LEGO® Icons 10312 Jazz Club: New parts in the musical Modular

The LEGO Group's 2023 Modular Building is 10312 Jazz Club and New Elementary has already scoured the three-story venue for new and rare parts. Brickmaster Jamie Berard, creative lead of the LEGO® Icons team, joins us in this euphonious examination to share insights on its design, which was led by Anderson Ward Grubb.

Products in this article were provided by LEGO®; the author's opinions are their own.
10312 Jazz Club
US$229.99/ £199.99/ 229.99€/ AU$349.99
2899 parts
4 January 2023
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New moulds in 10312 Jazz Club

Two new moulds make their debut at the Jazz Club: one "core" element and one minifig instrument.

• 1x Vehicle, Mudguard 4 x 3 x 2 Round (6396403 | 1846)

Kev Levell introduced this part yesterday in his Zane’s Ice Dragon Creature review where two copies appear in White. Here one instance is included in Black. Despite this rotund piece debuting in dragons and buildings, we've given this part a vehicular name. It might resemble a semi truck's wheel covers, but as Jamie Berard explained, it's more than that:

"We're trying to make more versatile elements that can be used in many places. That generic shape you're seeing that we can use as a pizza oven is a very deliberate attempt at trying to create more of these core elements that can be used for anything. But I agree, it does look like a really great mudguard!"

In pursuit of versatility, this arch fits snugly against the inside of a 1x6x2 arch (15254). The jazz club shares space with a pizzeria where the combination of these two parts makes a cozy wood-fired oven.

That fitment means the part slots nicely into many other curves in the LEGO System, unlike a number of other oddly-curved "mudguard" pieces. The perfectly round half-circle bend takes up the full width of the 4-module-wide part, meaning it has a diameter of four studs.

Now for the opposite of generically shaped elements: a very specifically-shaped double bass.

• 1x Minifigure, Utensil Double Bass in Reddish Brown (6422007 | 80444)

With some stringed instrument expertise within New Elementary, I turned to Tim Johnson for a better read on this part's shape. It's a "viol" shape and therefore a double bass and not a cello, especially considering jazz extensively employs basses and not so much cellos. Though if you need a minifig-scale cello (or maybe even a Miniland-scale violin) we won't hamper your creativity. One limitation, however, is the bass's bottom endpin. This piece looks close in size to a LEGO System accessory pin, though it's just a smidge too large to fit in the System's tiniest holes. Jamie explained:

"If [a feature] looks like it should fit something, then it should fit something. But then [element designers] have to measure it and control it and make sure it fits product safety. So you might find sometimes when they're intentionally making a slightly odd size it's because they had some challenges in satisfying all of those things. It's also a large leverage point, so if you secure it a bit it becomes vulnerable."

The bass does stand quite tall, to Jamie's point of leverage. How tall? Let's compare it to Jazz Club's new minifigures.

New minifigures in 10312 Jazz Club

You can't have live music without musicians, and these performers are dressed to the nines in new printed parts.

The jazz trio receive a complement of instruments including the new upright bass from above. Their glitzy garb all includes metallic printing with two copies of the blue torso worn by both the bassist and drummer.

Two new prints are seen on the bassist:

• Torso Waistcoat, Metallic Light Blue Filigree, Lapels, and Bowtie, with White Dress Shirt and Arms, Yellow Hands (6430537 | 973)
• Minifigure, Head Black Eyebrows, Smile, Black Goatee and Bright Light Blue Hearing Aid on Left Pattern in Bright Yellow/ Yellow (6419095 | 3626)

This makes the fourth minifigure to include a hearing aid and the first to combine that with any facial hair. His hair, the curly "just on top" style (79687) is also relatively new, having been introduced in 2021.

The star of the show arrives in a dazzling dress and a new dual-expression face. This elegant dress is fitting for a frontwoman and features an open back and zipper in addition to its botanical linework.

• Torso Dress with Metallic Gold and Silver Appliques Pattern and Yellow Arms/Hands in Black (6430624 | 973)
• Lower Body, Skirt with Metallic Gold and Silver Dress Pattern in Black (6431021 | 36036)
• Minifigure, Head Dual Sided Smile / Laughing with Red Lipstick and Eyelashes Pattern in Yellow (6270417 | 3626)

Jazz has been, and still is, deeply influential on modern music, and as such, jazz is a significant piece of worldwide culture. With the genre originating in Black culture, two of the musician minifigs sport tight curly black hair to highlight jazz heritage, though they retain the yellow skin tone seen in every Modular Building, LEGO City set, and other in-house themes. Some fan remarks have questioned why a separate skin tone was not given to these musicians, to which Jamie responded:

"In a Modular street context, I think the original two-dot and a smiley face minifigure was a representation of a make-it-your-own canvas. We happen to have yellow minifigures, what I perceive as the blank canvas but we're still trying to give them those wigs that are associated with the Black community. We are trying to introduce some cues which would allow people, if they choose, to pull [the characters] closer one way or another. We don't want to exclude stories, because that would be a disservice to everyone. Everyone should be able to enjoy what the street has to offer and its open-ended creativity. I'm not discounting people who feel that way and I'm not saying it's not valid, but the direction we've chosen for the street is to let people interpret it however they want. Hopefully there are enough stories on the street that people see their story told in at least one of the buildings."

The final new minifigure piece is a blazer worn by the club's second act, the magician.

• Torso Blazer with White Button-Up Shirt in Black (6430843 | 973)

Recoloured elements in 10312 Jazz Club

• 9x Brick 1 x 1 x 3 in Dark Azure (6420725 | 14716)
• 18x Brick, Modified 1 x 1 x 1 2/3 with Studs on Side in Cool Yellow/ Bright Light Yellow (6430416 | 32952)

These tall bricks form the front of the jazz club and the pizzeria, building up the entryway quickly and giving connection points for white window trim respectively.

• 2x Plate, Round Corner 2 x 2 with 1 x 1 Cutout in Dark Stone Grey/ Dark Bluish Gray (6411395 | 79491)
• 6x Plate, Round 1 x 2 Half with 1 Stud (Jumper) in Medium Stone Grey/ Light Bluish Gray (6420741 | 1745)

Two new plates add grey to their palettes. The dark grey boomerang plates are hidden within the build while the curved jumper plates form window trim above and below the upper floors of the jazz club. When asked if we'd see more of the jumper plate, Jamie remarked:

"When you have an element as delicious as this jumper plate, you can be sure other designers have noticed it. I don't want to give away anyone else's thunder but it's a fun element to build with."

• Scooter Body in Bright Green (6430413 | 65410)

This pizzeria delivers, and when you see its distinctive Bright Green scooter you'll know your pie has arrived.

New prints in 10312 Jazz Club

• 1x Tile, 2 x 6 with Orange, White, and Red Neon "JAZZ" Pattern in Earth Blue/ Dark Blue (6422001 | 69729)
• 1x Panel 1 x 4 x 2 with Side Supports - Hollow Studs with "JAZZ! Concert" Pattern in White (6422000 | 14718)
• 1x Tile, 2 x 6 with Orange, White, and Red Neon "CLUB" Pattern in Earth Blue/ Dark Blue (6422002 | 69729)
• 2x Tile, 2 x 6 with "LIVE MUSIC ALL NIGHT" Marquee Pattern in Flame Yellowish Orange/ Bright Light Orange (6433005 | 69729)

An array of printed 2 x 6 tiles and one printed panel make up the club's signage. With "CLUB" separate, this part could easily be re-purposed into other styles of nightclubs, and the omission of "Jazz" on the marquees means those will fit other musical MOCs with maximum versatility. Some previous Modulars featured brick-built lettering, though that can be bulky and has limited designers to shorter text. As Jamie said, "there are only so many things you can name Al's."

• 1x Tile, Round 2 x 2 with Bottom Stud Holder with Black "EST 1932 TAILOR" and Stitching Pattern (6431074 | 83056)
• 4x (+1 extra) Tile, Round 1 x 1 Quarter with Margherita Pizza Slice Pattern in Brick Yellow/ Tan (6422004 | 25269)
• 1x Dish 4 x 4 Inverted (Radar) with Solid Stud and Red, Dark Green, and Bright Light Yellow Wide Stripe Pattern (6422003 | 54577)

It seems the tailor opened shop the same year the LEGO Group did, and the year has appeared in multiple Modular Buildings. 

A new variety of pizza is introduced and Jamie said this of the change:

"We've tried to get in the habit of just intentionally letting some decorations exit just to make sure they don't get overused. We have a habit in the design organization to hold onto things for quite a while just because they're available. Something like pizza, there are so many varieties. It was a fun journey to go on in a team of vegetarians and meat lovers, so we did land on the delicious basil and mozzarella."

The umbrella looks similar to that introduced in 1994 with 6350 Pizza to Go. That design persisted for 19 years before retiring.

"This new design is definitely a deliberate reference and [set designer] Andy actually tried to bring back the old one. But it clashed just enough with the new colour scheme since it's off with the yellow, we decided to update it instead of recreate it. When an element isn't available anymore, it's a chance to make it anew - it's just in this instance we decided to go with the homage rather than recreation to blend in a bit better."

Rare parts in 10312 Jazz Club

• 6x Support 1 x 1 x 6 Solid Pillar (6380625 | 43888) in one other set
• 4x Slope, Inverted 45 2 x 1 (6070301 | 3665) in four other sets
• 3x Plate, Round 1 x 2 with Open Studs (6296501 | 35480) in four other sets

With the pizzeria clad in cool yellow, a number of recently introduced parts return in the creamy colour.

• 1x Window 1 x 2 x 2 2/3 with Rounded Top in Black (6408578 | 30044)
• 2x Pane for Window 1 x 2 x 3 Lattice with Thick Corner Tabs in Dark Stone Grey / Dark Bluish Gray (6388124 | 60607)

One old and one new window piece grace the 2023 Modular. The black curved window returns after only one appearance in 1996 in 6755 Sheriff's Lock-Up and its later 2002 reissue. The dark bluish grey lattice was introduced this year en masse in 10307 Eiffel Tower.

• 1x Windscreen 3 x 6 x 1 Curved in Medium Stone Grey/ Light Bluish Gray (6420734 | 62360)

This opaque windscreen is technically a new recolour since this variation of the mould has never appeared in light bluish grey. The earlier variant appeared just once in light bluish grey in 75202 Defense of Crait.

• 6x Arch 2 x 2 Corner in White (6300101 | 38585)

This infrequently-used mould was introduced in 2018 and just 18 sets have used it so far. Only three other LEGO sets include this piece in white.

• 2x Technic, Brick 1 x 1 with Hole (6267414 | 6541)
• 4x Bracket 1 x 1 - 1 x 1 (6384234 | 36841)

Each of these Dark Red parts have been in just two other sets.

Conclusion

With a couple of new moulds, plenty of prints, detailed minifigures with lots of character, several recolours, and a solid number of rare parts, 10312 Jazz Club has a number of interesting parts arriving with it on January 4th. New Elementary isn't done digging into this melodious Modular yet, though! Stay tuned for our build and features review arriving later this week.

Editor: Chris Baginski

READ MORE: LEGO® NINJAGO® review: 71786 Zane's Ice Dragon Creature

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