Urbanbuzzmag.com
By Nigeria Anderson
Trumpet Virtuoso: Jun Iida
Trumpet player Jun Iida (pronounced Joon Ee da) has carved out a distinct place in today’s jazz landscape. His improvisational style, thoughtful, inventive, and ornamented with both classic jazz phrasing and Japanese inflected nuance has made him a modern favorite among listeners across the globe. With the release of his second album, BELLFLOWER, Iida deepens that reputation, offering a collection that is as personal as it is musically forward thinking. BELLFLOWER presents nine original compositions and one reimagined jazz standard, each piece reflecting Iida’s contemporary sensibility and his cultural lineage. The album’s standout single, Rivers and Bridges, pays homage to Pittsburgh the Three Rivers City, where Iida moved at age nine. Written with a post bop feel, the tune captures the textures, memories, and musical beginnings that shaped his early development. Another highlight, Hotaru Nights, draws from his Midwestern upbringing. Hotaru, the Japanese word for firefly, the song is dedicated to his childhood wonder of summer evenings spent catching fireflies with his siblings. The tune carries a playful spirit, nodding melodically blending nostalgia with jazz sophistication. Each track on the album demonstrates Iida’s compositions and reveals a musician who honors tradition while fearlessly expanding its boundaries. I have to confess it has been a long time since I have enjoyed an album from start to finish. BELLFLOWER doesn’t disappoint.
Jun Iida’s musical path began at age nine when he first heard Louis Armstrong on his mother’s Hello, Dolly! album. Jazz quickly became his passion, but his curiosity led him to explore a wide range of contemporary styles and classical performance. Throughout high school and college, he played in orchestras and wind ensembles while studying classical trumpet at the Cleveland Institute of Music and jazz at Case Western Reserve University, where he also majored in aerospace engineering. Ultimately choosing to pursue music fullt ime, Iida began teaching and performing professionally. His career includes work with the Seattle Jazz Repertory Orchestra and the formation of the Jun Iida Group after relocating to New York City. The band has toured major venues on both coasts and performed throughout Southeast Asia, Japan, Taiwan, and China. His artistry has been supported by organizations such as Chamber Music America and the South Arts Jazz Road Tour Grant, underscoring his impact as an independent artist committed to excellence and innovation. Jun Iida stands as an internationally acclaimed trumpet player, composer, and bandleader whose love for jazz is shaped by a wide spectrum of musical influences. His work is a testament to cultural fusion, artistic integrity, and the power of storytelling through sound. During our interview he shares how it all started. Join our conversation, as he shares his journey. Urban Buzz Magazine proudly welcomes Jun Iida as our newest KeyPlayer. To explore his music and upcoming performances, visit Juniidamusic.com and PUSH PLAY.
