Two sets from 7:30. Cover charge is 1500 to 3500 yen. Music about ten nights a month. Check the schedule carefully.
Takadanobaba Station. From the Big Box Waseda Dori exit, turn right out of the station heading towards Waseda along Waseda Dori. You will walk about ten minutes or so to where Waseda Dori crosses Meiji Dori, a very large street. That is called Babaguchi Crossing. Keep going two more streets, and turn left, downhill slightly. On the right about 50 meters of so, you will see a modern concrete and glass building. The club is downstairs in that building, but the sign is rather small.
Though Blue Drag does not have music every night, it is the heart of gypsy jazz in Tokyo. Along with Sendagi’s Django, the club features almost exclusively the style of acoustic swing music made famous by Django Reinhardt, now usually called jazz manouche. The club is named after one of Django’s famous songs. That this unique style of jazz should have such passionate devotees in Tokyo may come as a surprise to some people, but one evening of listening will make anyone a fan. The musicians who play here are intense, high-level and deeply passionate about their music.
The club itself is a wonderful, roomy, neat space. Well designed by the owner/master/designer Kawamura san, the interior is inviting and relaxing. Guitars, not just any guitars, gypsy jazz guitars, line the walls, waiting to be taken down for jam sessions, which most evenings evolve into. Videos of jazz manouche groups roll on the screens and always, the sound of Django and his followers plays before, between and after every set. There is room to stretch out a bit, too, which is always a relief after the generally cramped spaces of most Tokyo clubs. The food and drinks are excellent and affordable, though nothing fancy, and make music and atmosphere flow into one.
Stepping into Blue Drag is stepping into another musical world. The customers are almost always loving fans of the music and there to hear their favorite groups, and hopefully pick up tips, and maybe jam a bit afterwards. The monthly line-up of music also includes Irish fiddle music, Dawg music in the style of David Grisman, and a bit of fiddle or flatpicking music. The virtuoso playing of these bands is always impressive, even more so because the good sound system picks up the nuances of their acoustic sound with great clarity.
On many nights, the band plays several numbers, then opens the stage up for others to join in. These jam sessions are often as much of a wonder as the professionals. Salarymen, cute-dressed young women and bikers, none of whom you’d guess could play as they nurse their beers, all hop up to vie for center stage as they pick very complicated songs with true Django-love. Blue Drag is home to another musical culture and a whole community as well. That community is alive, well and swinging in Tokyo.
Though Blue Drag does not have music every night, it is the heart of gypsy jazz in Tokyo. Along with Sendagi’s Django, the club features almost exclusively the style of acoustic swing music made famous by Django Reinhardt, now usually called jazz manouche. The club is named after one of Django’s famous songs. That this unique style of jazz should have such passionate devotees in Tokyo may come as a surprise to some people, but one evening of listening will make anyone a fan. The musicians who play here are intense, high-level and deeply passionate about their music. 
The customers are almost always loving fans of the music and there to hear their favorite groups, and hopefully pick up tips, and maybe jam a bit afterwards. The monthly line-up of music also includes Irish fiddle music, Dawg music in the style of David Grisman, and a bit of fiddle or flatpicking music. The virtuoso playing of these bands is always impressive, even more so because the good sound system picks up the nuances of their acoustic sound with great clarity. 
stage up for others to join in. These jam sessions are often as much of a wonder as the professionals. Salarymen, cute-dressed young women and bikers, none of whom you’d guess could play as they nurse their beers, all hop up to vie for center stage as they pick very complicated songs with true Django-love. Blue Drag is home to another musical culture and a whole community as well. That community is alive, well and swinging in Tokyo.