Album Review: Aki Takase JAPANIC «Forte»

«Forte» is the second album by pianist and composer Aki Takase and her band JAPANIC.

The second album by the outstanding, energetic and tireless pianist and composer Aki Takase and her band JAPANIC has just been released: ‘Forte’. According to Aki Takase herself, there is something of a message in this title: ‘To overcome the harsh reality and to look to the future musically in this time - we want to express an unyielding will with our music.’ The 10 tracks range from a tribute to the painter Frida Kahlo (‘Festa Magdalena’) to another homage to a Japanese dietary supplement that Takase swears by (‘Alinamin Drink’) and an upbeat interpretation of the 1930s standard ‘I'm Confessin’ (That I Love You)’. Some compositions have already appeared on other albums with other line-ups (e.g. Daniel Erdmann's ‘An jeder Kreuzung liegt eine Erinnerung begraben’ or the above-mentioned piece ‘Festa Magdalena’). In addition to the different line-ups and the richness of the content of the pieces, one of the album's strengths is the exchange between the individual band members, the conversations and dialogues, whether composed or improvised. Which is hardly surprising when you consider how long Takase has not only been making music together with the personalities on this album, but living it: Daniel Erdmann (sax) and Dag Magnus Narvesen (dr, perc), both of whom have also contributed compositions, Carlos Bica (bass), Vincent von Schlippenbach (turntable) and guests Nil Wogram (tb) and Alexander von Schlippenbach (p).Manuela Schuster, concertoThis article was published in the June/July issue of «concerto». More information and subscriptions at concerto .

Aki Takase's JAPANIC live at Moods

19NovTue
Album Release «Forte»
- Aki Takase's JAPANIC
  JazzContemporary JazzExperimental Jazz
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