Makoto Ozone Trio: TRiNFiNiTY

Japanese master pianist combines classical precision with improvisational freedom.

Makoto Ozone is a unique voice in both jazz and classical music. He grew up in Kobe, Japan, and taught himself to play jazz, initially on the organ, later on the piano, with his father as a guide. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, he made his solo debut at Carnegie Hall in 1983, marking his international breakthrough. Since then, he has collaborated with jazz legends such as Gary Burton and Chick Corea, and his compositions have been performed by renowned orchestras worldwide.

For this concert, Ozone takes the stage with his trio TRiNFiNiTY, which he formed in 2023 to celebrate his fortieth anniversary as an international soloist. Together with bassist Shimpei Ogawa and drummer Kunito Kitai, two exceptionally talented young musicians, he brings music that connects the spontaneous freedom of jazz with careful structural beauty. In January 2024, their debut album TRiNFiNiTY was released, followed in January 2026 by For Someone on Universal Music. This concert is curated by saxophonist Benjamin Herman, who recorded his recent album The Tokyo Sessions in Japan and knows the Japanese jazz scene like no other.

Makoto Ozone piano, Shimpei Ogawa bass, Kunito Kitai drums