Where are you going today? Izakaya? Bar? Did you have that hand~! JAZZ！

せっかく神戸に来たのなら、神戸らしい雰囲気が味わえるところで食事がしたい、お酒が飲みたいと思う方も多いはず。
This time, we propose a new option for you!

2023 marks the 100th anniversary of Japan's first jazz performance by a professional band in Kobe in 1923. When you think of Kobe, some people may have the image of "jazz". However, many people may have never experienced jazz live yet.

Even though I have been researching day and night to guide me to Kobe-like restaurants for dinner with friends outside Kobe City and drinking parties with people related to work, I have never had the option of a jazz restaurant until now.

しかし！2025年5月25日（土）に神戸観光局が主催したジャズ体験ツアー「Founded in 1969 Kobe JAZZ's famous store "SONE" presents Introduction to JAZZ & "Atsushi Ide Quartet with Roana Sifra" Let's enjoy the live performance! !Join us in Jazz, Ali! Absolute ant! I was convinced.

Today, we will introduce the charm of jazz and jazz restaurants, including tours.

Are there any rules for listening to jazz?

1969年創業のジャズライブ＆レストラン「SONE（ソネ）」。
After ordering a drink and sitting in my seat nervously, Shotaro Sone, the third generation of Sone, advised, "There are no rules for listening to jazz, so please enjoy it as you please." Even if you don't know the name of the song or the player in jazz, you just need to say, "Somehow, it's good!" Even Shotaro, who has listened to a lot of jazz, was surprised to hear that he actually knew almost no song titles!

In fact, that song was also jazz!

そんな正太郎さんが、曲名をわざわざ調べておすすめしてくださったのがこちらの3曲。
　①A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening（素敵な夜を）
　②It’s Been a Long, Long Time（お久しぶりね）
　③Somebody Stole My Gal（恋人を取られて）
③は関西にお住まいの方なら絶対聞いたことがあるはず。
何だと思います？
なんと・・・吉本新喜劇のテーマソングです！ホンワカパッパ♪ホンワカパッパ～♪
新喜劇のオリジナルソングかと思っていました！
This is a Teppan story when Shotaro talks. It's the heart of Kansai people.

What is a meal at a jazz restaurant?

ジャズを一気に身近に感じ、気持ちもほぐれてくると、今度はお食事が気になってきます。
Looking at the menu, it is full of appetizers, pizza, salads, meat dishes, etc., and it looks like a really ordinary izakaya or restaurant. There is also a great value set menu with appetizers, main courses, and bread. Drinks include beer, wine, shochu, cocktails, and a wide selection of whiskey, so you can use it for the first time or the second one. Please check the restaurant's website for menu details.

ライブが始まるまで、私たちツアー参加者も思い思いのドリンクやお料理を食べながらしばし歓談。するとここで、正太郎さんから「演奏中も、お食事をしながら、おしゃべりしながらジャズを聴いてもらったらいいですよ。ここはジャズレストランですので。」と聞いて、またびっくり！てっきりライブが始まるまでに食べ終わって静かに聴くものだと思っていました。
Of course, even if you say "you can chat", it means that it is at a volume that does not interfere with the performance.

Finally, the jazz live performance begins!

18：30、心地よいピアノやベースの音が響きはじめ、いよいよジャズライブが始まりました。
なめらかでとろけるようなサウンドが会場を包みます。まるで夕暮れのビーチでやさしい風に吹かれているような、穏やかで、癒される感覚です。
全身を包み込む柔らかな揺らぎのある音。
Just as draft beer is better than canned beer, live live is better than music listened to on your smartphone. After all, "life" is great...

ソネでのバンドの基本編成はピアノ、ベース（クラシックでいうコントラバス）、ドラム、ヴォーカルです。この日はさらにギターも入った豪華な編成。
The first song was an instrument-only song, but from the second song, vocalist Roana Sifra appeared.

When vocals are in, it instantly changes to a gorgeous impression. Participants who have been listening to it until now will be enveloped in a bright atmosphere with Roana's smile and singing voice. Roana greeted us in English and Japanese, and for us who participated in the tour, he said, "Are you enjoying it~? In addition, a special service where you can sing "It's been a long, long time" from among Shotaro's recommended songs! I am thrilled that they welcomed us, who are beginners in jazz live, as friends. This kind of interaction is also unique to live performances.

「お酒が飲めなくても、ジュース1杯で喫茶店使いしていただいたらいいですよ。」と正太郎さん。
With the motto "The threshold of the store is low, the quality of performance and service is high", they are working hard every day to expand the base of jazz.

ソネでは毎日ジャズライブを行っていて、1日3公演。１回あたり45分で、1回目は18:30～19:15、2回目は19:50～20:35、3回目は21:10～21:55。
ミュージックチャージは日によって異なり、1,650円から。3公演すべて聴いても追加料金はなし。お得すぎます！
About 1/4 of the tour participants also watched the second stage.

ライブが終了し、よかったな～と余韻に浸りながら帰路に就くと、偶然、友人から「お酒はあまり飲まない仕事の関係者と神戸で食事をするんだけど、どこがいい？」とメッセージが。
Needless to say, I immediately introduced it as if I had known about it for a long time (laughs).

ソネを始め、神戸でジャズを楽しめるスポットは「JAZZ TOWN KOBECheck it out!

ドリンク、お料理が充実していて、生のライブが気軽に楽しめる。
Jazz restaurant - another great night out to choose from.

*The price in the text is at the time of the interview.

Writer: Night Researcher Mayi

たぐいまれなアルコール分解酵素を内に秘め、ナイトタイムのリサーチを続ける遊牧民。
飲みすぎた次の日は、自分の肝臓に感謝を忘れない。
Recently, the field is expanding to include night culture other than alcohol.