Makoto Ozone

Makoto Ozone at Cosmopolite scene in Oslo in 2017

Makoto Ozone (小曽根真, Ozone Makoto, born March 25, 1961 in Kobe) is a Japanese jazz pianist.

He began playing organ at two and by seven was an improviser. He appeared on Japanese television with his father from 1968 to 1970. At twelve he switched to piano after being impressed by albums by Oscar Peterson. In 1980 he entered the Berklee College of Music and later worked with Gary Burton. He also had his 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.

In September 2003, Ozone was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.

Discography

As Leader

• Makoto Ozone (Columbia, 1984)
• After (Columbia, 1986)
• Now You Know (Columbia, 1987)
• Spring Is Here (CBS/Sony, 1987)
• Starlight (JVC/Victor, 1990)
• Nature Boys, (Verve, 1995)
• At The Montreux Jazz Festival, (Hear The Music, 1997) With Kimiko Itoh
• Makoto Ozone The Trio, (Verve, 1997) As Makoto Ozone The Trio
• Dear Oscar, (Verve, 1998) As Makoto Ozone The Trio
• Three Wishes, (Verve, 1998) As Makoto Ozone The Trio
• Pandora, (Verve, 2000) As Makoto Ozone The Trio
• So Many Colors, (Verve, 2001) As Makoto Ozone The Trio
• Treasure, (Verve, 2002) with Michael Brecker, Gary Burton, Chick Corea
• Reborn, (Verve, 2003) As Makoto Ozone The Trio
• Real, (Verve, 2006) As Makoto Ozone The Trio
• Jungle, (Verve, 2009)

With Gary Burton

• Real Life Hits (ECM, 1984)
• Whiz Kids (ECM, 1986)
• Face to Face (GRP, 1995)
• Virtuosi (Concord, 2002)
• Generations (Concord, 2004)
• Time Thread (Verve, 2013)

With Anna Maria Jopek

• Road To Chopin (Merlin, 2009)
• Haiku (Universal, 2011)

External links

• All Music
• NPR profile
• Makoto Ozone's official webpage