"Akatombo" is Jun Iida's jazz arrangement of the beloved Japanese children's song composed by Kosaku Yamada, featured on the 2023 album Evergreen. The original "Akatombo" (Red Dragonfly), written in 1927 with lyrics by Rofuu Miki, is one of Japan's most cherished folk melodies, evoking nostalgic memories of childhood and the changing seasons. Iida reimagines this cultural touchstone in E-flat with a straight-eighth feel and a rubato, freely paced approach that allows the melody to breathe and expand beyond its simple folk origins. The recording features two solos: Iida's trumpet improvisation unfolds with lyrical restraint, honoring the song's gentle spirit while adding harmonic sophistication, followed by vocalist Aubrey Johnson's wordless vocal solo that extends the piece's emotional arc with a blend of clarity and expressive warmth. The absence of a fixed tempo throughout the solo sections gives both improvisers the freedom to shape their phrases organically, creating an intimate, almost chamber-music atmosphere. Iida's decision to include this traditional Japanese melody on the album reflects his interest in bridging his cultural heritage with the jazz tradition, a theme that runs through Evergreen. The arrangement transforms a simple, universally known tune into a vehicle for personal expression while preserving the tender, wistful quality that has made "Akatombo" resonate across generations.
