Toshinori Kondo, a visionary Japanese trumpeter born on December 15, 1948, and passed away on October 17, 2020, was a pioneering force in the realms of avant-garde jazz and jazz fusion.
As a trailblazer in his native Japan, Kondo's remarkable talent and innovative approach earned him widespread recognition while he was based in Amsterdam and New York City. His impressive credentials as a sought-after collaborator in free jazz are evident in his electrifying performances alongside renowned artists such as German saxophonist Peter Brötzmann, English guitarist Derek Bailey, and Dutch drummer Han Bennink.
Kondo's extraordinary versatility also allowed him to flourish in electroacoustic settings where groove was paramount. He excelled as a bandleader, leading his own groups, including Toshinori Kondo IMA, and was equally at home on a range of projects with bassist-producer Bill Laswell or in a joint effort with DJ Krush, notably on the influential trip-hop album Ki-Oku, released in the mid-1990s.
