Aki Takase

Japanese-born pianist Aki Takase started keyboard lessons at age three and never looked back. After honing her jazz skills in Germany and the United States Takase formed a celebrated trio, in between performing and recording with the likes of Dave Liebman, Sheila Jordan, Cecil McBee, Lester Bowie and Joe Henderson. She formed a duo with David Murray, and won awards for some of her solo recordings. Her Aki Takase Plays Fats Waller CD was hailed as the Best Jazz Album of 2004 by Germany’s jazz critics, which she followed up with three diverse recordings ranging from duets with Lauren Newton to a piano quintet. Please join us in welcoming this versatile and fearless improviser for her JazzFest debut.