Studio Ghibli music reimagined as cinematic jazz. The Ghibli Collection — out now on OA2 Records.
His work possesses a cinematic quality, painting landscapes and characters through melody. Paris-Move · Thierry De Clemensat (JJA USA) · Mar 11, 2026
Owen Chen is, without a doubt, an artist who deserves to be discovered without delay. Paris-Move · Thierry De Clemensat · Mar 11, 2026
Pieces such as “One Summer's Day” and “My Neighbor Totoro” have a Pat Metheny-esque landscape to them, lyrical yet gently dance-like, with strings crying and sighing. Jazz Weekly · George W. Harris · Mar 16, 2026
Tender, almost aching arrangements… nostalgia that made the room go quiet. BroadwayWorld · Alex Del Cueto · Sep 4, 2025
Eternal Wind appears in Origin Records' April 2026 DownBeat spotlight.
The performance was dramatic in the best way, pulling everyone into the raw, untamed world of the story. BroadwayWorld
Guitarist Owen Chen introduces Eternal Wind, a dual-guitar-led ensemble that reimagines the timeless stories of the Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli through the expressive lens of modern jazz. Developed over a year of performances at Brooklyn's Red Pavilion and shaped by Chen's long-standing collaboration with guitarist Andrew Cheng, the album channels the emotional gravity, tenderness, and wonder of Joe Hisaishi's iconic film scores into a deeply personal improvisational language.
Reviewers praised the performances for their dramatic weight and aching nostalgia, moments where the room seemed to hold its breath as familiar melodies resurfaced with renewed urgency and vulnerability. Anchored by the conversational interplay of two guitars and supported by a collective of rising New York jazz musicians, the arrangements move fluidly between lyricism and risk, honoring the source material while allowing space for spontaneity and discovery.
For Chen, the project reflects an Asian American experience of reconciling formative influences into a voice that feels wholly his own; for listeners, it offers a chance to reconnect with beloved stories in ways that feel both unexpected and profoundly familiar. The Ghibli Collection marks a compelling debut and the emergence of Eternal Wind's distinctive sound.
Owen has led the residency at Brooklyn's Red Pavilion since December 2024, building on a year with the Victor Lin Quintet. Rebranded as Eternal Wind, August 2025. The band averages 2-6 shows per month, with frequent sellouts and 100+ at the door. The audience skews 24-35 and heavily AAPI; many are at a live jazz show for the first time, drawn in by Joe Hisaishi's catalog from Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki's Delivery Service. The Ghibli Collection itself was developed over one year of those performances — workshopped on the bandstand before being recorded.
Press tickets available with one week's notice — email music.owenchen@gmail.com.
Physical promo CDs available from OA2 on request. Additional materials: music.owenchen@gmail.com.