feature photo: GENYA
For Japan-born, NY-based trumpet maestro Takuya Kuroda, rewriting the rules of groove-based contemporary jazz doesn’t come casually; it requires his dedication and hard work every single day. That work ethic informed the title for his eighth long-player EVERYDAY (PPK Records).
For EVERYDAY, Kuroda tweaks his formula further, scaling back the horn front to just his trumpet with the tenor sax of Craig Hill as his foil and harmony partner when called upon. Both are fine soloists practiced in the pure jazz of yore so every time they step out and blow, there’s nothing crossover or compromised going on. Further, Kuroda assumes the keyboard chores on his own. Stylistically, this is Kuroda signature blend of modern jazz with funk, RnB, neo-soul and hip-hop but leaning into the latter two components just a little more than before.
“EVERYDAY,” the song, reflects music that’s informed by a studious blend of styles that groove. Reflective of his time in Akoya Afrobeat, shards of jazz, hip-hop and even rock — thanks to guitarist Akira Ishiguro — play a role in making up a song that pulls together familiar elements into something fresh.
Not everything in Kuroda’s soundscape has bleeding edge tones; “Bad Bye” leans into the Fender Rhodes sound amid synths and programmed beats (and the neo-soul voice of FiJA), while the Rhodes on the jittery “Off To Space” grounds the song; the trumpeter even throws out a credibly nice aside on it. On that track and “Iron Giraffe,” an organ injects some vintage soul-jazz feel into these contemporary jams.
“Car 16 15 A” (video above) wobbles between the frantic and unwound, with a punchy solo from Ishiguro and Kuroda apiece. “Hung Up On My Baby” continues with the afrobeat vibration underpinned by Rashaan Carter’s stretchy bass and an unyielding rhythm provided by drummer David Frazier and percussionist Takafumi Nikaido; Kuroda tops it off with a crisp trumpet sermon.
Only on the soulful closing number “Curiosity” does Kuroda ever slow down below mid-tempo, switching over to flugelhorn and reminding us that he can craft fetching melodies for any tempo.
Once again effectively bridging music style decades apart connected together for the purpose of making feel-good jazz of today, Takuya Kuroda achieves his mission with EVERYDAY. EVERYDAY goes on sale February 28, 2025 and can be pre-ordered/ordered over on Amazon.
*** Takuya Kuroda CD’s and vinyl on Amazon ***
- Takuya Kuroda – ‘EVERYDAY’ (2025) - February 24, 2025
- Ivo Perelman & Tyshawn Sorey – ‘Parallel Aesthetics’ (2025) - February 21, 2025
- Ranking Steely Dan Albums From Worst to Best - February 20, 2025
