"Holding On to Autumn" is an original composition by Japanese-born trumpeter Jun Iida, serving as the closing track on his debut leader album Evergreen. The piece begins in a ballad-like vein with shared melodic lines between trumpet and voice before building into energetic ensemble playing, creating a dynamic arc that moves from introspective quietude to spirited, uplifting interplay. This fluid development across the composition showcases Iida's gift for warm, inviting melodies within a contemporary jazz framework. The tune was recorded in November 2022 at Tritone Recording in Los Angeles and released on OA2 Records in 2023. The ensemble features Aubrey Johnson on vocals, Masami Kuroki on guitar, Josh Nelson on piano, Jonathan Richards on bass, and Xavier Lecouturier on drums, with the track running approximately seven minutes and nine seconds. As one of six Iida originals on Evergreen, the composition fits within a diverse program that also includes Japanese heritage tunes and reimagined standards, reflecting influences spanning contemporary jazz, blues, pop, soul, and classical music. The album documents Iida's artistic evolution through years spent in Los Angeles, Seattle, and New York, drawing on a core group of West Coast and New York musicians. No cover versions or performances by other artists have been identified to date.
