Bellflower

Nine Musicians You Need To Hear - JUN IIDA

Jazz with a difference. This Japanese-American trumpet player knows the bop repertoire but is after something new. Instead of the standards, he offers a fresh program of his own compositions. His parents were immigrants who settled in Pittsburgh, but he heard the inevitable call to New York. A striking track on Bellflower, his latest album, is "Will They Remember," which has a memorable narration that free ranges from the familiar airliner litany: "If you haven't already, please remove all restraints."

Iida in a sentence: "Fluent in both English and Japanese with strong connections to both Japanese and American cultures, Iida continues to push the boundaries of jazz performance and education, fostering a deeper appreciation for the genre while engaging with diverse audiences worldwide."