The 2024 Frank Morgan Taos Jazz Festival Featuring Tadataka Unno

Taos Jazz Bebop Society & the Harwood Museum of Art present

The 2024 Frank Morgan Taos Jazz Festival 

Tadataka Unno is one of Japan’s most acclaimed jazz pianists. From early childhood and into his twenties, he focused on the piano, and the roots and culture of jazz. Eventually he landed in NY City and his jazz future exploded. Quickly embraced by the jazz community, he met and was mentored by George Cables. His path to international prominence was furthered by a second mentor, piano legend Hank Jones. Soon after, he joined the famed Jimmy Cobb Quartet and performed, recorded and toured the world with the master drummer. That led to associations with more great names in jazz including trumpeter Roy Hargrove, with whom he worked for the last two years of Mr. Hargrove’s life.

Then a terrible thing happened. Early in the pandemic shutdown, when Asian hate crimes were on the rise, Unno was brutally attacked by a group of eight teenagers in a NY city subway station. He almost lost his life. Physically and emotionally broken, and fearing for the future, he took his wife and newborn son back to Japan. Back at home and gradually feeling stronger, he recorded “Get My Mojo Back” to critical acclaim. Finally in 2023, thanks to music colleagues George Cables, Doug Lawrence and Jerome Jennings, Tada performed with the Taos Festival Allstars in last year’s Taos Jazz Festival. The music was joyful and life affirming. Now Tadataka Unno returns to the US– direct to Taos– for the 2024 Taos Jazz Fest. He’s still on his journey back, as he says, “I keep fighting for love…with music.”

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