Takuya Kuroda, born on February 21, 1980, in Ashiya, Hyōgo, began his musical
journey in his school’s big band and attended jam sessions in Kobe. In 2003, he
moved to the U.S., studying at Berklee College of Music before settling in
Brooklyn. He later earned his degree in jazz and contemporary music from The New
School in 2006. During his studies, he formed a close musical partnership with
José James, who produced his 2014 album Rising Son. Kuroda has since established
himself as a prominent jazz trumpeter and arranger, blending traditional jazz
with funk, soul, and Afrobeat infl...