Award Winning Jazz Artist, Shunzo Ohno Returns to Westchester to Perform with his NYC friends

Just back from an International Tour, Shunzo Ohno, is scheduled to perform in several venues including NYC and Peekskill, NY. Immediately off the plane, he performed June 8th with Paul Schaffer hosting the Lew Soloff Celebration (NYC). A live concert with the documentary short primere “Never Defeated, The Shunzo Ohno Story”, in NYC @The Cutting Room, with his own band and to finish the month of June, at The Beanrunner on June 27th in Peekskill.

“The Beanrunner is one of my favorite venues” says Shunzo, It is incredibly respectful and supportive to artists and the audiences there always have a great time. Its informal, friendly with patrons who are true music lovers. There used to be many of these kind of venues in NY, but now, The Beanrunner is the shining light for authentic artists and music lovers.”

Recently published in NYC:

SHUNZO OHNO by russ musto New York City Record

In a lifetime that has seen more than its fair share of misfortune Shunzo Ohno has remained steadfastly positive in his pursuit of creating music for the greater good. The trumpeter, born Mar. 22nd, 1949 in central Japan’s Gifu Prefecture, first became enamored with jazz as a teenager and was in the early stages of a career as one of his country’s most celebrated jazz artists when a chance encounter with Art Blakey in 1974 set him on the path he continues to travel.
Ohno recalls, “I met Mr. Art Blakey when he was shooting a live performance for a TV station in Japan. He needed a trumpet player and I was asked to join him for that performance. I had been listening to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers records in small jazz coffee houses and wherever I could find records. We did not have many opportunities then to meet with American jazz musicians directly, so this was like a dream come true for me.” Blakey suggested that Ohno come to New York, but the trumpeter was busy working in Japan and about to begin leading a new band, so he balked at the drummer’s invitation. “A few months later Art returned to Japan and I had an opportunity to play with him again. This time he strongly encouraged me to come to New York and I did. I came here with nothing and did not even speak English. I went on tour with the Messengers and that was my introduction to the United States.”
Jazz Messenger alumnus David Schnitter remembers his first encounter with the young Ohno. “Shunzo was in the band before me. That was the group with Shunzo, Nelson Sanamiago, who had studied with Jackie McLean, on alto, Kasal Allah on piano and Chin Suzuki on bass. Art invited me to come down to a rehearsal and we played a gig at the Village Gate that weekend. He played really good. I liked him. He was kind of coming out of a Miles bag.” Ohno has fond memories of his days with the band. He says, “Art was a great storyteller. He would share long stories that had drama, laughter, mystery... He was an artist first. No matter what was happening in his life, some kind of spirit or strong force took over when he was playing. He never missed anything on stage. He pushed all of us to play beyond our limits.”
Ohno went on to play with drummer Norman Connors, gaining recognition in the increasingly popular world of electric jazz. His own early recordings as a leader feature pioneering fusioneers like Reggie Lucas, Marcus Miller, Kenny Kirkland and Mike Stern. Later his fiery trumpet playing was featured with Latin legend Machito, who he calls “the finest gentleman I have ever met.” Following that he joined the Gil Evans Orchestra: “Gil Evans was a mentor to me. Besides working together for years, he encouraged me to compose and arrange. He pushed me to do my best, break through limitations. He was an extraordinary teacher. I was fortunate to work with Gil and to get to know him personally. Gil lived spiritually. We had many long conversations on Buddhism.”
Ohno is also a devout Buddhist, something he shares with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. “Herbie, Wayne and I practice Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism,” he says. “We performed with each other in various Buddhist festivals and events and have recorded together on Buster Williams album Something More. Buster has been a friend since 1976. I had the great fortune to tour with him several times and have learned a lot, particularly about chords, from him. He has high standards for musicians. I really do appreciate his sensibilities and generous heart. Our families are close and we have gone through many of life’s challenges together, supporting each other.” Williams affirms Ohno’s assertion. “I have the deepest respect and love for Shunzo,” he says. “And appreciation— because he teaches me. In all of these years that I have known him he has always been really teaching me how to live in a positive way and not be defeated by any circumstances or in any situation. He’s never dropped the ball. He’s a fighter and he always wins. Plus he plays his butt off. He is a remarkable human being. Shunzo is undefeated.”
The bassist’s pronouncement is echoed in the title of the documentary Shunzo Ohno: Never Defeated, directed by Sean Gallagher and narrated by Williams. The film, which will have a screening at The Cutting Room Jun. 17th, recounts the misfortunes Ohno has overcome, including the serious car accident that permanently damaged his lips and teeth and a bout with throat cancer that required traumatizing treatments and a very long recovery period. The movie also shines a light on Ohno’s efforts in aiding victims of the catastrophes that have caused so much strife in Japan. He notes, “The tsunami/earthquake/nuclear failure still affects families in Japan today. I have visited Northern Japan over 20 times since the disaster, learning more and more about the spirit of hope, courage and recovery from families who have lost their children, spouses, parents, homes and health.”
Bassist John Patitucci has played with Ohno on some of his many performances to benefit victims of the devastation. He remembers, “I met Shunzo first in the early ‘90s when we did a couple of gigs with Wayne Shorter and he was in the band. We went to Japan and it was a huge thing, a very big peace convention in Tokyo. It was kind of amazing to witness such a thing. It was at some huge place we played and we had a lot of fun. Not only did I like his trumpet playing, but I liked him as a person because I felt like he was a man of integrity and he cared about people. He was kind and generous, the kind of guy who was always encouraging. Later on when I moved back to New York in 1996, his wife and he reached out to my wife and I about taking part in these benefit concerts. They put it together and they were really passionate about it.”
For more information, visit shunzoohno.com. Ohno is at The BeanRunner June 27th
Recommended Listening:
• Shunzo Ohno—Something’s Coming (East Wind, 1975) • Shunzo Ohno—Quarter Moon (Inner City, 1979)
• Shunzo Ohno—Antares (Electric Bird, 1980)
• Shunzo Ohno—Manhattan Blue
(Electric Bird/King, 1986)
• Buster Williams—Something More (In + Out, 1989) • Shunzo Ohno/Steve Wilson/Renee Rosnes/ James Genus/Billy Drummond—Maya (TBM, 1991)