Takuya Kuroda on new album Everyday, and working with José James on Blue Note breakout Rising Sun

As Takuya Kuroda drops another banging funk-forward LP, Everyday – on PPK Records, a new label venture from bass legend Pino Palladino – we called the Japanese, NYC-based trumpeter to talk through his career: from formative big band experiences growing up in Kobe, to meeting mentor José James at NYC’s New School, scoring a smash hit with the prophetic neo-soul-influenced Blue Note Records debut Rising Sun (2014), and his recent embrace of beat-making and production on the funk-tastic comeback Fly Moon Die Soon (2020) and Midnight Crisp (2022) records. We also discussed the nuance of groove, Japanese jazz kissa culture, the influence of heroes Clifford Brown and Roy Hargrove, and shared a mutual appreciation of highballs.