At the Vanguard, but not the Village
At the Vanguard, but not the Village by Philip Arneill & James Catchpole
Feb 16, 2025•36 min
TOKYO JAZZ JOINTS
An Irishman and American walk into a bar...Two obsessed foreigners share the stories behind their pseudo-religious pilgrimage around the unique beauty of Japan's hidden world of jazz bars and coffee houses, documented on www.tokyojazzjoints.com and in the Tokyo Jazz Joints photobook published in 2023.
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Episodes
Now That's What I Call Episode 78!
It's May 2024, and after an Onomichi underwater detour, we find ourselves in nighttime Hiroshima, where Mother Teresa and Charles Mingus meet in perfect harmony.
Feb 02, 2025•53 min
Sitting Men, Live from Standing Man
Taking professionalism to new heights, this week we are live (and barely audible) from the incredible Pithecanthropus Erectus, birthplace of the Tokyo Jazz Joints project, the joint featured on the slipcase cover of the Tokyo Jazz Joints photobook, and our spiritual home. Even we don't know what we talked about...
Jan 19, 2025•53 min
NKOTB
We ring in the new year with some new kids on the Tokyo jazz kissa block, and a fair bit of coughing. Thanks as ever to Brian for audio assistance.
Jan 05, 2025•58 min
Special 'K's
All the Ks (and a 'P') as Philip wraps up the last day in Tohoku alone and finally (!) heads home to Tokyo as a special guest makes hi presence felt.
Dec 21, 2024•57 min
The Butchers at the End of the World
Planes, trains and taxis assist Philip's epic 1,500km odyssey to check out the incredible Elvin to see if James was overstating how incredible it really is. Thanks as ever to Brian for assistance with sound.
Dec 05, 2024•54 min
Miyazaki Mission Possible Pt.2
A mixed bag in Miyazaki with windswept Sonny Rollins photos to die for and a rather melancholic end to the visit, before Philip sets off on an epic one day journey north. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.
Sep 29, 2024•41 min
Miyazaki: Mission Possible Pt.1
The band breaks up to pursue solo careers, as James heads home with a man and and a squid, and Philip takes off across Kyushu in a search of four more highly-rated joints. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.
Sep 15, 2024•58 min
Going Bananas in a Mellow Tone
We go bananas before a bowl of lemon (yes, lemon) ramen and making it at last to two deeply different old school joints in Nagasaki. Some top Japan travel hacks, and James finally reveals at last that he's a 'two t-shirt a day' man. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for assistance with sound.
Sep 01, 2024•1 hr 6 min
The Hard Sell at Harmony
We take a fast boat ride across the bay as we head for Nagasaki and Philip mistakenly masquerades as Japan's greatest living photographer. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound
Aug 18, 2024•59 min
Shitamachi Britney Spears & Japanese Keith Richards
James continues to alienate local tourist boards as we suffer further frustration in Saga, and finish the night with an utterly surreal stop in US Navy-town Sasebo. Not every day can be better than yesterday! Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for assistance with sound.
Aug 04, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Kimonos in the Post
We finish our first full – and utterly epic – Kyushu day with 3 more joints, burnt records, posted kimonos, tiny whisky shots, some unexpected royal family action and our regular late night konbini run. Oh, and James offends an owner’s son. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.
Jul 21, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Love Supreme
Still making our way around Kyushu, it's an emotional return for us both as the project comes full circle. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.
Jul 07, 2024•33 min
The Adams Family
Jam, a quick Jab and an inauguration into the Adams family in Fukuoka as a new Kyushu adventure ensues! Thanks as ever to Brian from Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound, and to Louie Lastic for the theme tune.
Jun 23, 2024•1 hr
Can we Eigakan? Yes we can!
We are back! James & Philip have a catch-up of all things kissa before diving into new adventures. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.
Jun 09, 2024•33 min
A Bag of Bricks
We take a more free jazz approach to this episode as we waffle unashamedly for about half an hour and reflect on what's been a truly incredible year for the project. James continues to reframe the English language in his own image. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his patience and assistance.
Dec 19, 2023•33 min
The Last Waltz
April's trip comes to an intimate end, not in that way, and we wrap up things with two stunning, and stunningly different places in the drinking lanes of the oddly tropical-feeling city of Kochi. Thank as ever to Brian for the sound mix and Louie Lastic for our theme music.
Dec 03, 2023•34 min
Uptown Funk
We are in Shikoku at last as James continues to expand his palate while Philip comes to grips with an unexpected response (and not James' this time...). Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.
Nov 12, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Smoke Gets in Your Ice Pt.4
A powdered-up James eats mountains of the shaved stuff as Philip tentatively dips his toe in the lesser-known jazz kissa art world in this last part of our three-day Kansai adventure. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.
Oct 29, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes Pt.3
Join Philip and James on day two of their Kansai adventure, starting with charming Ranzu Coffee before a challenging bus ride to the rustic Swingville. The hosts then recount their overwhelming experience at the smoke-filled Voice and a fascinating visit to Java, an ancient kissa with a strict no-photography policy. The journey concludes at Jazz Bar Ems Hall, filled with American and British rock memorabilia, offering a diverse look into Japan's jazz kissa culture.
Oct 15, 2023•1 hr 38 min
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes Pt.2
Disagreement is the name of the game in this second instalment of a four-parter over three hectic days in Kansai. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for sound assistance and to Louie Lastic for our music track.
Oct 01, 2023•47 min
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes Pt.1
Edible insects, jazz double entendres and some unreal Osaka joints in this first of a four-parter where we spend three hectic days in Kansai. Thanks to Brian of Grooves Ahead for sound assistance and to Louie Lastic for our music track.
Sep 17, 2023•55 min
The Curtain, The Sword & The Samurai
After his daring diversion into curry a few weeks ago in Masako, James reverts to the old anti-jazz kissa food ways as we get back into town for a good old-fashioned Tokyo episode with three cracking Tokyo joints! This episode is dedicated to the inimitable Natori-san of Osaka's legendary Bird/56, who sadly passed away on August 7, 2023. Thanks as always to to Brian of Grooves Ahead for audio assistance and to Louie Lastic for our theme music.
Aug 20, 2023•49 min
The North Remembered Pt. 4
James continues to offend in the last of a four-parter trip up north: this time it's just the whole of the European continent. Philip recaps on some book launch party highlights in Belfast while James murders French words. And we visit the epic Paragonian run by the inimitable Hiroshi!
Aug 06, 2023•39 min
The North Remembered Pt.3
James pisses off another regional tourist board as we hit the snowless spring streets of Aomori for another couple of contrasting but equally brilliant joints. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for sound assistance, and to Louie Lastic for our theme music.
Jul 23, 2023•51 min
The North Remembered Pt.2
In this second of four on a northern tour, we visit Morioka, officially the next best city after NYC apparently, for two great joints. And Philip has a serendipitous encounter with a certain Johnny... Thanks to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his help with all things sound.
Jul 09, 2023•38 min
The North Remembered Pt.1
It's the turn of James to live vicariously in this first episode of a four-part sojourn to colder climes with teachers, taxi and a treasure trove of joints. Oh yeah, and The Crusaders.
Jun 25, 2023•54 min
Das Buch!
James chats to Philip about the mind-blowing experience he had seeing the Tokyo Jazz Joints photobook finally being born at the printers near Heidelberg in Germany! Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead, and to Louie Lastic for our theme music.
Jun 18, 2023•44 min
Reunion!
Two men weep uncontrollably as they meet in a Shibuya hotel and finally recommence what they love doing most. Five years later, post-pandemic, we reunite to hit three Tokyo joints that symbolise the old and the new, and somewhere with the best of both! Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead, and to Louie Lastic for our theme music.
Jun 02, 2023•49 min
Days of Wine and Roses
A recap of the incredible support we have had with the book project, the next steps, and a couple of tantalising Tohoku pitstops. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.
Mar 12, 2023•51 min
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