Evergreen
OA2, 2024
8/10
The trumpet extraordinaire Jun Iida finds himself in the company of Aubrey Johnson, Masami Kuroki, Josh Nelson, Jonathan Richards and Xavier Lecouturier for these 10 modern jazz tracks.
The playful and warm “Gooey Butter Cake” starts the listen with Iida’s soulful trumpet alongside Lecouturier’s agile drums and Richards’ cozy bass lines, and “Akatombo” follows with Nelson’s intimate keys amid Johnson’s radiant and gorgeous singing.
Halfway through, the rich “Bellarosa” uses Iida’s glowing brass with Kuroki’s fluid guitar for the melodic gestures, while “Forgotten Memories” spotlights Nelson’s dreamy keys in a setting that puts much emphasis on mood in its heartfelt delivery.
Arriving near the end, the subdued “Song For Luke” makes great use of the meticulous bass and quaint keys in a very hushed display, and “Holding On To Autumn” uses uplifting scatting and Iida’s animated trumpet for a contemporary jazz finish.
A body of work that’s edgy, creative and touches on blues, pop, soul and classical ideas, Iida’s vision is one that’s very much aligned with tone, melody and, at times, a distinct haunting approach.
Travels well with: Bill Anschell- Improbable Solutions; Peter Erskine- Bernstein In Vienna