Jazz Escapes at Salon No.10: A Portal to Musical Immersion
Jazz Escapes at Salon No.10: A Portal to Musical Immersion
Diary
Jazz Escapes at Salon No.10: A Portal to Musical Immersion
After my first experience at the Tokyo Big Boy Jazz Kissa, I explored other jazz kissas in Osaka and Kyoto, each offering a unique vibe. While I’m not in Japan, I often find myself seeking similar experiences here in Hong Kong, frequenting places like CODA and Chez Trente. Ryo Fukui, Jiro Inagaki, and Hiroshi Suzuki are staples on my Spotify playlist.
Recently, my friend Carrie invited me to check out live music at Salon10, a venue I’d heard about and had been eager to visit. That night, they hosted Tokyo x HK Jazz Conversations Vol.3, featuring Kurena Ishikawa, a bassist, vocalist, and composer from Saitama who studied jazz at Kunitachi College of Music in Japan, and Taka Nawashiro, a Tokyo-based guitarist and composer.
Salon No.10 is a private members’ salon, a popular spot in the city for creative types, connoisseurs, and entrepreneurs looking for a place to mingle and unwind. It’s designed for those who appreciate a bit more sophistication in their gathering spots
The first thing you notice when you walk into Salon No.10 is the unique design of the front door. It’s styled like a hatch door, reminiscent of something you might find on an aircraft or maybe even a spaceship. This quirky entrance sets a creative and slightly futuristic tone for the entire place.
We arrived on time, but the place was already packed, so we ended up at the back. Carrie ordered an Old Fashioned, and I opted for a Negroni. As the show started, we gradually moved closer to the stage. The music was mesmerizing. It was my first time experiencing live jazz, and I found myself completely absorbed, zoning out to the rhythm of the bass and the expressive guitar, which seemed to echo the songwriter’s intent and paint an auditory picture of the surroundings.
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I didn’t want to spend too much time taking photos, so I only snapped a few shots of the venue. I chose my Leica M10 Monochrom, expecting low and mixed lighting, but surprisingly, the lighting was soft and well spot on the performers, which wouldn’t have been as manageable on film. The shutter sound of my Leica MP would have been too intrusive. Initially, I packed a Noctilux 50mm f/1 E58 lens but opted for a more compact Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4 V3 E46 Pre-asph instead. I also brought along a Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE, just in case I got a chance to move closer to the stage.
The first session featured Kurena and Taka playing together. Taka’s guitar tone is distinct, and it draws you into his musical narrative. During the intermission, I contemplated switching to the 35mm but ultimately decided to stick with one lens and simply enjoy the music. The second session included support from Hong Kong’s own Alan Kwan on guitar and Samuel Chan on drums. I shot all the photos with the Summilux 50mm at f/1.4 to isolate the subjects and capture the essence of the moment, even though I knew stopping down to f/5.6 or f/8 would sharpen the image. I wanted to see how the lens performed wide open.
I’m definitely planning to explore more venues like this in Hong Kong, or possibly add them to my must-visit list during my trips. If you have any suggestions for places or artists I should check out, let me know. I’d also love to expand my Spotify playlist with new artists, so all recommendations are welcome!
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