Makoto Ozone (小曽根真; Pronounced [Oh-zone'-ay]; born March 25, 1961) is a Japanese jazz pianist.
Contents
Career
Ozone was born in Kobe, Japan. He began playing organ at two and by seven was an improviser. He appeared on Japanese television with his father, himself a pianist and club owner in Kobe, from 1968 to 1970. At the age of twelve, Ozone switched to piano after being impressed by the albums of Oscar Peterson, taking two years of classical piano lessons. In 1980, he entered the Berklee College of Music and later worked with Gary Burton. He also had his recording debut in 1983 before returning to his native Japan.
Ozone has collaborated with vocalist Kimiko Itoh. They appeared as a duo at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and he produced her album Kimiko, which won the 2000 Swing Journal jazz disk grand prix for Japanese vocalist.
Ozone has been visiting professor of jazz at the Kunitachi College of Music since 2010.
Honors
2003: Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.
2018: Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon (紫綬褒章 (しじゅほうしょう), Shijuhōshō)
Discography
As leader/co-leader
Live!! At The Berklee Performance Center with Phil Wilson (Shiah, 1983) – live
Makoto Ozone (CBS/Sony, 1984) – rec. 1981
After (CBS/Sony, 1986)
Spring Is Here (Columbia, 1987)
Now You Know (Columbia, 1987)
Starlight (JVC/Victor, 1990)
Paradise Wings (JVC/Victor, 1991)
Walk Alone (JVC/Victor, 1992)
Breakout (Verve, 1994)
Face to face with Gary Burton (GRP, 1995)
Nature Boys (Verve, 1995)
At the Montreux Jazz Festival (Videoarts, 1997) – live
Makoto Ozone: The Trio (Verve, 1997)
Three Wishes (Verve, 1998) – rec. 1997
Dear Oscar (Polydor, 1998)
No Strings Attached (Polydor, 1999)
Pandora (Verve, 2000)
So Many Colors (Verve, 2001)
Treasure (Verve, 2002)
Reborn (Verve, 2003)
Virtuosi with Gary Burton (Concord, 2003)
New Spirit (Universal, 2004)
As No Name Horses
No Name Horses (Universal, 2006)
No Name Horses II (Verve, 2008)
Jungle (Verve, 2009)
Back at The Club "IN TRIBUTE" (Universal, 2011)
Road: Rhapsody in Blue (Universal, 2014)
Day 1 (Universal, 2024)
Soundtracks
Ashita no Kita Yoshio (あしたの、喜多善男) - Original Soundtrack (Universal, 2008)
NHK The World Heritage: The Swell of Time - Original Soundtrack (Universal, 2011)
As sideman
With Gary Burton
Real Life Hits (ECM, 1984)
Whiz Kids (ECM, 1986)
Generations (Concord, 2004)
With others
Bobby Shew, Breakfast Wine (Pausa, 1985)