Bellflower Jun Iida

• 1 Rivers and Bridges 06:53
• 2 Hotaru Nights 05:57
• 3 The Final View 04:21
• 4 Next Time 04:40
• 5 Marco the Phoenix 05:18
• 6 Will They Remember? 06:44
• 7 No Scuffs 05:06
• 8 Lovers' Interlude 02:12
• 9 Chasing Peace 07:23
• 10 Bellflower 07:42
• Total Runtime 56:16

Info for Bellflower

Whether it's his Japanese heritage, or his having lived in various culturally specific cities around America, it's no wonder that identity, landscapes and cultural influences reside so strongly in trumpeter Jun Iida's music. Bellflower is largely the reflection of his move three years ago from Seattle to New York, the music played, relationships made and the many roads traveled up to that time. With a band of new friends who developed this program of mostly originals over the course of a West Coast tour, Iida offers a nod to the resilience of Pittsburgh through the opener, "Rivers and Bridges." "Hotaru Nights" provides views of Japan, but its groove is from the Texas-born sound of the late Roy Hargrove. "Marco the Phoenix" draws inspiration from the beloved anime One Piece, while "Chasing Peace" echoes the sophistication of a classic ballad while yielding something undefinably richer. Bellflower offers songs that are meant to move people and to be enjoyed, wrapped in a collage of sounds that only Iida's personal journey could furnish.

"Throughout this extraordinary set, Iida finds grand camaraderie with an exceptional ensemble featuring pianist Chris McCarthy, guitarist Masami Kuroki, bassist Giulio Xavier Cetto, drummer Jongkuk Kim, percussionist Takafumi Nikaido and vocalist Zelda Harris. Their contributions add color, texture and personality while reinforcing the album’s spirit of collective discovery.

Like the bellflower itself, the music balances fragility and resilience. Bellflower the album is ultimately less concerned with arrival than with the journey itself—an engaging, thoughtful and deeply human statement from an artist continuing to grow while honoring the experiences, relationships and lessons that shaped him along the way."

"... perfectly calibrated, beautiful, intelligent, and one simply allows oneself to be carried away, thinking that with this musician, we are certainly only at the beginning of delightful surprises." (PARIS MOVE)

Jun Iida, trumpet, vocals
Chris McCarthy, piano & Rhodes
Giulio Xavier Cetto, bass
Jongkuk Kim, drums
Masami Kuroki, guitar
Takafumi Nikaido, congas (track 5)
Zelda Harris, vocals (track 6)

Recorded September 5-6, 2025 by Todd Carder at The Bunker Studio, Brooklyn, NY
Mixed & mastered by Rich Breen, Dogmatic Sound, Burbank, CA
Produced by Jun Iida

Jun Iida
Award-nominated trumpeter, composer, educator, and recording artist Jun Iida has quickly established himself as a highly sought after musician in the Los Angeles and Pacific Northwest music scenes. In addition to being active in the studio recording scene, he is a dynamic performing artist both as a bandleader as well as a sideman. Iida has performed extensively throughout the US as well as in Japan.

Originally from St. Louis, MO as the son of Japanese immigrants, Iida was exposed to a variety of musical genres from a young age during his upbringing in Pittsburgh, PA. In particular, he developed a deep interest and passion for jazz and improvisatory music. He began performing actively in Los Angeles with his group Jun Iida Sextet from 2015 to 2020, before relocating to Seattle, WA where he has quickly established himself in the greater PNW music scene.

Iida has had the opportunity to perform at notable institutions including: SFJazz, Black Cat (San Francisco, CA), Blue Whale, Sam First, Baked Potato, (Los Angeles, CA), The 1905, Winningstad Theatre (Portland, OR), The Royal Room, Benaroya Hall, Triple Door (Seattle, WA).

He has previously toured with Todo Mundo, Within Seekers, Salt Petal, and Zelda and the LoLo's. He has performed at various music festivals including: Earshot Jazz Festival, Portland Jazz Festival, Angel City Jazz Festival, South by Southwest (SXSW), Joshua Tree Music Festival, California Worldfest, Yosemite Music Festival, and Lake Tahoe Music Festival.

"Hard bop stylings and modern forms [with] a beautiful, unforced sound." (Seattle Jazz Scene)

This album contains no booklet.