Tadataka Unno

Tadataka Unno / Piano
Born in Tokyo in 1980

He began playing piano at age 4 and jazz piano at age 9 and began his professional
career while a student at Tokyo University of the Arts. Encouraged by Yoshio Suzuki, he
was active in the Japanese jazz scene for 10 years. In 2008, moving to New York.
Despite starting from scratch, he was recognized by top musicians. He became a
favorite of many jazz legends, including Hank Jones and Jimmy Cobb. He became the
first and last regular Japanese member of the Roy Hargrove Quintet.

In September 2020, he was the victim of a hate crime committed by Asians. The news
was widely covered by CBS and other Japanese media in the U.S. The jazz community
was shocked and wished for his return. Immediately after the incident, Jerome
Jennings launched a crowdfunding campaign. Also, Unno's close friends in Japan held
support concerts, and people around the world wished for his return. In response,
Unno's indomitable spirit and hard work in rehabilitation miraculously led to his return.
His journey to recovery was featured in the NHK special "This Wonderful World"
broadcast in November 2021. His Japan tour around the same time was also a great
success, with audiences celebrating his comeback in many places. His latest album,
"Get My Mojo Back" (Verve label), was released in March 2022. It is a work full of
vitality and joy, composed of original songs written during his recuperation from being
unable to play the piano. It has received many favorable reviews.

He was also trusted as a pianist of the next generation by the late Japanese jazz
pianist Yuzuru Sera, the jazz piano master Hank Jones, and tenor saxophone and flute
virtuoso Frank Wess, who sadly passed away. He continued to interact with them as a
mentor not only in music but also in life. On May 16, 2010, he witnessed the closing of
the 91-year life of his mentor Hank Jones, who was loved by jazz fans worldwide and
maintained his passion for music to the end. Unno strongly hopes to carry on the spirit
of his mentors, pursue his own music, and fulfill his calling.