Words by Rafe Arnott, photos courtesy of Peter Konnerup-Møller. Photo above: Konnerup-Møller at home in his Frederiksberg, Copenhagen loft.
A dear friend of mine, who has since passed, used to call playing LPs “The Tea Ceremony.” This always struck a chord within me as an apt metaphor for a hobby seeking to slow life down to a more civilized 33 1/3 rpm. For me, it also conjures images of Japan. Bowed heads, eyes closed in thought, wooden tables on which sit ceramic cups with wisps of steam rising… an open shoji screen revealing cherry blossoms drifting lazily through the morning air of a garden beyond.
It doesn’t take much imagination to realize jazz kissa – jazz cafes – could have only been conceived from a culture, like Japan’s, whose essence is predicated on deeply held religious and moral beliefs. Respect on all levels is paramount in Japan, so respecting the recorded performance of musical artists is no less revered than playing the koto. Started in the ‘30s as islands of serenity, and sometimes reverential respite from the endless din of Tokyo streets, jazz kissa offered customers hours of Zen ascension through a different type of portal unto beauty. Travel to another realm of consciousness through the solemn appreciation of jazz albums played on large scale horn-loaded loudspeakers powered by valve amplification was almost a national pastime.
I’ve written on the subject of kissaten a few times, which you can read HERE, HERE and HERE. If you're not familiar with the iconic cultural art of kissa, I suggest you start with these previous articles to familiarize yourself with it. So, when I heard of a gentleman in Copenhagen, Denmark hosting “jazz kissa” get togethers at his home, I was intrigued. While Peter Konnerup-Møller may not yet have set foot in a legitimate Japanese kissa, it has done nothing to dim his passion and respect for the practice. The total opposite in fact, as hosting get togethers predicated on the principles of jazz kissa has allowed him and a select group of friends to get together, and listen to jazz LPs on a vintage audiophile sound system. Konnerup-Møller serves coffee, wine or beer and a discussion of the album plays out over the listening session with a natural break to talk between Side A and Side B, with conversation continuing after the LP has finished.
While the jazz kissa phenomenon has spread across the globe with dozens of bars and coffee shops paying homage in their design and execution to the act, what Konnerup-Møller has created is unique. I caught up recently with him via email in Denmark and was he was kind enough to answer some questions about how Jazz Kissa At Home came to be, his own back story, musical influences, and what hosting these events has brought to his life.
Resistor Magazine: You run a get together at your place called Jazz Kissa At Home, where did you get the idea to start it? Had you been to Japan and experienced them firsthand?
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “Basically, Jazz Kissa At Home, is a platform for hosting home concerts played from vinyl. Talks about the setup and different pressings of specific records all joined together with coffee, wine, or beer. Inviting hi-fi enthusiasts’ home to listen and see your setup are the key points.“The idea first came to me when I visited Copenhagen Hi-Fi Messe, which is a weekend once a year where producers of different hi-fi components can show off their new lines and most expensive speakers, amps, etc. It always attracts quite a lot of enthusiasts, so I thought with all those people loving good music and sound there must be some serious setups in the private world, just sitting, waiting to be acknowledged by more ears."
Photo below: The Tannoy SRM 15X are Konnerup-Møller's main speakers.
Photos above: Left – Konnerup-Møller drops the needle on his vintage Linn Sondel LP12 turntable. Right – pourover coffee setup donated by a local cafe for the listening sessions.
“Then I had to find a planform and concept. Instagram was suitable for letting people know we exist and as a bonus, free of charge. I have a friend, Stine, who has a platform up and running for home concerts called Low-Fi so I kind of borrowed her idea and adapted it to hi-fi. Thanks Stine! Furthermore Coffee Collective liked the project and sponsored some coffee, cups and a pour over set. A “kissa” was almost born.
“I have been into Japanese jazz for some years and from that interest I learned about the jazz kissa concept. I’ve actually never been to Japan, but I hope my time will come someday. The kissa lifestyle really spoke to me, but I still have my job to attend so this is sort of my way of bringing two worlds together.”
“I have been into Japanese jazz for some years and from that interest I learned about the jazz kissa concept. I’ve actually never been to Japan, but I hope my time will come someday."
–Peter Konnerup-Møller
Resistor Magazine: How long have you been hosting these get togethers?
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “We had our very first session in June, 2021 and have had four since, one in Sweden. Eventually I hope some of the guests from previous sessions would like to host at their homes.”
Resistor Magazine: Who picks the LPs that get played at the events? Is there a theme for each session?
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “The theme is “jazz,” it has to be jazz. I chose the record for the first session, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio - The Look of Love, otherwise it has been a vote on IG between four records I’ve prechosen. Most votes get to hit the turntable. At a session we meet up and talk about the setup and listen to side A of the record chosen. Then we have a coffee break followed by side B. Afterwards the guests get to browse the record collection agreeing on some other music to play, now free from theme. The whole event lasts about two hours.”
Resistor Magazine: Have you been into the playback of recorded music your whole life?
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “Most of my life, but bought my first stereo in 1996. A Kenwood setup which was equipped with a triple CD rotating function, double cassette, tuner and a thousand small lamps glowing in five different colors when on standby.”
Resistor Magazine: Do you play any musical instruments?
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “No, I don’t. I suck deeply when it comes to mastering instruments. I took some battles early on in life with a flute, a trumpet and a drum set and lost big time. It annoys me a bit, but I guess that’s life…”
Resistor Magazine: What was life with music like growing up? Was it an important part of family life, or background noise?
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “There has always been a lot of music in my childhood home, no instruments, besides the flute and trumpet, but quite a bit of hi-fi. I can say that I inherited the hobby from my farther who got it from his father, who was a radio technician when he was alive. So, the play button has been pushed most of the days either at home with my parents or at my grandparents.”
Photo right: Konnerup-Møller adjusts the volume on his Accuphase E-305 integrated amplifier.
Resistor Magazine: Do you remember the first LP (or cassette or CD – physical media) you ever bought?
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “Yeah, I do – Nirvana, Nevermind. The first CD I got I as a present was Aqua, Aquarium. Two different positions on the musical spectrum…”
Resistor Magazine: Could you describe the theme of your record collection, do you cover a lot of genres, or tend to focus on key ones? Are you into 45s? Classic mono recordings, or is it a free-for-all?
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “Primarily jazz, but apart from that the collection covers a broad variety of genres; Brazil, Afro, soul, funk, different electronic styles. Almost no reggae and rock. I must say that I do have a soft spot for Japanese pressings, so whenever I’m abroad I try and go dig for some unknown (to me) albums or wants from the wish list. Brussels has been particularly good to me for Japanese pressings.
“That fact that I get the first mono pressing is not a must for me. The history of such a record and the life it has lived I love very much, but the increasing prices have simply made that quest impossible for me. Therefore, I seek out the pressings I find beautiful when played. Back in the days, wow, back in the days, I occasionally spun a few 45s and seven-inchers at a club in Copenhagen. Great fun playing groovy tunes such as disco, Turkish bangers and heavy Afro beats.”
Resistor Magazine: I know a lot of people have completely changed the way they hunt down LPs since Covid hit. Do you record shop online mostly, or do still love the hunt involved in searching through the stacks at a new (or old) bricks and mortar store, thrift shop, record fair, etc. Or is it a mix of all of it?
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “I still love the hunt for sure, but it has gotten harder and harder to find anything. If you don’t know a guy who knows this girl and so on. The promise I made myself after Covid is: only buy records you WANT. Don’t get carried away and buy what could be just nice to have.”
Photo left: Custom cabinets in Palisander fitted with 15-inch coaxial Pioneer Pax-381 woofers and horns originally from Pioneer CS-901 speakers.
Photo above: Close of the vintage Accuphase E-305 integrated amplifier.
Resistor Magazine: Music first, or gear first? Which is the master, which is the servant?
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “Music, always the music…seasoned with some gear. I think it’s hard to completely separate the two things, but if I had to choose; the music.”
Resistor Magazine: What got you started down the weird and twisted path of high-end audio?
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “High-end, I don’t really know if my gear is that… It’s vintage gear. I just love the fact that we can get so much beautiful sound and design for a fraction of the budget of new glossy high-end equipment. It all started with a limited budget, and I had to find a “new” amp. I searched for some time and ended up buying a Marantz set, model 3200 with a 140, had it restored and sold it off with a small profit even though I liked it very much. That deal led me to my current amp, an Accuphase e-305 integrated.”
Resistor Magazine: Describe your current system in detail and how you ended up with what you have.
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “I have a very good friend who’s into hi-fi as well, and he has infected me with his craving for vintage audio gear. The first time I listened to his Accuphase E-303 I was completely in love and started searching right away for an Accuphase amp to pair with my Linn Sondek from 1975. I don’t know much when it comes to filters, transistors, tubes, silver or gold and what should go well with each other on a theoretic level, but I’ve created my sort of own listening impression, or picture, that I use when looking for, or listening to “new” gear."
Photos above: Left – Konnerup-Møller: "If I was to start from scratch again, I would buy a good set of speakers as number one, then an amp, turntable, cart and last some quality cables. There are many roads to Tokyo and this is just one of them.” RIght – Close up of the 15-inch coaxial Pioneer Pax-381 woofers and Pioneer CS-901 speaker horns.
“My turntable was bought a few years ago from an elderly man who purchased it back in 1975 with all of his savings and he had mounted it with an SME 3009 tonearm which I’m still using. I’ve changed and upgraded the suspension, powercord, and put on an entirely new bottom with suspended feet. Cartridge is a Nagaoka MP-500. In my quest for an Accuphase amp I stumbled upon a great deal on an E-305 that was too good to pass up. I’ve had the amp restored by this elderly gentleman who reminds me of my grandfather, and now it plays so very delicate and warm but with such grace on the high notes. An intense, though relaxed and mellow listening experience.
“My primary speakers are the Tannoy SRM 15X which I’m super pleased with. I feel like they deliver the music as it should be delivered. The music feels very live with a great three-dimensional expression – superb for jazz. These are connected with the amp via a pair of demo Ansuz Acoustic cables on loan from a good friend. The second set of speakers are closed custom cabinets in Palisander fitted with 15-inch coaxial Pioneer Pax-381 woofers and horns originally from a set of Pioneer CS-901 speakers. They are super light and airy in sound though they move a lot of air. I’m thinking about removing some of the filling in the cabinets to reach a slightly deeper bass punch. Next on the gear menu will be a poweramp and a Hana cartriridge.”
Resistor Magazine: Would you describe your sound system as an emotional touchstone for you? As in, does it promote wellbeing in your life?
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “It most definitely is an emotional touchstone, I think I would’ve had a very hard time living without one. The feeling of Zen it can give just switching on the amp or placing an LP on the turntable and the way the music fills the apartment every day – that’s wellbeing, that and when the kids ask for some music. It’s the small things that gives that little extra to your life – right?”
Resistor Magazine: What have you learned about high fidelity over the years you’ve curated your equipment? What advice would you pass on to those looking to explore this world and curate a system of their own?
Peter Konnerup-Møller: “Be patient. The good stuff will come to you eventually and if you’re on a tight budget, buy gear, restore it and resell it for small profits. Find some reference records you know inside-out and use them whenever looking for gear, and be sure to listen to many different speakers and amps. But if I was to start from scratch again, I would buy a good set of speakers as number one, then an amp, turntable, cart and last some quality cables. There are many roads to Tokyo... this is just one of them.”
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