Jun Iida

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. (more…)