Born August 15, 1980 in Tokyo, Japan to parents who are music fans, Tadataka Unno grew up listening to many kinds of music. He began playing the piano at age 4. At age 9 he started to play jazz. He attended Tokyo University for Music and Fine Art where he studied music composition. Upon graduation, Unno joined one of Japan's leading bassist Yoshio Suzuki's trio. This was when his career took off. He spent first 10 years in Japan in his career. He decides to move to the birthplace of jazz, the United States, in 2008 and start from scratch. Unno was selected to attend Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead 2010 at the Kennedy Center in D.C. Upon recommendation by Nathan Davis and Curtis Fuller, he attended the Jazz Rising Stars Program of Ravinia Festival in Chicago in the same year. In 2013 he performed for a week at the Village Vanguard as a member of Jimmy Cobb Trio. Unno also joined tribute concert for the late great Dick Morgan in D.C. in 2014. In autumn he released his fifth album "Journeyer" and toured Japan with recording member, Hassan J.J. Shakur and Jerome Jennings.
Since his arrival to the United States, Unno has performed at numerous famous jazz clubs like Village Vanguard, Kennedy Center, Dizzy's Club, Blue Note, Blues Alley, Smalls, Mezzrow, Fat Cat, the cell, Minton's, Lenox Lounge, Jazz Standard, Side door, Scullers as well as churches and local restaurants like Arturo's in West Village. He has performed / recorded / toured with Frank Wess, Joe Wilder, Jimmy Cobb, Jimmy Heath, Al Foster, George Mraz, Eddie Henderson, Wallace Roney, Billy Kaye, Jackie Williams, Steve Little, Joel Press, Bob Mover, Winard Harper, Hassan J.J. Shakur, Steve Nelson, Clifton Anderson, Essiet Essiet, Steve Williams, Victor See Yuen, Eddie Allen, Javon Jackson, John Webber, Neal Smith, Jim Cammack, Steve Abshire, David Jernigan, David Einhorn, Nasar Abadey, Kenny Washington, Patrick O'Leary, Harry Allen, Jacob Melchior, David Wong, Dezron Douglas, Yasushi Nakamura, Jerome Jennings, Jazzmeia Horn, Jovan Alexander, Jonathan Barber and many more. The stimulating environment of New York is improving his already refined musicality.
He is considered among the best of the up and coming generation of jazz musicians and his technique, creativity, balanced sense and beautiful tone continue to mesmerize audiences. Towards the end of their lives, both the legendary Hank Jones and Japanese jazz pianist Yuzuru Sera mentored Unno, having the highest trust in his talents. Unno looked up to them not just as mentors in music, but as mentors of life. When Hank Jones, at the age of 91, passed away in May of 2010 to the sadness of countless friends and fans, Unno was at his deathbed. Through a great sadness, Unno now holds the baton of jazz piano left by Jones.
