Jazz Dining B Flat
Jazz Dining B Flat
Akasaka-Ei Biru B1, Akasaka 6-6-4, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0052. (03)5563-2563.
〒107-0052 東京都港区赤坂6－6－4 赤坂栄ビルB1F
地下鉄千代田線「赤坂駅」3a出口より徒歩約3分
地下鉄銀座線・南北線「溜池山王駅」11出口より徒歩約8分
From Akasaka Station (Chiyoda Line), it's an easy 4-minute walk. With your back to the large ACT Theatre and TBS buildings, you go uphill, winding a little, and on the right-hand side, you will see a bright red door and sign. Alternately from Tameike Sanno station (Ginza Line and Nanboku Line), exit 12B onto Roppongi Dori. Turn right uphill on the small-ish winding street that goes up and over and down to Akasaka.
The cover charge usually runs Y4,400 and Y3,300 for students. The club opens at 18:00, and most shows start at 19:00, with a second set around 20:30. Be sure to check the schedule, as start times occasionally vary. A couple of nights a month, the club is rented out for private parties. Reservations are recommended.
B Flat is one of the premier jazz clubs in the city, showcasing the very best in Tokyo jazz every night. After moving from its previous spot in Harajuku (where it went by the name “Keynote”), and with the passing of Sugiya-san, a great human being and an excellent manager always in a bow tie, the club's future seemed in doubt. However, the next owner/manager, Suzuki-san, took on the challenge and ran the club for many years, maintaining a high quality of music, service, food, drink, and sound. When he passed away, the club was bought by Yamano Music. The previous owners will be missed, but it’s great the club can continue.
History aside, the club's focus is music. Though Yamano is a corporation, it is a music corporation with an appreciation for the value and importance of music. It runs a student big band contest, offers music lessons, and still sells CDs, music scores, and instruments all over Tokyo, so it’s not unusual for it to run a jazz club, too.
B Flat loads the dais with orchestras or big bands several nights a week. That makes for a huge sound, and the sound system handles it with crisp perfection. On other nights, everything from quartets to octets delivers straight-ahead jamming and tight, solid swing of every description. Musicians always like playing there. You can tell by the way they up their level a little. The names of famous performers written in pen on the brick wall attest to the outstanding musicians that have performed there over the years.
You can see well from most seats, but it pays to make a reservation and choose your table ahead of time if you can. B Flat is exceptionally good about reservations, but it is always wise to call or email ahead, even an hour or two. But if you can’t, there are standing tables, too, for latecomers. Large pillars block a few seats, but hey, that's life. Sitting on the far sides of the stage is fine, though, and the sound is good from everywhere.
Yamano has made an effort to up the level of food and drink, too. Drinks are reasonably priced (for Tokyo), but you can also splurge for pricy bottles of wine. The daily special plates are tasty if you don’t have time to check out the many eateries in the area. With shows starting at 19:00 most nights, eating there is often easier and worth it.
