# After brutal attack – Tadataka Unno: The fun of jazz is in improvisation. It is a music created spontaneously on the spot: Video, Photos

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2021/12/12/after-brutal-attack-tadataka-unno-the-fun-of-jazz-is-in-improvisation-it-is-a-music-created-spontaneously-on-the-spot-video-photos/
- Published: 2021-12-12T18:02:32+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Jazz pianist Tadataka Unno has physically recovered from a vicious attack in New
York that nearly ended his career, but the emotional trauma from the beating will
require more time to heal.**

More than 13 months after suffering serious injuries to his right arm and shoulder,
Unno, 41, returned on stage.

His 11-concert tour in Japan ended at Blue Note Tokyo on Nov. 12.

After the attack in September last year, Unno’s doctor told him that he may never
be able to play piano again.

The assault started around 7:30 p.m. after Unno got off the subway at a station 
near his home in New York. He came across about eight young people hanging around
the exit and blocking the way.

![Tribute to Dick Morgan with Tadataka Unno at The Mainstay May 20 | WESM](https://
i0.wp.com/www.wesm913.org/sites/wesm/files/201705/tadataka_unno_2.jpg?w=640&ssl=
1)

They claimed that Unno pushed one of them, but the musician said he was certain 
he didn’t even touch any of them.

The youths then beat him at the exit. Unno managed to reach the ground level and
ran, but they caught up with him in a crowded park and continued the assault.

Unno recalled that the attackers said words like “Chinese” and “Asian.”

Around that time, an increasing number of hate crimes against Asians were being 
reported in the United States apparently over the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Although his surgery went well, Unno was constantly in severe pain, couldn’t sleep
at night and couldn’t move his arm for more than a month after the attack.

“Violence could have ruined everything I had accumulated since I started playing
music when I was 4 years old,” Unno said. “I thought such an unreasonable thing 
shouldn’t be happening.”

He started his rehabilitation in Japan in December, and he tried to resume piano
playing after the turn of the year. But, as he had expected, his shoulder and arm
felt like they were “locked.”

News of the attack elicited anger toward the attackers as well as widespread sympathy
and support for the injured pianist.

A charity concert was streamed online and a crowdfunding campaign was started in
support of Unno.

He received many messages of encouragement from around the world.

“I witnessed the dark side of humans, but at the same time, I came across a many
more warm-hearted people and saw the bright side,” Unno recalled. “I could have 
never made it this far alone.”

The pianist is trying to accept the incident in a positive manner.

“The fun of jazz is in improvisation. It is a music created spontaneously on the
spot, so an experience like this will definitely express itself in sounds and will
be fully exploited,” he said.

However, Unno hasn’t been able to ride a subway since the attack, and he feels uneasy
when he goes outdoors.

“To be honest, I’m not sure whether this trauma can eventually be cured,” Unno said.“
It’s not a happy ending story in which I recovered from the injuries and lived happily
ever after.”

He added: “We must move in a direction to stop discrimination and prejudice. I need
to find out what I can do to help create a better society. There is a really long
battle waiting ahead.”

![Tadataka Unno Jazzespresso magazine jazz Eliza Wong interview](https://i0.wp.com/
www.jazzespresso.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/04-Tadaka-Unno-2.jpg?w=800&ssl=1)

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