(born January 26, 1948) is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer.
Biography Takase was born in Osaka and started to play piano at age 3. Raised in Tokyo, she studied classical piano at Toho Gakuen School of Music.Ankeny, Jason "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 18, 2013. Starting in 1978, Takase began performing and recording in the US. Her collaborators have included Lester Bowie, Sheila Jordan, David Liebman, and John Zorn. Her first European appearance was in 1981 at the Berlin Jazz Festival in Germany. Through her constant touring and appearances at international jazz festivals, Takase quickly became one of the most sought-after musicians for recording and collaboration.
For many years, she has worked with her husband Alexander von Schlippenbach (also a pianist), as well as with Eugene Chadbourne, Han Bennink, Evan Parker, Paul Lovens, Fred Frith and many others, and in duets with Maria João, Louis Sclavis, David Murray and Rudi Mahall.
In various projects, Takase has dealt with the respective oeuvres of numerous famous jazz musicians, including the works of Duke Ellington (1990), Thelonious Monk (1994), Eric Dolphy (1998), W.C. Handy (2002), Fats Waller (2004), and Ornette Coleman (2006). Given her training and adventurous spirit, Takase's new projects exist as a genre between contemporary music and jazz. These include her project YOKOHAMA (Intakt 2009) with Louis Sclavis, KANON (doubtmusic 2011) with Kazuhisa Uchihashi and Axel Dörner or "Hotel Zauberberg" with Ayumi Paul in 2014 (Intakt Records).
LA PLANETE w/ Louis Sclavis, Vincent Courtois, Dominique Pifarely. LOK.03 w/ Alex v. Schlippenbach and DJIIIVibe. „TAMA“ w/ Jan Roder, Oliver Steidle.“ „Reading and Music“ performance w/ Yoko Tawada . With her quintett JAPANIC (26. April 2019/ BMC) Aki Takase brings together Contemporary Jazz and Improvisations.“ AUGE“ w/ Christian Weber and Michael Griener. Cities in the Piano : dance +piano w / Yui Kawaguchi. 2023 Carmen Rhapsody] with Mayumi Nakamura, Daniel Erdmann. Vincent Courtois. The CD was published in February by BMC Records. 2023 AAPD Duo with Alexander von Schlippenbach Four Hands Piano Pieces The CD and LP were published in May by Trost Records. 2024 Duo ELLINGTON with Daniel Erdmann was published in March by enja Records. 2024 Japanic FORTE was published in April by BMC Records with Daniel Erdmann, DJlllvibe, Carlos Bica, Dag Magnus Narvesen also as Guest with Nils Wogram and Alexander von Schlippenbach.
Since 1988, Takase has lived in Berlin.
Award: „Berliner Zeitung“Award (the best Artists of 1999 in the Berlin Newspaper) „The „SWR Jazz“ Award 2002. CD „Cherry-Sakura“ with David Murray „The German Record Critics „ Award(2017/2) „The German Record Critics‘ Award also In total she received the awards 9 times (1988–2017). “JAZZ PREIS BERLIN „ Award 2018. „German Jazz Preis“ for Piano/ keyboard Award 2021. „Albert-Mangelsdorff Preis“ Award 2021. „German Jazz Preis“ with Daniel Erdmann for Live Act of the year was nominated 2024.
Discography An asterisk (*) after the year indicates that it is the year of release.
As leader/co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes1978AkiKingTrio, with Nobuyoshi Ino (electric bass, cello), Takuji Kusumoto (drums, percussion)1981*Minerva's OwlTeichiku UnionQuartet, with Dave Liebman (tenor sax, soprano sax), Nobuyoshi Ino (bass), Motohiko Hino (drums)1981EspritTeichiku UnionOne track solo piano; most tracks duo, with Yoshio Ikeda (bass)1981Song for HopeEnjaTrio, with Nobuyoshi Ino (bass), Takeo Moriyama (drums); in concert1982ABCTeichiku Union/East WindWith Cecil McBee (bass), Bob Moses (drums), Sheila Jordan (vocals)1982PerdidoEnjaSolo piano and koto; in concert1985Teni MuhoMobysDuo, with Nobuyoshi Ino (bass, percussion)1987Looking for LoveEnjaDuo, with Maria João (vocals); in concert1990Shima ShokaEnjaSolo piano1990Gunther Klatt & Aki Takase Play Ballads of Duke EllingtonTutuDuo, with Gunther Klatt (tenor sax)1991Blue MonkEnjaDuo, with David Murray (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet)1992Close Up of JapanEnjaWith Nobuyoshi Ino (bass), Toki String Quartet1993Clapping MusicEnjaTrio, with Reggie Workman (bass), Sunny Murray (drums)1993–94Piano Duets: Live in Berlin 93/94FMPDuo, with Alexander von Schlippenbach (piano); in concert1994Oriental ExpressOmagatoki/EnjaSeptet, with Hiroaki Katayama (baritone sax, tenor sax), Eiithi Hayashi (alto sax, soprano sax), Issei Igarashi (trumpet), Hiroshi Itaya (trombone), Nobuyoshi Ino (bass), Shota Koyama (drums)1997Duet for Eric DolphyEnjaDuo, with Rudi Mahall (bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet)1997TarantellaPsiQuintet, with Aleks Kolkowski (violin), Maurice Horsthuis (viola), Tristan Honsinger (cello), Nobuyoshi Ino (bass); released 20061997ValenciaDuo, with David Murray (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet); in concert2001Le Cahier du BalLeoSolo piano2001St Louis BluesEnjaWith Nils Wogram (trombone), Fred Frith (guitar), Rudi Mahall (bass clarinet), Paul Lovens (percussion)2001Nine FragmentsLeoAs DEMPA; trio, with Aleksander Kolkowski (violin, turntables, electronics), Tony Buck (drums, electronics)2002*DiagonalSound HillsDuo, with Yoko Tawada (vocals)2002News from BerlinVictoDuo, with Konrad Bauer (trombone)2003The DessertLeoDuo, with Rudi Mahall (bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet)2003Plays Fats WallerEnjaWith Thomas Heberer (trumpet), Nils Wogram (trombone), Rudi Mahall (bass clarinet), Eugene Chadbourne (guitar, banjo, vocals), Paul Lovens (percussion)2004Plays Fats Waller in BerlinjazzwerkstattWith Thomas Heberer (trumpet), Rudi Mahall (bass clarinet), Eugene Chadbourne (guitar, banjo, vocals), Paul Lovens (percussion); in concert2004ProcreationEnjaQuintet, with Walter Gauchel (tenor sax, flute), Rudi Mahall (bass clarinet), Johannes Fink (bass), Heinrich Köbberling (drums)2004Lok 03LeoWith Alexander von Schlippenbach (piano), DJ Illvibe (samples, turntables)2004Spring in BangkokIntaktDuo, with Lauren Newton (vocals)2006Ornette Coleman AnthologyIntaktDuo, with Silke Eberhard (alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet)2007*TenimuhouDuo, with Nobuyoshi Ino (bass, percussion)2007Something Sweet, Something TenderEnjaSolo piano2011Beauty Is the ThingDoubtmusicAs Kanon; trio, with Axel Dörner (trumpet), Kazuhisa Ushihashi (guitar)2008Live at Willisau Jazz Festival jazzwerkstattQuintet, with Tobias Delius (tenor sax, clarinet), Rudi Mahall (bass clarinet), Johannes Fink (bass), Heinrich Köbberling (drums); in concert2008Iron WeddingIntaktDuo, with Alexander von Schlippenbach (piano)2008EvergreenIntaktWith Rudi Mahall (bass clarinet)2008A Week Went ByPsiSome tracks solo piano; one track duo, with John Tchicai (alto sax); some tracks trio, with John Edwards (double bass) and Tony Levin (drums); in concert2009YokohamaIntaktWith Louis Sclavis (clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone)2009Rolled UpjazzwerkstattAs Tama; trio, with Jan Roder (bass), Oliver Steidle (drums)2011Two for TwoIntaktDuo, with Han Bennink (drums)2011New BluesEnjaMost tracks quintet, with Rudi Mahall (bass clarinet), Nils Wogram (trombone), Eugene Chadbourne (guitar, banjo, vocals), Paul Lovens (drums); one track with Alexander von Schlippenbach (trumpet) added2012My EllingtonIntaktSolo piano2012Flying SoulIntaktQuartet, with Louis Sclavis (clarinet, bass clarinet), Dominique Pifarély (violin), Vincent Courtois (cello)2014So Long, Eric!IntaktWith Tobias Delius (tenor sax), Henrik Walsdorff (alto sax), Axel Dörner (trumpet), Nils Wogram (trombone), Rudi Mahall (bass clarinet, clarinet), Alexander von Schlippenbach (piano), Karl Berger (vibraphone), Wilbert de Joode and Antonio Borghini (bass), Han Bennink and Heinrich Köbberling (drums); in concert2014Hotel ZauberbergIntaktDuo, with Ayumi Paul (violin)2017Cherry SakuraIntaktDuo, with David Murray2018*DITZNERs Carte Blanche – Live At Enjoy Jazz 2017fixcel With Silke Eberhard (alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet), Sebastian Gramss (bass), Erwin Ditzner (drums)2019Thema PrimaBMCWith Japanic: Daniel Erdmann (saxophone), DJ Illvibe (turntables, electronics), Johannes Fink (bass), Dag Magnus Narvasen (drums)2021Isn't It Romantic?BMCDuo, with Daniel Erdmann2021AUGEIntaktTrio, with Christian Weber (bass), Michael Griener (drums)2023 Carmen RhapsodyBMCWith Mayumi Nakamura (voice), Daniel Erdmann(tenor sax, soprano sax), Vincent Courtois (cello)2023Four Hands Piano PiecesTrost records Duo, with Alexander von Schlippenbach2024EllingtonEnjaDuo, with Daniel Erdmann2024FORTEBMCQunitet, with Daniel Erdmann (tenor sax, soprano sax), Vincent von Schlippenbach (turntable), Carlos Bica (bass), Dag Magnus Narvesen (drums)
As sidewoman Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel1989Berlin Contemporary Jazz OrchestraECM1993The Morlocks and Other PiecesFMP1996Live in Japan '96DIW1990AliceEnja2007*Free Zone Appleby 2006Psi2007*Ich hebe meine Augen in die Welt2007Für Paul Kleejazzwerkstatt
Sources:"Intakt Records – Artists: Aki Takase, Piano, Composition". Intakt Records. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
Awards The German Record Critics' Award 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2009, CD "Cherry-Sakura" with David Murray 2017/2. In total she received the awards 9 times (1988–2017). Berliner Zeitung Award (the best Artists of 1999 in the Berlin Newspaper) The SWR Jazz Award 2002. Jazzpreis Berlin, 2018 German Jazz Preis for Piano/Keyboard Award 2021. Albert Mangelsdorff Prize 2021
References
External links Official site (in German, English and Japanese) Aki Takase Representation