-piece, or...? |
| 13 | Septembernettai JAZZ gakudan |  play_arrow | As the word “tropical” suggests, there are Latin elements… |
| 14 | SPACE ROADCASIOPEA |  play_arrow | Alongside T-SQUARE, Japan’s jazz–… |
| 15 | SUNSETBlu-Swing |  play_arrow | Blue Swing, formed in 2004… |
| 16 | Distance to the LightDEZOLVE |  play_arrow | All members were born in the 1990s, a young gr... |
| 17 | SING,SING,SINGHarunobu Hara to Shaapusu & Furattsu |  | A tenor saxophonist who represents Japan’s jazz scene… |
| 18 | Neon Sign StompEGO-WRAPPIN’ |  play_arrow | Known for the massive hit “Kuchibashi ni Cherry,” ... |
| 19 | Song of Sally the WitchSonoda Kenichi to Dekishii Kingusu |  play_arrow | The United States city of New Orleans, often called the birthplace of jazz, is… |
| 20 | Fishbowl TownLotus Land |  play_arrow | Lotus Land was formed in 2013... |
| 21 | Theme of Honda Construction CompanyShibusa Shirazu |  play_arrow | Centered around the jazz bassist Daisuke Fuwa... |
| 22 | Pentatonic LoveLast Electro |  play_arrow | A keyboardist and renowned music prod… |
| 23 | NEWDAYSSchoroeder-Headz |  play_arrow | Schroeder-Headz is the project of keyboardist Watari... |
| 24 | No ChaserCalmera |  play_arrow | From the very beginning, the melody carried by the wind instruments builds anticipation for the track… |
| 25 | qualiaPRIMITIVE ART ORCHESTRA |  play_arrow | “Qualia” is where pure mountain water flows... |
| 26 | Night and DayToyama Akiko Torio |  play_arrow | Yukiko Toyama’s piano timbre scatters pearls of sound... |
| 27 | NightfallTRISPACE |  play_arrow | Slow, with a fantastical and harmonious tone… |
| 28 | Moon-viewing DollGENTLE FOREST JAZZ BAND |  play_arrow | Formed in 2005, centered around Gentle Kubota… |
| 29 | EclipseSleep Walker |  play_arrow | SLEEP WALKER is a club ja... |
| 30 | VanitasKatte ni shiyagare |  play_arrow | The album “My…” released in 2008 |
| 31 | CoreGecko&Tokage Parade |  play_arrow | An instrumental that pursues next-generation sound… |
| 32 | Jolly JollyJiLL-Decoy association |  play_arrow | Jill-Decoy association was founded in 2002... |
| 33 | BET UPai kuwabara trio project |  play_arrow | A new-generation jazz pianist born in 1991... |
| 34 | Relight My FireQuasimode |  play_arrow | In the 2000s, the jazz quartet’s… |
| 35 | atomjizue |  play_arrow | A Japanese four-piece instrumental band read as “Jizū”… |
| 36 | Danny BoyTeramura Yōko Torio |  play_arrow | With a heartfelt touch, the piano’s timbre seeps into the soul… |
| 37 | HeavensAyumi Koketsu Quartet |  | Ayumi Koketsu, who debuted in July 2010, ... |
| 38 | Night Talk DeceiveLowland Jazz |  play_arrow | A jazz ba… that began activities in April 2013 |
| 39 | Let’s meet on the far side of the moon.the fascinations |  play_arrow | Formed around vibraphonist Masami Watanabe… |
| 40 | Softly as in a Morning SunriseShīn Obu Jazzu |  play_arrow | Scene of Jazz is a Japanese piano trio… |
| 41 | As You LikeThe Jazz Avengers |  play_arrow | A jazz band of eight Japanese women launches |
| 42 | BrazilSumairī Kohara to Sukairaināzu |  play_arrow | Smiley Kohara, who began his activities in postwar Japan... |
| 43 | SweetieOur Love to Stay |  play_arrow | Jazz arranged in a Charleston style… |
| 44 | Tsugaru Jongara-bushi ~ Promised Landkurofune |  play_arrow | From the band name alone, Kurofune evokes a sense of “wa” (Japanese harmony) … |
| 45 | Psychedelic SullySAXOPHOBIA |  play_arrow | The jazz band Saxophobia is a sax… |
| 46 | Prelude To A KissOhashi Yuko Torio |  play_arrow | The piece begins with a solo piano, and as you listen... |
| 47 | Burn RedFukui Ami Torio |  play_arrow | A quiet and gentle piano melody, with drums… |
| 48 | POPCORNkangarū |  play_arrow | A fusion band active in the ’80s, Ka… |
| 49 | Ancient CapitalDEZOLVE |  play_arrow | DEZOLVE is a fusion band with youthful sensibilities and exceptional performance skills. |
| 50 | NewsummerboyNATSUMEN |  play_arrow | The members who had been active as a rock band... |
| 51 | All of youLiquid Stella |  play_arrow | Jazz-pop fusion band earns high acclaim |
| 52 | Horizonindigo jam unit |  play_arrow | Regrettably, they announced a hiatus in 2016, but… |
| 53 | caravanTeichiku Jazu Ōkesutora |  play_arrow | To the record company, Teichiku Entertainment... |
| 54 | Blue SkiesŌnishi Junko Torio |  play_arrow | Speaking of Junko Onishi, she’s known for being richly sensitive and deeply intuitive… |