Evergreen by Jun Iida

Jun Iida

Evergreen

Format: CD
Label: OA2 Records
UPC: 0805552222128
Catnr: OA2 22221
Release date: 21 February 2025
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Label
OA2 Records

UPC
0805552222128

Catalogue number
OA2 22221

Release date
21 February 2025

Album

Artist(s)

Composer(s)

About the album

Trumpeter Jun Iida's warm, inviting tone, astute composition choices and his sublime sense of melody lead the way on his debut recording. After 5 years in Los Angeles and 3 in Seattle, Evergreen memorializes the musical focus and development that transpired over those years, as he moves on to new adventures in New York. Recorded in Los Angeles, Jun brought together L.A. friends Josh Nelson on piano, guitarist Masami Kuroki and bassist Jonathan Richards, along with the dynamic Seattle drummer Xavier Lecouturier. New York vocalist Aubrey Johnson brilliantly adds to Jun's soaring melodies with her often wordless vocals, and sings in Japanese on a song from Jun's childhood, "Akatombo," and the J-pop anime song “Shiki no Uta,” both in a nod to Jun's family heritage. Between the swinging “Gooey Butter Cake” and “Bellarosa,” to the haunting “Theme from Spartacus,” or the spacious title track, Jun shares a sparkling and compelling message that's sure to resonate.

Der Trompeter Jun Iida besticht auf seinem Debütalbum durch seinen warmen, einladenden Ton, seine klugen Kompositionsentscheidungen und seinen sublimen Sinn für Melodien. Nach 5 Jahren in Los Angeles und 3 Jahren in Seattle erinnert Evergreen an den musikalischen Fokus und die Entwicklung, die sich in diesen Jahren vollzogen haben, während er zu neuen Abenteuern in New York aufbricht. Bei den Aufnahmen in Los Angeles brachte Jun seine Freunde Josh Nelson (Klavier), Masami Kuroki (Gitarre) und Jonathan Richards (Bass) sowie den dynamischen Schlagzeuger Xavier Lecouturier aus Seattle zusammen. Die New Yorker Sängerin Aubrey Johnson ergänzt Juns schwebende Melodien auf brillante Weise mit ihrem oft wortlosen Gesang und singt auf Japanisch bei einem Song aus Juns Kindheit, "Akatombo", und dem J-Pop-Anime-Song "Shiki no Uta", beides eine Anspielung auf Juns familiäres Erbe. Zwischen dem swingenden "Gooey Butter Cake" und "Bellarosa", dem eindringlichen "Theme from Spartacus" oder dem geräumigen Titeltrack vermittelt Jun eine funkelnde und fesselnde Botschaft, die mit Sicherheit Anklang finden wird.

Artist(s)

Jun Iida (trumpet)

Award-nominated trumpeter, composer, educator, and recording artist Jun Iida has quickly established himself as a highly sought after musician in the Los Angeles and Pacific Northwest music scenes. In addition to being active in the studio recording scene, he is a dynamic performing artist both as a bandleader as well as a sideman. Iida has performed extensively throughout the US as well as in Japan. Originally from St. Louis, MO as the son of Japanese immigrants, Iida was exposed to a variety of musical genres from a young age during his upbringing in Pittsburgh, PA. In particular, he developed a deep interest and passion for jazz and improvisatory music. He began performing actively in Los Angeles with his group Jun Iida Sextet from 2015 to 2020, before relocating to Seattle, WA where he has quickly established himself in the greater PNW music scene. Iida has had the opportunity to perform at notable institutions including: SFJazz, Black Cat (San Francisco, CA), Blue Whale, Sam First, Baked Potato, (Los Angeles, CA), The 1905, Winningstad Theatre (Portland, OR), The Royal Room, Benaroya Hall, and Triple Door (Seattle, WA). He has previously toured with Todo Mundo, Within Seekers, Salt Petal, and Zelda and the LoLo's. He has performed at various music festivals including: Earshot Jazz Festival, Portland Jazz Festival, Angel City Jazz Festival, South by Southwest (SXSW), Joshua Tree Music Festival, California Worldfest, Yosemite Music Festival, and Lake Tahoe Music Festival.

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Composer(s)

Sonny Rollins

Walter Theodore 'Sonny' Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist, widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. A number of his compositions, including 'St. Thomas', 'Oleo', 'Doxy', 'Pent-Up House', and 'Airegin', have become jazz standards. Rollins was born in New York City to parents from the United States Virgin Islands. The youngest of three siblings, he grew up in central Harlem and on Sugar Hill, Harlem, receiving his first alto saxophone at the age of seven or eight. He attended Edward W. Stitt Junior High School and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in East Harlem. He has said that a concert by Frank Sinatra at his high school, accompanied by a...

Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist, widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. A number of his compositions, including "St. Thomas", "Oleo", "Doxy", "Pent-Up House", and "Airegin", have become jazz standards. Rollins was born in New York City to parents from the United States Virgin Islands. The youngest of three siblings, he grew up in central Harlem and on Sugar Hill, Harlem, receiving his first alto saxophone at the age of seven or eight. He attended Edward W. Stitt Junior High School and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in East Harlem. He has said that a concert by Frank Sinatra at his high school, accompanied by a plea for racial harmony, changed his life. Rollins started as a pianist, changed to alto saxophone, and finally switched to tenor in 1946. During his high school years, he played in a band with other future jazz legends Jackie McLean, Kenny Drew and Art Taylor.

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