Day 5: Japan Album Release Tour JINSEI 2024 – Jazz Inn Lovely, Nagoya

December 24, 2024

PXL_20241112_011915658

This day would involve some traveling to Nagoya and a gig at Jazz inn LOVELY. As a routine, I usually pack my stuff the night before, so all I need to do is take a shower and get out of the room before 10. After checking out of my APA hotel, I took some time to get a coffee and morning snacks at the local conbini store close to my hotel. I planned to meet my friend Dustin at Shinjuku Station around 11:30 as we would travel together to Nagoya. Gaku, Yanagi and Yuki would go by car.

This day marked an important point in the tour. The group from Tokyo was coming to Nagoya, building on traditions from the past—we always play with the Tokyo crew in Nagoya. This gig also marked the moment for Yanagi-san and me traveling together, as we would travel together to Miyazaki the next day with collaborations in West Japan.

For the date at Jazz Inn Lovely Satoshi Tokuda joined us on double bass, traveling from Kurashiki to Nagoya. Together with Gaku Hasegawa and Yuki Hirate, we would present the new album JINSEI at Jazz Inn Lovely, Nagoya.

PXL_20241111_015836851~2

When I arrived at Shinjuku Station, I texted Dustin to coordinate our meeting spot. The shinkansen terminal became our rendezvous point. After a short hang, we connected, purchased tickets, and headed for the gate to board our shinkansen to Nagoya. This is one of the fastest train lines in Japan, and with reserved seats, we could travel comfortably and rest well. With bento boxes in hand, we found our car and seat number and settled in.

The two-hour journey went by quickly as Dustin and I chatted about everything from the scenery to life in general. As always, the train was impeccably on schedule.

Arriving at Nagoya Station just around lunchtime, Dustin and I decided to grab a soba set at one of the many dining spots within the station. Big stations in Japan have amazing food courts with countless options. After lunch, Dustin went on his way—he planned to catch the gig that night with a friend. I stayed near the station to wait for Satoshi’s arrival so we could head to Jazz Inn Lovely together.

Satoshi, originally from Nagoya but now based in his hometown of Kurashiki, has been a central figure in past tours—a travel partner, bass player, ramen advisor, music critic, tour manager, and most importantly, a great friend. For this tour, Satoshi could only join four dates, as he had just become a father to a beautiful daughter. When he arrived at our meeting point, we seamlessly slipped back into our old tour mode. Some friendships just have that deep, unspoken connection.

A 20-minute train ride brought us close to Jazz Inn Lovely, and we walked the final stretch to the venue. Jazz Inn Lovely is a place we always play when in Nagoya. It has a long-standing history and hosts live music almost every day of the week. Satoshi and I were the first to arrive, as the rest of the group was delayed in traffic. By 6 p.m., we were ready to go over the setlist. For this tour, I prepared the sets in advance, a mix of tunes from the new album JINSEI, some from the first album and two new pieces written specifically for this tour.

After a quick soundcheck, everything was set. Yuki and I headed to the hotel—arranged by the owner of Jazz Inn Lovely—to freshen up. It was a different hotel from the one we’d stayed in the past, but it was also conveniently close to the club. After a shower and a change into my gig outfit, I walked back to Lovely. My pre-show ritual at this venue includes grabbing a beer from the hip craft beer place next door, known for its IPA brewed in Japan.

The night at Jazz Inn Lovely was amazing. Despite being a Monday, a good crowd came to see our only show in Nagoya. The energy in the room was great, and the quintet lineup delivered a memorable performance. (review here!)

After the show, we stayed in the club for a while, enjoying some food prepared by the chef of Jazz inn Lovely. Around midnight, we returned to the hotel to drop off our gear. Meeting in the lobby, the band set out to find a cheap izakaya, with Yanagi leading the way. He’d discovered a spot with beer cheaper than at a conbini. Unlike bars in the Netherlands, izakayas in Japan combine eating and drinking seamlessly. Soon, a colorful, chaotic menu was in front of us, and we picked a collection of dishes to share. It was a fun and lively night with the band.

The next day, Yanagi and I would head to Miyazaki for two shows at Old Earth, a club run by the great drummer Katsunari Furuchi. He invited me and Yanagi to come to his club for 2 shows. Exciting days lay ahead as for me and Yanagi it was the first time to play in this part of Japan.