LEGO Jazz Club (10312) Modular Building Review!

Every year, same time & place, LEGO releases a brand new modular building, so far we’ve had some great entries into the series, such as the Palace Cinema, Bank, Detectives Office, Assembly Square, Book Shop, and more. But does the new Jazz Club (10312) live up to the high standards we’re used to? Find out below what I think of the set!

The Box & Contents:

The box has the new ICONS branding and took over from the previous name of 18+ Adults Welcome. As with all the ICONS box designs we have the solid black background with a hint of coloured light illuminating the set in question. It adds to the whole look and feel of this particular set as the building colours are darker than usual, with dark red bricks and grey accents.

Inside the box you’ll find 15 numbered bags and an instruction manual. The bags are divided into two lots with the last half being in an inner white box. Not really sure why LEGO do this, maybe that’s something to ask LEGO themselves one day.

The instruction manual carries on the ‘no frills‘ approach with a stark white background and again the set taking centre stage. I honestly don’t mind the design at all, at the end of the day it’s a book that tells you how to build the set in question, you don’t tend to look at it again after that.

It does come safely bundled in a recycled card envelope, which is nice and a new feature brought in by LEGO. Along with the bags and manual you get a 32×32 grey baseplate, just like with every Modular. This is obviously what you build upon and keeps the set as one and most importantly sturdy. I’ve seen a growing number of fans implement the MILS (Modular Integrated Landscaping System) technique, this in its basic form allows you to build up a plinthbof sorts that can be joined together to create larger displays. Invented by LUG (LEGO User Group) to help create bigger displays at shows and events, it has caught on an now used by many fans. I however have decided not to implement it, a decision I may regret in years to come when/if I ever get a LEGO Cityscape.

Thankfully there are no stickers in any of the Modulars released by LEGO, bar a few in the Palace Cinema many years ago. This is a sign of how premium they want to keep the Modular line and I’m all for it, #nomorestickers.

The Build:

As always I like to take photographs at the end of every bag/stage, making for aore in depth look at what goes into the set, it also looks pretty when posting to social media and the obligatory grid post. I won’t go through each bag here though, I will share the images via the gallery at the end, but rather floor by floor and point out what is great and what is lacking. 

The whole set is based on a Jazz Club, as the title suggests, but there is so much more to it than that, with a Pizzeria and Tailor next door, what more could you ask for?

The ground floor is the more detailed of them all as it houses the stage area, Pizzeria, and main entrances to the whole place. Starting with the path outside, using the standard dark grey 2×2 tiles, there are a few ates dotted about too, these are used later in the build for outdoor seating and a street lamp.

The front of the Jazz Club building has a very traditional angled entrance along with signage that advertises what’s on. Over next door outside the Pizzeria is a lovely terraced fence with foliage growing up it, little details like this add so much to the overall look and feel of a set. Just off to the side is the Tailor’s sign, he resides on the first floor which we’ll show later in the review. Again all these parts are printed, no stickers in ‘ere!

The stage is designed well considering it’s at an angle, it even comes complete with open brick-built curtains, drumkit, saxophone and spotlights. If LEGO ever got into the light kit game this would be a perfect set to apply them too.

I love it when LEGO introduce different build techniques, even though I’m a small-time MOC builder, as I learn new ways to achieve something, in this instance a way to angle a platform using the turntable piece and jumper tiles to stop it from moving. Genius!

Inside the Pizzeria there is a stone oven, serving area and an archway connecting to the Jazz Club, as we all know Jazz & Pizza go so well together.

Including a stone oven into the wall looks great and really the only place for it. Take a peek inside the oven and you’ll see a raging hot fire, we’ll the LEGO equivalent anyway. Under that is where the logs are kept, there is a handy reserve out the back too.

On the counter top there are a handful of ingredients including a dough base, pepperoni, and I presume herbs. Near the till is a freshly baked Pizza that is already cut into slices, nice touch by LEGO to pop 4 quarter tiles together, not everybody can handle a full Pizza.

Also on the ground floor is a staircase leading up, under which the Toilet is situated. You can’t beat a well build LEGO toilet and this one is great, complete with toilet roll!

First Floor:

The exterior colourscheme of dark red, grey and pale yellow continues align with the addition of windows for both the Jazz Club and Pizzeria. Also added to the outside area lovely flower hanging baskets and windows boxes.

Around the Jazz Club windows you’ll see some very subtle details that add to the look & feel of the architecture, the big window in the centre makes for a nice break in the dark red brickwork.

Inside the Jazz Club on the first floor is the Managers office, she sits at her traditional desk, answering the old style of telephone. She scout’s for new talent as well as looking after her clients. In the corner of the room is private balcony area that over looks the stage on the floor below. This is done rather basically but I think it works, although how she gets any work done when the concert is in full swing is anyone’s guess.

Another side-build to mention is the old gramophone in the corner, a sign the Manager loves to listen the old-fashioned way and rightly so it does sound better with the cracks & pops.

Located about the Pizzeria on this floor is the Tailor, which is actually a very pleasant surprise and a nice addition to the set. Inside you’ll find an old sewing machine reminiscent of a Singer machine. The Tailor is currently working on something as represented by the strip of fabric under the needle.

Across the room is a mannequin and a collection of fabric reels, accessible and easy to cut to measure. There isn’t much else to see here in this room, which is a shame as this particular Modular outing lacks that extra detail compared to previous sets. The rooms are left somewhat bare and lacking.

Second Floor:

The second floor and ultimately the last into the set is where the dressing room is located above the Managers office. Here the Singer and her entourage can get ready for the nights performance.

Outside is a continuation of the dark red and grey bricks, here the stain glass windows are duplicated from the previous floor, the way they’re made is very simple but it looks amazing, one for the MOC bank for sure!

The main central window is finished off nicely with a big grey arch and matching railings, perfect.

Inside the Dressing Room is a lovely Yellow sofa, a song sheet stand and a artistically created Music note made with blue tiles. Across the room you’ll find the the dressing-up mirror complete with transparent yellow round tiles that represent light bulbs, justike in the films!

Being quite a small space there again isn’t much room for any other details, which is a shame as is somewhat let’s down the set as a whole. Last year’s Modular, the Boutique Hotel, was crammed full of details and the floor space was pretty much covered. Here there are large bare patches and blank walls, a clock or picture frame would have made it substantially better.

The Roof:

Finishing off the set are the two roof builds, these are great and so far have never disappointed me personally when build any of the Modulars. The Jazz Club’s roof area features a hatch (for roof access) and a Squirrel & nest, the latter is a little odd but it’s there and it fills a space, nice to get a Squirrel figure though.

The roof top is done really well and I love the two town grey. Having the 1×1 dark grey tiles at an angle is pleasing to the eye and creates a different way to build, as simple as it is – slightly turning a tile 45 degrees.

To make up for the lack of a floor above the Tailors you’ll find a Green House. At first I thought what a bizarre place to have a Green House, but I’ll be honest and say it has grown on me, pun intended.

The build technique is interesting for the Green House as it combines SNOT (studs not on top) and regular building. The brick-built frame looks and works well and does genuinely look like a Green House. Inside there are Carrots, Tomatoes and other veg in various stages of growth. It’s nice to get the elements used for Tomatoes, we just need to get them in a more affordable set to allow for MOC builders to grab them.

The Minifigures:

With a total of 8 Minifigures included in the set there are more then enough to create so many scenes and photos, we have:

• The Tailor
• Jazz Club Manager
• Drummer
• Singer
• Bassist
• Magician
• Pizza Chef
• Pizza Delivery Guy

I personally love collecting Minifigures and these are yet another awesome set of characters to add to the collection. They cover a vast array of People and jobs, I especially like the Bassist with his Bass and matching carry case, which is entirely brick-built!

There are a handful of torsos and parts that we’ve seen before but the Singer sports a very beautiful outfit that is entirely exclusive to the set,same goes for the Drummer and Bassist’s torsos, with blue waistcoats and bowties.

The Magician was a nice surprise and to have the option of a different style of show at night is great, the inclusion of her Top hat and flowers is ideal and really sets the stage.

Overall the set is fantastic and a must have for us Modular collectors. There are a few down points though but these can be overlooked for the sheer piece count and amount of Minifigures included for the cost, £199.99.

Inside each room there could have been more details and brick-built builds but generally the vibe is there for the Jazz Club – a traditional yet simplistic take on a typical building of that era, that has survived the decades and still. Stands today.

The Pizzeria is perhaps a risky choice of neighbouring building, one that doesn’t really suit, but it works, just. Perhaps a more complex Tailor’s shop would have worked better, or yet another first floor apartment, maybe even a Music store.

This Modular looks great sat next to the recent Police Station and Bool Shop buildings, it does lose its unique look when placed next to the Boutique Hotel, in my opinion, as the colour scheme matches a little too much.

However you display is entirely up to you we’d love to see your setup, simply contact us or tag @thebrickpost on social media.

Thank you for reading this review, we truly appreciate your time and support. Until next time, keep on building!