Shunzo Ohno 2

Live at Joe’s Pub
Release Date: April 17, 2026
Label: Pulsebeats Records

Trumpet master and composer Shunzo Ohno announces his anticipated album Live at Joe’s Pub. Drawing from live material captured during three evening-length concerts at the legendary New York venue, the album unveils Ohno’s range as a player, a career composer and a refreshing orchestrator — and his regenerating commitment to transmitting hope and beauty through his work.

Many colleagues consider Ohno a magician of the trumpet. Since his generation-spanning tenure as a key member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers beginning in 1974, which led to pivotal associations with Roy Haynes, Machito, Larry Coryell and Gil Evans, as a member of their working bands, Ohno’s love for music, for composing and for fearless improvising has only intensified. Each of these legendary artists has influenced Shunzo’s artistry, both as mentors and cherished friends. Following a serious car accident in 1988 and a life-changing cancer diagnosis in 1996 that prompted the removal of 125 muscle structures and lymph nodes around his mouth and neck, he continues to reinvent his approach to playing his instrument as he pursues his forward-facing career as an innovator and a dedicated artist.

“Why I play music comes down to why I’m living today,” says the New York artist. “How am I able to live positively with a good vision for the future? I keep reminding myself, today, moment to moment, I need to live positively.”

Live at Joe’s Pub features performances that volley conversational moments and cinematic stories. Ohno’s working ensemble plays in concert with members of acclaimed string quartet, Lotus Chamber Music Collective (led by his daughter Sasha Ono), to develop narrative tension and create artful anticipation in each interlude. Together, the artists dissolve boundaries between what’s scripted and what’s spontaneous. And their willingness to take risks on the bandstand elevates both the dynamic sweeps and the natural expression of each composition.

The album opens on unity and warmth. The live series’ only folk-like tune, “Going Home” proffers an invitation for every member of every audience. “The audience always feels it’s a folk song from their home country,” says album producer Kazuko Ono. “A lot of Japanese people feel that song brings them home, a nostalgiatic spirit, but also Caribbean and some European people have shared the same sentiment, sharing, ’That song is from my country,’”.  The melody begins with a quality of surreality before the tune enters a groove that may stray into uncharted dissonances but always resolves back home. “When we start with “Going Home”, says Ohno, “we’re able to connect with the [entire audience].”

In 2023, Ohno composed his first symphony, titled EPIC. For the Joe’s Pub performances, he re-orchestrates certain movements, adapting them for his small ensemble plus strings. Both “Vision” and “Heroic Dance” undergo an elegant shapeshifting that includes rearranging the French horn part for guitar, played by Quintin Zoto, creating a shimmer of interactive lines for the spirited string quartet to engage the powerhouse ensemble. Grounded in the story unfolding through Ohno’s trumpet, Clifford Carter’s piano solo soars; together they develop the narrative. 

Live at Joe’s Pub spotlights seven of Ohno’s original compositions plus Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14, the “Moonlight Sonata.” Ohno admits the process of developing the arrangement was tricky and painstaking. “I really had to digest ‘Moonlight Sonata,’” he says, “but the arrangement had to be me.” He chose the tune in particular for its beauty but also for its composer’s resilience and determination. “Beethoven’s life was so difficult,” says Ohno.

“He lived through multiple disabilities. He’ s like my hero — not only by the music but by how he lived.”

“Firefly” may be the shortest piece on the album, but its impact is massive and resonating. Composed for the 2003 film Fireflies: River of Light from Japanese director Hiroshi Sugawara. “Firefly” translates the story of a young girl searching for her deceased mother’s presence in the brightest firefly’s glow. The song layers harmony across moving strings, tinged at times with dissonance. “I made sure to capture the whole movie in three minutes of music,” says Ohno.”It’s really a tender story, and every time I talk about it, it brings a tear.”

Named for the power and determination of his youngest daughter’s field hockey team he witnessed at their daily practices, “Lea’s Run” incorporates a funky, laid back backbeat reminiscent of the hip hop tracks she would play throughout their household as a teenager. Jeremiah Edwards’ bass line drives a pulsing undercurrent alongside Thierry Arpino’s drums. “Young women running, individually, but also united, is an exhilarating force, a powerful momentum” says Ono. On piano, Noah Rott summons a free dance vibe.

Ohno frequently draws inspiration for his evolving expression from his native Japan. Since the historic earthquake and tsunami of 2011, he’s been traveling to the northern region of the country each year to visit the affected sites as the citizens continue to rebuild after seemingly insurmountable trauma and devastation. Opening with melodic colors from Zoto’s guitar, “Dreamers” is anthemic to both their challenges and resilience. “There is so much hope in this melody that I named this song for all dreamers,” says Ohno. “‘Dreamers’ means even in a hopeless situation we still need to hold a dream in our heart. That is what this song is for.”

The album concludes on a different kind of epic. Years ago, Ohno devoured a 10-volume set of novels sharing the story of the legendary warrior Musashi. Carter’s piano intro builds dramatically, with the full ensemble echoing a rhythmic euphoria. As each section unfurls, its small moments become an anticipation for the next, developing a riveting story of a dauntless spirit. “We have to keep fighting whatever obstacle is in front of us,” says Ohno. “That is the spirit of the Musashi.”

For Shunzo, that spirit burns brightest with a live audience. The shared breath, the charged silences, and exuberant outbursts exchange energy and elevate the music beyond the page. In that united space, resilience is felt, amplified, and carried forward.

With so much music behind him and so much more ahead, every day Ohno continues to recalibrate, recenter and reignite his hopeful spirit: “I feel profoundly optimistic for the future, even at this age and under these critical societal conditions. This is where we create a courageous renewed future. I hope this album is able to provide that kind of vision to the listener.”

RUNNER
Release Date: April 3, 2020

RUNNER, the 18th album from distinguished trumpeter and composer Shunzo Ohno comprises of three compositions; the first of which is a four piece symphonic suite aptly titled “EPIC”.

Shunzo Ohno is one of the most versatile and influential trumpeters in modern jazz. Over the course of his lengthy career, Ohno has released 18 albums as a leader and appeared on over 30 as a sideman. His long list of collaborators include Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (with whom he toured in the early 1970’s), Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Machito and his Afro-Cuban Orchestra, and master arranger and composer Gil Evans, among many others. On RUNNER, Gil Evans’ influence is most apparent. Shunzo Ohno became a key collaborator with Evans and appeared on four recordings including the GRAMMY-Award winning album Live At Sweet Basil. 

The centerpiece and opening composition of RUNNER, “EPIC”, takes major cues from Evans as it unleashes Ohno’s captivating mastery as a trumpeter over his dynamic symphonic vision. Ohno, who has won several awards for compositions including the 2014 International Songwriting Competition Grand Prize Award for his song “Musashi”, (making him the first jazz recipient), displays his writing chops on the four-part “EPIC” suite. The first movement and prelude, “Heroic Vision”, establishes the suite with an overture that evokes an intimate and timeless universal bond. Mercurial musical landscapes intertwine in the second movement, “Emerge”, with quiet colors as the woodwinds create moving passages. The third movement, “Galaxy Bonds”, showcases the melodious clarinet and cello while the fourth and final movement, “Heroic Dance” is the breathtaking conclusion featuring Ohno’s commanding trumpet and powerhouse percussion euphoria. Following “EPIC”, are two compositions: “Moon Over The Castle”, a stunning musical poem featuring a traditional and soulful Japanese melody and the title track “RUNNER” which pays tribute not only to runners’ unstoppable drive in marathons, but, as was his original intent, to honor the many resilient runners orchestrating peace and justice. 

The late guitarist Vic Juris appears on this anthem, along with bassists David Anderson and Ira Coleman, plus Thierry Arpino on drums and Clifford Carter on clavinet. Like all of Ohno’s recordings, “RUNNER” is an ode to perseverance, and bold strength with cinematic currents of fearless life force.

Ohno’s incredible life is the subject of three biographies and two documentary films. The most recent documentary short, Never Defeated: The Shunzo Ohno Story, is narrated by Ohno’s good friend Buster Williams. The thrilling story unfolds Ohno’s incredible resilience following a serious automobile accident in 1988 which permanently damaged his teeth and lips. Undeterred, Ohno awakened to his new reality and created a unique approach to his playing. In 1996, Ohno faced an uncertain future when he was diagnosed with a life-threatening form of throat cancer. 

After three years of relentless challenge, Ohno ultimately won the battle and was asked to perform with Wayne Shorter for a series of concerts in California - a moment of immense impact for him. Since then, Ohno has remained an intrepid innovative force in the contemporary jazz scene. 

When the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake devastated Northern Japan, Ohno dedicated himself to rebuilding efforts with a focus on global recovery, reviving music programs for children and fiercely creating compositions for all dreamers. DREAMER was released in 2018 advancing his resolve.

ReNew
Release date: April 1, 2016

Shunzo Ohno, one of the most versatile and influential trumpeters in modern jazz, presents ReNew, his 16th album as a leader. The spirited interplay of the musicians is captured on this live studio recording, and reveals the depth of skill and joy in spontaneity that is characteristic of Ohno's ensemble performances. One can hear the give and take of jazz dialog underneath the mercurial expanse of this recording.

With ‘recovery to discovery’ in mind, ReNew is a testament to those affected by natural disasters that have taken place throughout the world including the 2011 tsunami in Japan. ReNew injects elements of traditional jazz, hip hop, spoken word, and free jazz, creating a tapestry of modern jazz that is distinctly Shunzo Ohno. The album features nine tracks, including International Songwriting Competition award winners: “Musashi,” and “Lea’s Run”.

Shunzo Ohno’s experiences with Art Blakey, Gil Evans, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock cast an influence resulting with a force of anticipation and fresh vitality. ReNew embraces a diverse spectrum of generations, masterful interplay and interpretations of music. Each of the compositions, confront life’s uncharted circumstances both on global and personal conditions. This recording illuminates vigor, dignity, hope and freedom with a renewed spirit.