While still influenced by the Japanese musical traditions, Aki Takase is a pianist and composer. Her work ranges from traditional structures and harmonies to total abstraction. She was born in Osaka, Japan, on January 26, 1948. She was raised in Tokyo and received her first piano lessons when she was three years old. After that, she went on to study at Tohogakuen Music University. Takase was influenced by Charles Mingus and John Coltrane. She began to perform professionally in 1971, at the age of 25. She first visited the U.S. in 1978 and recorded with Dave Liebman. In 1981, Takase also traveled to Europe where she and her trio performed at the Berlin Jazz Festival. Takase began to regularly be in the studio by 1982, performing on such shows as A.B.C. Perdido. Sheila Jordan recorded in New York with Cecil McBee and Bob Moses. She also performed at the East-West Festival, Nuremburg. Takase was a regular performer in a duo with Maria Joao from 1988 to 1994. She also maintained a busy festival schedule. In the mid-’90s she also toured extensively with Coltrane alumni Rashied Ali, Reggie Workman and formed a septet of Japanese musicians. Allmusic
