The performance was dramatic in the best way, pulling everyone into the raw, untamed world of the story.
Guitarist Owen Chen introduces Eternal Wind, a dual-guitar-led ensemble that reimagines the timeless stories of the Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli through the expressive lens of modern jazz. Developed over a year of performances at Brooklyn's Red Pavilion and shaped by Chen's long-standing collaboration with guitarist Andrew Cheng, the album channels the emotional gravity, tenderness, and wonder of Joe Hisaishi's iconic film scores into a deeply personal improvisational language. Reviewers praised the performances for their dramatic weight and aching nostalgia, moments where the room seemed to hold its breath as familiar melodies resurfaced with renewed urgency and vulnerability. Anchored by the conversational interplay of two guitars and supported by a collective of rising New York jazz musicians, the arrangements move fluidly between lyricism and risk, honoring the source material while allowing space for spontaneity and discovery. For Chen, the project reflects an Asian American experience of reconciling formative influences into a voice that feels wholly his own; for listeners, it offers a chance to reconnect with beloved stories in ways that feel both unexpected and profoundly familiar. The Ghibli Collection marks a compelling debut and the emergence of Eternal Wind's distinctive sound.
Track Listing:
1 One Summer's Day 6:12
2 The Dragon Boy 4:51
3 Carrying You 5:39
4 Mononoke Hime 1:47
5 Ashitaka and San 4:02
6 The Legend of Ashitaka 3:10
7 A Town With an Ocean View 4:46
8 My Neighbor Totoro 4:04
9 Path of the Wind 5:02
(1,2) from Spirited Away
(3) from Castle in the Sky
(4-6) from Princess Mononoke
(7) from Kiki's Delivery Service
(8,9) from My Neighbor Totoro
All compositions by Joe Hisaishi for Studio Ghibli Productions, except (3,9) by Hisaishi & Hayao Miyazaki
Arranged by Owen Chen
Performers:
Owen Chen - electric guitar
Andrew Cheng - electric guitar, acoustic nylon string guitar (7), acoustic steel string guitar (8)
Cy Leo - harmonica (3,4,7)
Cole Palensky - tenor saxophone (2,3,8)
Carlin Lee - piano
Sean Hannon - upright bass
Anton Kot - drums
Production Info:
Produced by Owen Chen & Andrew Cheng
Recorded & mixed by Edwin Huet
at Pinch Recording, New York, NY
Assistant Engineer: Chris Stefano Pace
Recorded on August 17th, 2025
Mastered by Nate Wood
at Kerseboom Mastering, Ridgewood, Queens, NYC
Band photo by Mikhail Lipyanskiy
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
