Makoto Ozone & No Name Horses 20th Anniversary Tour,
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https://no-name-horses.jp/

Makoto Ozone & No Name Horses – Day 1 (20th Anniversary Original Album)
YES! We are a “BIG BAND”!!

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, pianist and composer Makoto Ozone and his powerhouse big band No Name Horses release a stunning new original double-vinyl album, Day 1.
Formed in 2005 at Ozone’s invitation, No Name Horses unites fifteen of Japan’s foremost jazz musicians — including Eric Miyashiro and Eijiro Nakagawa — each an accomplished bandleader in their own right. Over the past two decades, the ensemble has released six acclaimed albums and earned its reputation for intricate ensemble precision, fearless improvisation, and boundless creative spirit. Performing across Japan and internationally, they have become a singular voice in the modern big-band landscape.
In 2025, marking their 20th year together, the band enters a new era: renamed from “Makoto Ozone featuring No Name Horses” to simply “Makoto Ozone No Name Horses”, and joined by three new members — trumpeter Shutaro Matsui, tenor saxophonist Yu Riku, and bassist Shinpei Ogawa. With this refreshed lineup, Day 1 emerges as their first new studio recording in five years.
Returning to the roots of big-band tradition, the album celebrates the pure joy of swing and resonance. Each member contributes original compositions, showcasing the ensemble’s diversity of voice while upholding its collective identity. The result is a radiant reaffirmation of why big-band jazz continues to inspire both musicians and audiences alike.
To honor this milestone, the group will embark on a national concert series, “Makoto Ozone No Name Horses — 20th Anniversary Tour The Day 1”, held in two phases throughout 2025.

No Name Horses:

Makoto Ozone (piano, organ), Eric Miyashiro (trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet), Akira Okumura (trumpet, flugelhorn), Shutaro Matsui (trumpet, flugelhorn), Yoshinori Okazaki (trumpet, flugelhorn), Eijiro Nakagawa (trombone), Marshall Jilkes (trombone), Junko Yamashiro (bass trombone), Masanori Okazaki (alto & soprano saxophone, clarinet), Atsushi Ikeda (alto saxophone), Toshio Miki (tenor saxophone), Yu Riku (tenor saxophone, flute), Yoshihiro Iwamochi (baritone saxophone, clarinet), Shinpei Ogawa (bass), Nobuyuki Takahashi (drums).