"Bellarosa" is Jun Iida's arrangement of the hard bop composition co-written by pianist Elmo Hope and tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, featured on the 2023 album Evergreen. Originally recorded by Rollins on his 1957 album The Sound of Sonny for Riverside Records, the tune is cast in a 32-bar AABA form in E-flat, and Iida's version swings at a brisk 180 BPM. The performance features three solos that unfold in sequence: guitarist Masami Kuroki takes the first chorus, his electric guitar navigating the bebop-rooted changes with fluency and rhythmic agility, followed by Iida's trumpet solo over another full chorus, where his bright tone and melodic invention pay homage to the hard bop tradition from which the tune emerged. Pianist Josh Nelson rounds out the solo section with a chorus of his own, his playing displaying harmonic sophistication and dynamic contrast within the AABA structure. The inclusion of "Bellarosa" on Evergreen demonstrates Iida's deep appreciation for the classic jazz repertoire, particularly the hard bop idiom that flourished in the late 1950s. By placing this standard alongside original compositions and Japanese folk and pop arrangements, Iida positions himself within the broader continuum of the jazz tradition while asserting his own artistic voice. The trio of solos gives the track a satisfying sense of variety and momentum.
