Tadataka Unno

Tadataka Unno was born in Tokyo. He started playing jazz at age 9 and attended the Tokyo University of the Arts.[2] Unno began his career by joining the trio of Japanese jazz musician Yoshio Suzuki and played professionally in Japan for the next 10 years.[3] In 2008, Unno moved to New York City and lived in Harlem. In 2010, Unno was recommended to play at the Jazz Rising Stars Program of Ravinia Festival by Nathan Davis and Curtis Fuller. He also worked for two years with jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove and is currently a member of the Jimmy Cobb Trio, Clifton Anderson quartet, and John Pizzarelli Trio.[4]

Unno has performed at the Kennedy Center, Blue Note Jazz Club, and Village Vanguard. He has released six jazz albums including Journeyer, which was recorded with American musicians Hassan J.J. Shakur and Jerome Jennings.[3]

In September 2020, Unno was attacked by a group of teenagers while exiting a subway in Harlem in New York City. He required surgery for broken bones. The eight African-American teenagers had mistakently thought that Unno was Chinese.[5][6][7][8]

Unno is married and has a child.[8]

When Hank Jones passed away in May 2010, Unno was at his deathbed.[9]

• Official website