Rising Son – Takuya Kuroda

Rising Son is a studio album by Japanese trumpeter and composer Takuya Kuroda, released by Blue Note Records in 2014 and produced by José James.

The core lineup features Kuroda on trumpet, Corey King on trombone, Kris Bowers on keyboards, Solomon Dorsey on bass, and Nate Smith on drums and percussion. Lionel Loueke appears as a guest guitarist on “Afro Blues,” while José James contributes vocals to “Everybody Loves the Sunshine.”

The repertoire combines original compositions by Kuroda with interpretations of Roy Ayers’ “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” and “Green and Gold.” Its musical language brings together jazz, afrobeat, soul, funk, R&B, and elements of hip-hop.

Rising Son marked Kuroda’s debut for Blue Note and consolidated an aesthetic built around groove, collective interaction, and the integration of acoustic and contemporary musical languages.