Last year, the live event “JAZZ NOT ONLY JAZZ II” was held, bringing together musicians who, while rooted in jazz, transcend its boundaries to explore musical cross-pollination with various other genres (September 18, 2025, at Tokyo International Forum Hall A).

 

The standout figure here is the music director (bandmaster) and producer, Shun Ishiwaka. A graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts, he is a multi-instrumentalist, primarily a drummer. However, at this event, he leads his own septet, welcoming guests like AiNA THE END, Yasuyuki Okamura, Ringo Sheena, and even Robert Glasper. His sense and skill in orchestrating a one-night-only live performance are far beyond the realm of Japan's top jazz players, positioning him as an artist of global caliber.

 

This brings to mind my own music project, “TOKYO LAB,” which I (Representative of Long Distance Love) launched in 2017. True to its name, it envisioned “Tokyo as a laboratory for music,” aiming to foster a new music scene by spotlighting next-generation and emerging young Japanese artists.

 

The concept was “beyond JAZZ / next JAZZ,” an idea very close to “JAZZ NOT…” What’s more, the highlight of “TOKYO LAB” was the T.O.C Band (short for TOKYO OLYMPIC CEREMONY BAND), featuring Keiichi Tomita (Tomita Lab), a pop maestro who had produced various artists since the 90s, as composer, arranger, and bandmaster. The lineup—though I say so myself—was incredible, anticipating the current music scene and ahead of its time.

 

The rhythm section featured Shun Ishiwaka and Masanao Matsushita (drums/YASEI COLLECTIVE, etc.), Ryuta Tsunoda (bass/MONONKUL). Additionally, the lineup included Mei Inoue (guitar/STEREO CHAMP, etc.), Takefumi Esaki (keyboards/WONK, etc.), and Shinpei Ruike (trumpet/RS5pb, etc.). It was a one-night-only live performance (at Shibuya Club Quattro) that brought together the most sought-after emerging artists of the moment.

 

The events held for three years before the pandemic (2017-2019) featured participants like Aoi Yamada (performer), who now commands a global stage (2019). It was truly an event that embodied a laboratory for music beyond jazz and not just jazz.

 

 

Unfortunately, the event had to be suspended due to the pandemic. However, during this period, with international artists’ tours halted, musicians like Shun Ishiwaka and other young talents saw their opportunities expand dramatically. They began performing in jazz clubs (like BLUE NOTE TOKYO, COTTON CLUB) and major festivals that primarily featured rock and pop music (including support roles), which had previously been inaccessible. This period can be seen as crucial in their ascent to their current positions.

 

Apologies for the lengthy preamble, but here is the main point. The suspended “TOKYO LAB” project has been revived, albeit in a scaled-down form, as “Tokyo Lab Sessions” in January 2025.

 

The concept remains largely the same, but the focus is now on introducing talented artists who are not yet widely known in Japan. These are sessions offering a unique, once-in-a-lifetime musical experience through unexpected collaborations between musicians, performable only in that moment.

 

The bandmaster is none other than Japan’s own acclaimed jazz (Not Only Jazz!) keyboardist and producer, Masayoshi Tsuboguchi. The first session featured Israeli-born (raised in Gifu) guitarist and producer Kai Livermore. The rhythm section comprised Shin Sakai (bass) and the prodigious 15-year-old drummer CHITAA (drums), delivering a thrilling performance that garnered rave reviews (January 18, 2025, at Blue Note Place). The second session featured the unparalleled performance of Indian multi-instrumentalist Nimisha (vocals/guitar), based in Kawasaki, with Yoshitsugu Orihara (fretless bass) and Shinsuke Matsuura (drums), achieving even greater excitement than the previous one.

 

 

Due to the overwhelming positive response, Nimisha has been invited back. With a refreshed rhythm section and a new venue, this is the “Tokyo Lab Xmas Special Session 2025.”

 

Of course, Masayoshi Tsuboguchi returns as bandmaster. This time, based on his project “Textures,” the ensemble features a new lineup: regular members, groove master Kazuaki Yokoyama (drums), and Ryuta Tsunoda (bass from MONONKUL), a former “T.O.C Band” member now primarily active in the pop scene. They are joined by Kan (percussion), a globally recognized percussionist. This configuration promises a “New World Music” experience unique to this session, amplifying the evolving artistry of Nimisha (guitar/vocals) and representing the pinnacle of 2020s musical innovation.

 

 

This year, especially the latter half, has seen a boom in festival-like large-scale concerts, such as OASIS, Eikichi Yazawa, and Tokyo Dome. To conclude the vibrant music scene of 2025, we invite you to the stimulating and sacred one-night-only “Tokyo Lab Xmas Special Session.”

 

 

Venue｜BAROOM (1F, Face Minami Aoyama, 6-10-12 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

Date & Time｜December 14, 2025 (Sunday) Doors open 17:00 / Performance starts 18:00 (1st set 40 min, intermission 20 min, 2nd set 40 min *no change of seats)

Admission Fee｜¥5,000 (tax included *all seats reserved / 1 drink separate)

Performers｜

Masayoshi Tsuboguchi "Textures" – Masayoshi Tsuboguchi (key/bandmaster) featuring Nimisha (g/vo) with Ryuta Tsunoda (bs from MONONKUL) / Kazuaki Yokoyama (ds) / Kan (perc.)

DJ Junichi Harada (ARBAN / Montreux Jazz Festival Japan) *After live performance ~ 23:00 (scheduled)

Planning & Production｜Long Distance Love

https://longdistancelove.jp/

PR Cooperation｜office DEBBIE