The Jazz Voyager

Leaving India and heading east for Asia, the Jazz Voyager is landing at Itami Airport in Osaka, Japan. I will then transfer to a bus for a 36 kilometers ride, about 22 miles, and fifty-five minutes through the countryside to Kyoto where I will find Le Club Jazz. A non-smoking jazz bar that is closed on Monday but presents live performances and workshops the rest of the week. Performances start at 7:30pm each night.

Serving up drinks by the shot is one of their offerings and they invite musicians to bring their instruments and play during their sessions. This week I will be in attendance for a one night performance by saxophonists Eric Alexander on tenor and Vincent Herring on alto, Yoichi Kobayashi on drums and Koji Yasuda on bass.

Located in Sanyo, Kyoto, Japan at 〒604-8082 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Miyukicho Nishiiri Benkeiishicho 48. For more information they can be reached at +81 75-211-5800.

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The Jazz Voyager

Leaving the African continent for India the next layover for the Jazz Voyager is the Bombay Jazz Club. It is a one of its kind music venture hosting performances at its cozy Bandra space quite regularly. With fairy lights, framed artworks on the back wall and luminous red lamp shades typify this narrow space’s aesthetic.

Founded in 2012 by D. Wood nd Rajesh Punjab, they have consistently produced weekly programming of live jazz at the Bandra Base. They are dedicated to keeping jazz as a central part of the city and country’s music scene. With a self-titled house band performing, in addition to collaborations between Spanish, Japanese and American musicians, they continue to bring extraordinary musicians together, transforming any environment into an authentic jazz experience.

The adventure continues as this will be a new visit to the venue located in Mumbai at Baitush Saraf Building, Off Waterfield Road, TPS 3, 29th Rd, Bandra West. For more information they can be reached at +91-98211-21048.

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The Jazz Voyager

Remaining on the continent the next sojourn takes The Jazz Voyager to Ethiopia and the African Jazz Village. An intimate venue in Addis Ababa, one can enjoy great musicians, including the timeless Father of Ethiopian Jazz, Dr. Mulatu Astateke.

Located on the spacious, verdant compound of the Ghion Hotel, popularly known as ‘The Garden Palace Hotel of East Africa’, which dates back to 1950s, one will be surrounded by tranquil trees and gardens filled with indigenous flora and bird life.

This week the adventure continues as this Jazz Voyager is going to hold down a performance by the Ethio Jazz Band starting at 9:30pm. And maybe I will be fortunate enough to catch a set with the doctor himself. The address is 2Q75+HVM, Addis Ababa Harar City. For more information they can be reached at +251 91 189 7438.

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The Jazz Voyager

The Jazz Voyager is departing Europe for the Dark Continent as his next stop and Ghana is the destination. The venue is Marabi Club that is located in the Maboneng Precinct at 54 Siemert Road, New Doornfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa.

In the 1920s and Thirties, the rise of the Doornfontein slumyards, created in the wake of one of the world’s richest gold rushes, gave rise to an urban culture known as “marabi”. As the foundation of this new culture, the music was energetic and improvisational. It was a lifestyle prompted by the need to escape the hardships of the working week, defined by illegal shebeens, where the fierce talk of politics was accompanied by the equally disruptive soundtrack of jazz.

Tucked in the basement of Hallmark House, the Marabi Club evokes this history through the many careful details of the club’s interior. With an excellent menu and bar with jauntily dressed waitrons offering friendly and slick service, add live jazz and your visit to this landmark will leave you captivated by the atmosphere.

This week the adventure continues as this Jazz Voyager is stepping into this Joburg venue without knowing who will be performing. Nothing like a surprise. For those who need to know, their phone number is +27 (0)10 591 2879.

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The Jazz Voyager

The next destination The Jazz Voyager is looking forward to is one to South America and a new venue for me called Jazz Voyeur Club. Motivated by his two great passions of jazz and photography, Gerardo Cañellas Engel from Mallorca traveled halfway around the world in search of the small clubs that make up the history of jazz. He captured images following the scheme of a voyeur and twenty years produced two jazz voyeur clubs, the first in Palma  de Mallorca and its sister in Buenos Aires. This week I will be traveling to the Argentina club.

I close out the month of travel with what will be an unforgettable evening of music with The Fuse Of Vinicius de Moraes. It’s a commemorative show celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the album La Fusa, recorded in Buenos Aires, Argentina by Vinicius De Moraes, Maria Creuza and Toquinho. Bringing the music alive is Brazilian singer Josi Dias, guitarist Pablo Plebs, pianist Alejo Scalco, bassist Mariano Promet with Sergio Morán on drums.

Located at Posadas 1557, Recoleta / Buenos Aires The cover is 10 euros and their phone number is +34 649 67 75 05.

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