Credits:

Unno Tadataka, Danton Boller, Jerome Jennings

Description:

A talented pianist who has made a miraculous comeback from a serious injury. With a triumvirate of songs, performances, and recordings, a masterpiece was born that will become a new standard for piano trios. A New York-based pianist loved by legends such as Hank Jones and Jimmy Cobb, and the first and last regular Japanese member of the Roy Hargrove Quintet, he was the victim of an Asian hate crime caused by the spread of the new coronavirus in September 2020. In September 2020, he became a victim of an Asian hate crime caused by the new coronavirus outbreak and was assaulted by a group of people in a NYC subway yard. His return album, "Get My Mojo Back," released in March 2022, was described by Ryuichi Sakamoto as "lyrical and groovy. It is, after all, an album that overcomes harsh circumstances and is truly filled with the joy of playing." and the album is full of vitality and joy, appealing to a wide range of listeners across genres.This second work, his second return, is a regular trio work with Danton Bohrer (b) and Jerome Jennings (ds), who provided tremendous support, including setting up a crowdfunding campaign to help him during his serious injury. As on the previous album, all songs are original compositions by Masatake Unno. The great attraction of this album is the heart-to-heart interplay that can only be achieved by a regular trio based on a deep relationship of trust. Recorded at Van Gelder Studios in New Jersey, the birthplace of many historical jazz masterpieces. Unno was the last pianist to be recorded by the master pianist Rudy Van Gelder in his lifetime (2016). Maureen Sickler, Rudy's only student, was in charge of recording this time. The recording was made in the same room, not in a booth, to preserve a live feel that cannot be edited. The trio's unity and the natural resonance of the high-ceilinged studio were captured. In addition, Jim Anderson, a renowned engineer who has won 11 Grammy Awards, handled the mixing.