Kei Akagi

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Kei Akagi
Born (1953-03-16) March 16, 1953 (age 71)
Japan
GenresJazz, jazz fusion
Instrument(s)Piano
Websitewww.aomori-net.ne.jp/~yamagen/kei/top.htm

Kei Akagi (ケイ 赤城/赤城 恵, Akagi Kei, born March 16, 1953)[1] is a Japanese American jazz pianist. In particular, he is known for his work with the Airto Moreira/Flora Purim group and in Miles Davis's band in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

He was born in Japan, but lived in Cleveland, Ohio, for part of his childhood, until he moved back to Japan at the age of 12. He later returned to the United States at 22. He is associated with the Californian jazz scene at present. He is the Chancellor Professor of Music at the University of California, Irvine.

Discography[edit]

As leader/co-leader[edit]

Year recorded Title Label Year released Notes
1983 Symphonic Fusion – The Earth Nippon Columbia 1983 Soundtrack
1991 Playroom Moo 1992 Some tracks trio, with Bob Harrison and John Patitucci (bass; separately), Tom Brechtlein (drums); most tracks quartet, with Rick Margitza (tenor sax, soprano sax) added
1991 Sound Circle Paddle Wheel 1992 As The Asian American Jazz Trio; with Rufus Reid (bass), Akira Tana (drums)
1994? Mirror Puzzle Audioquest 1994 Quartet, with Rick Margitza (tenor sax, soprano sax), Charles Fambrough (bass), Willie Jones III (drums)[2]
1998 New Smiles and Traveled Miles Groove Note 2000 Trio, with Darek Oleszkiewicz (bass), Joe LaBarbera (drums)
1999 Viewpoint Video Arts 2000 Trio
2001 Palette Video Arts 2001 Some tracks trio, with Tomokazu Sugimoto (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums); some tracks trio with Nobuyoshi Ino (bass), Hiroshi Murakami (drums); some tracks quartet, with Kousuke Mine (tenor sax, bass clarinet) added[3]
2002 Grand New Touch Video Arts 2003 Duo, with Fumio Karashima (piano)
2003 A Hint of You Video Arts 2003 Trio, with Tomokazu Sugimoto (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums)
2003 Modern Ivory Video Arts 2004 Trio, with Tomokazu Sugimoto (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums)
2005 Live – Shapes in Sound Video Arts 2006 Trio, with Tomokazu Sugimoto (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums); in concert
2007 Liquid Blue Time & Style 2007 Trio, with Tomokazu Sugimoto (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums)
2014 Circlepoint Time & Style 2014 Trio, with Shunya Wakai (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums)
2016 Contrast & Form Time & Style 2016 Trio, with Shunya Wakai (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums)
2017 Aqua Puzzle Time & Style 2018 Trio, with Shunya Wakai (bass), Tamaya Honda (drums)

As sideman[edit]

With Miles Davis

With Frank Gambale

With Allan Holdsworth

  • Frankfurt '86 (Live, 2020)[CD & DVD-Video]

With Al di Meola

With James Newton

  • Suite for Frida Kahlo (AudioQuest Music, 1994)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gilbert, Mark (2002). "Akagi, Kei". In Barry Kernfeld (ed.). The new Grove dictionary of jazz, vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 21. ISBN 1561592846.
  2. ^ Valley-Entertainment.com
  3. ^ Pronko, Michael (18 July 2001). "Kei Akagi". The Japan Times. Retrieved 10 January 2018.

External links[edit]


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