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Takuya Kuroda
Jazz trumpeter Takuya Kuroda is a forward-thinking musician with a bent toward mixing post-bop and adventurous soul-jazz. Born in Kobe, Japan, Kuroda followed his older trombonist brother into the local music scene, playing in big bands. After studying music in Japan, Kuroda relocated to Boston to attend the Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, Kuroda befriended upcoming jazz vocalist José James, who invited Kuroda to record with him. Kuroda appeared on James’ 2010 sophomore album, Blackmagic, and later on No Beginning No End — for which he also wrote the horn arrangements.
After leaving Berklee, Kuroda moved to New York City, where he enrolled at the New School’s Jazz and Contemporary Music program, graduating in 2006. After graduating, Kuroda quickly ensconced himself in the vibrant N.Y.C. jazz scene, performing with such artists as Junior Mance, Greg Tardy, Andy Ezrin, Jiro Yoshida, Akoya Afrobeat, Valery Ponomarev’s big band, and others.
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Chris McCarthy: Add a Zero
by Paul Rauch
Chris McCarthy is a wonderfully lyrical pianist, and an unexpected joy to hear. “Unexpected" you might ask? Allow an explanation. He is imaginative, highly skilled and has gained a reputation of excellence on the New York scene. His accompaniment and solo strides on his acclaimed duo release, Life's a Gig (Fresh Sounds, 2024), with vocalist Vanisha Gould make her deep dive into old soul magic seem grounded, adorned with subtle and spacious harmony that keeps the music buoyant and free ...
Continue ReadingTakuya Kuroda: Everyday
by Konstantin Rega
Kobe-born, Brooklyn-based trumpeter Takuya Kuroda continues to find his groove and expressive essence on Everyday. Through his inspired amalgamation of jazz, funk, hip-hop and neo-soul, this release exhibits an ability to think beyond the boring and basic, to see what lies ahead. These nine energized but balanced compositions are further heightened by various talented musicians including Corey King, pianist Takahiro Izumikawa, bassist Rashaan Carter, drummer David Frazier and others. With almost 30 years of musical experience, Kuroda knows ...
Continue ReadingTakuya Kuroda: Fly Moon Die Soon's Delicious Future-Funk Throwback
by Rob Garratt
Last time All About Jazz spoke to Takuya Kuroda, just days after the release of his smoky, neo-soul-styled breakthrough Rising Sun (Blue Note, 2014), the Japanese trumpeter was asked what he wanted to record next. “I see myself doing more of a straight-ahead thing," he said at time. “I might do an album with strings." Kuroda guffaws heavily when reminded of expressing this sentiment. After all, Rising Sun was instead followed by the thick funk/fusion workout of Zigzagger ...
Continue ReadingChris McCarthy: Still Time to Quit
by Friedrich Kunzmann
Only two minutes into “That's All You Get," the opening track to pianist Chris McCarthy's debut recording for Ropeadope Records, Still Time To Quit, and already it seems that everything that had to be said was said. Maybe that's why at this point the track coincidentally also reaches its end. A savage yet controlled display of friction and constant motion. At its core a rabidly jumping call-and-response structure, the opener displays the leader's scarily-dexterous chops on piano through speed as ...
Continue ReadingMatthias Bublath: Eight Cylinder Bigband
by Edward Blanco
German pianist and Hammond B3 organist Matthias Bublath realizes a long-held passion of recording his own big-band and so, after eleven albums to date, Eight Cylinder Bigband finally comes to the fore in splashy audacious fashion, encompassing a musical spectrum which ranges from blues, gospel and soul/funk to Afro-Caribbean flavors documented on twelve swinging compositions. The music is designed around the Hammond organ, Bublath's preferred instrument, but leaves quite a lot of space to feature solos from various players.
Continue ReadingChris McCarthy: Still Time to Quit
by Paul Rauch
From 2017 to 2020, composer and pianist Chris McCarthy charted a path as a noted sideman for such notables as Jerry Bergonzi, Ben Allison and Jason Palmer. He was often seen performing with vibraphonist Sasha Berliner and in duet with vocalist Clotilde Rullaud. In short, he has gained a reputation for imaginative and supportive playing. McCarthy's path has been blazed from a renowned high school program in Seattle, to the cloistered realm of the New England Conservatory, finally ...
Continue ReadingTakuya Kuroda: Zigzagger
by Luca Muchetti
L'hanno chiamato il nuovo profeta dell'afrobeat, trovando nelle sue origini nipponiche motivo di stupore per un linguaggio e un feel completamente assorbiti e rielaborati in uno stile personale ma ben riconducibile a un filone ormai dalla lunga storia. Il trombettista Takuya Kuroda con Zigzagger, pubblicato dalla Concord Records, arriva al suo quinto disco confermando e ingigantendo il proprio nome fra i grandi del jazz mondiale e firmando dodici composizioni che si dipanano fra il funk e il jazz.
Continue ReadingEnter the "Takuya Kuroda - Rising Son" Giveaway at All About Jazz!
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All About Jazz
All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Blue Note Records “Takuya Kuroda - Rising Son“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on March 19th. Click here to enter the contest (Becoming a fan of Takuya Kuroda at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.) Good luck! Your Friends at Blue Note Records About Rising Son Rising Son makes for the perfect title for the Blue Note debut from ...
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Trumpeter Takuya Kuroda Set To Make Blue Note Debut With Feb. 18 Release Of “Rising Son” Produced By José James
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Michael Ricci
Ascendant trumpeter and composer Takuya Kuroda is set to make his Blue Note debut with the February 18 release of Rising Son, which was produced by Jose James. Kuroda, who is best known for his inspired presence in James’ band, steps forth here to helm that remarkable band which features keyboardist Kris Bowers, electric bassist Solomon Dorsey, drummer Nate Smith, and trombonist Corey King. James mostly stayed on the other side of the glass in the producer’s chair except for ...
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