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The Ghibli Collection

Owen Chen & Eternal Wind

The Ghibli Collection

Format: CD
Label: OA2 Records
UPC: 0805552225020
Catnr: OA2 22250
Release date: 04 September 2026
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1 CD
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Label
OA2 Records
UPC
0805552225020
Catalogue number
OA2 22250
Release date
04 September 2026
Album
Artist(s)
Composer(s)
EN

About the album

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.

Artist(s)

Owen Chen (guitar)

Owen Chen is a New York-based guitarist and bandleader, known as a versatile voice blending genres across jazz, cinematic soundscapes, and pop.  Classical trained on the violin from the age of five, he grew up in the symphonic orchestra world before discovering jazz in his high school big band in San Diego, California. Owen holds a Master’s in Jazz Performance from NYU, studying under contemporary leading figures in jazz guitar, including John Scofield, Peter Bernstein, and Adam Rogers, and other notable mentors such as Chris Potter, Ari Hoenig, amongst others. He also holds a Bachelors degree from UC Berkeley, studying with Bay Area mentors such as Dann Zinn, Steve Erquiaga, Frank Martin, and Ted Moore.  Chen leads Eternal Wind, a collective of...
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Owen Chen is a New York-based guitarist and bandleader, known as a versatile voice blending genres across jazz, cinematic soundscapes, and pop. Classical trained on the violin from the age of five, he grew up in the symphonic orchestra world before discovering jazz in his high school big band in San Diego, California. Owen holds a Master’s in Jazz Performance from NYU, studying under contemporary leading figures in jazz guitar, including John Scofield, Peter Bernstein, and Adam Rogers, and other notable mentors such as Chris Potter, Ari Hoenig, amongst others. He also holds a Bachelors degree from UC Berkeley, studying with Bay Area mentors such as Dann Zinn, Steve Erquiaga, Frank Martin, and Ted Moore. Chen leads Eternal Wind, a collective of like-minded musicians that share the desire to blend childhood influences of cinematic soundtracks with the rich history of jazz, to reinterpret nostalgic memories of the past with a newer voice and to share with a new generation of jazz-listeners. Eternal Wind’s debut album, The Ghibli Collection, is set to release in 2026, expanding on the original concepts in Chen’s original compositions in the self-released EP titled Eternal in May 2022. In New York City, Owen leads ensembles regularly in residences at The Red Pavilion, and appears regularly in other NYC venues across multiple genres, such as Bar Next Door, Joe’s Pub, 54 Below, Laissez Faire, Le Poisson Rouge and more, while continually expanding Eternal Wind’s repertoire and reach.

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Andrew Cheng (guitar)

Cy Leo (harmonica)

Cole Palensky (tenor saxophone)

Carlin Lee (piano)

Anton Kot (drums)

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