Absolute Blue

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Toshima-Ku, Nishi-Ikebukuro, 1-15-6, Toshima Kaikan B2F
Nishiikebukuro 1 Chome 23-6 Toshima-ku Tōkyō-to 171-0021 JP
03-5904-857603-5904-8576
070-6455-0240

Absolute Blue is a new club opened in Feb 2015 by Ayumi Hoshikawa, previously a club owner in New York City. Hoshikawa-san has brought a NYC sensibility to her new venue (see the website) including not only nightly live performances but workshops and jam sessions as well.

Ex-Brand New Heavies vocalist N’Dea Davenport does Sunday afternoon vocal lessons, local bassist Derek Short hosts twice monthly jam nights and well known bassist Kenji Hino does bass lessons and also performs regularly in a duo with Takashi Sugawa.

Hoshikawa-san speaks excellent English and is making a real strong effort to make her club a spot for both Japanese and visiting foreign musicians to gather and perform. It’s a basement space quite far underground but looks sleek, with all seats close to the stage.  I’m hoping she can keep it going as Absolute Blue is a welcome new addition to the live jazz scene.

Size
40+
Food
Yes
Directions

1 minute from Ikebukuro Station West Exit, next To Pronto Coffee Shop right at the edge of Ikebukuro West Park.

Date published
May 2015
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03-3204-202803-3204-2028
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03-3267-842303-3267-8423
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03-3259-005503-3259-0055
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Tsuji Bldg B1, 3-14-12 Ueno, Taito-Ku 6.33 km
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2F 3-20-13 2F, Ogawamachi, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku 6.45 km
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2 Chome-17 Kanda Tsukasamachi Chiyoda-ku 6.65 km
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6-6-4, Sakae Bldg B1, Akasaka, Minato-ku 6.69 km
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3-7-15 Akasaka, Minato-Ku 6.8 km
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5-1-2 Akasaka Engel Bldg 2F, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 6.85 km
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Jingumae, 3 Chome−5−2 7.02 km
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30 Konya-Cho, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku 7.15 km
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2 Chome−2−7, Asagayakita, Suginami 7.44 km
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Suginami 7.57 km
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1-6-12 Minami-Koenji, Suginami-Ku 7.57 km
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1-35-21 Minami-Asagaya, Suginami-Ku 7.57 km
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2-12-5-2F Kita-Koenji, Suginami-Ku 7.57 km
03-03339-621103-03339-6211
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Inoue Bldg (井上ビル) B1, 5-16-15, Ogikubo, Suginami-Ku 7.57 km
Rooster is a great little live-house that features jazz, blues, funk, New Orleans..basically all ...
Mary Jane outside.jpg
Fuji Shoji Bldg. 2F, Sakuragaoka 2-3, Shibuya-Ku 7.63 km
Many years back I found  Mary Jane by accident, as I had been  looking for the wonderfully named ...
Himawari Bldg. 2F, Dogenzaka 2-26-5, Shibuya-Ku 7.63 km
Very small place that is really just a bar with live music every night of the week. I’ve go...
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Chiyo Bldg, B1, 5-9-22 Dai 2, Roppongi 7.75 km
Electrik Jinja opened in April 2012 and quickly became the hippest  spot in Roppongi. It’s ...
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Hama Roppongi Bldg. 5F, 6-2-35 Roppongi, Minato-Ku 7.75 km
Opened in May 1980 and now in its 41st year, Alfie is simply one of the best live jazz spots in ...
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16-4 Kamiyamacho, Shibuya, Tokyo 7.78 km
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41-23 Udagawa-Cho, Shibuya-Ku 150-0044 7.84 km
Bar Bossa in Shibuya is a quiet gem of a place, perfect for bossa nova fans and/or couples lookin...
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Shibuya Parco B1, Udagawa-Cho 15-1 7.85 km
The central streets of Shibuya often conceal some cool little music spots amidst the brand stores...
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Shibuya-ku, Udagawacho 19-5 7.88 km
Koen-Dori Classics is a small performance space located underneath a church in the heart of Shibu...
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〒150-0002 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Shibuya, 1 Chome−5−6 B1F 7.9 km
INC Cocktails opened in late 2018 just a short walk from Shibuya Station. It’s a very large...
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Azeria Bldg 1F, 1-3-6 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 7.96 km
Vanilla Mood is a cool little jazz bar/club just across from Roppongi Hills. It has been open for...
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東京都 港区 六本木 7-18-16 川久保ビル 1F・4F 7.99 km
03-3401-626203-3401-6262
Bar Spice is a classic little Soul music bar overlooking Roppongi-Dori, right across from the Rop...
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Utagawacho 30-4, Shibuya-Ku 8 km
03-3463-284803-3463-2848
Pres Jazz Bar is located up near the end of “Center Gai” street in Shibuya, not the...
B1 26-6, Utagawa-cho, Shibuya-Ku 8.01 km
Modern jazz specialty shop, more than 8000 records on sale from the 50s & 60s. Been open sinc...
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東京都千代田区有楽町2-3-6 マスヤビルB1F 8.04 km
Kiri is a wonderful little basement spot in between Hibiya, Ginza and Yurakucho stations. It̵...
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〒150-0002 東京都渋谷区渋谷2丁目3−4 8.05 km
03-3499-189003-3499-1890
Seabird is a lovely old cafe next to Aoyama Gakuin University, between Shibuya and Omotesando sta...
Annex Bldg. 4F, Ropoongi 4-11-5, Minato-Ku 8.11 km
Very supper-club type place, most nights featuring vocal-led bands. The food is good, the service...
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1-17-10 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-Ku 8.42 km
There’s a beautiful simplicity about JBS (Jazz,Blues,Soul). Owner Kobayashi-san has more th...
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東京都渋谷区桜丘町 17-10 8.46 km
Music Bar 45 is a small 2nd floor joint located just a few minutes walk from the south exit of Sh...
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Daihachi-Toto Bld. B1 15-19 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuyaku Tokyo, Japan 150-0031 8.52 km
The Room is one of Tokyo’s best clubs, if not THE best for fans of funky/groovy music. It&#...
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B2F 8-6-18 Ginza, Chuo 8.61 km
Cygnus is the sister club to Aries in Ueno but a bit more upscale. Live shows three times a night...
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Matsubara 1-37-14, Setagaya-Ku 8.77 km
03-3321-943103-3321-9431
Miles is a treasure. It opened in 1960 and is one of the few remaining neighborhood jazz bars fro...
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2-20-2 Kitazawa, Setagaya-Ku 8.81 km
NOTE: Masako closed in FEB 2010…I’m leaving it here anyways, so people will remember....
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