Legendary Japanese free jazz reedist Akira Sakata's first release on the Ftarri label, in a concert with sound artist and synthesist Ken Ikeda, recording live at Fatrri's own Tokyo space in two improvised performances of approximately 30 minutes each of subtle, expressive interactions through even-tempered discourse and spacious patience, punctuated by Sakata's bell.
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Akira Sakata-alto saxophone, clarinet, bells
Ken Ikeda-synthesizer
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Label: Ftarri
Catalog ID: ftarri-960
Squidco Product Code: 33927
Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2022
Country: Japan
Packaging: Cardstock Sleeve, Sealed
Recorded live at Ftarri, in Tokyo, Japan, on May 21st, 2022.
"Alto saxophone and clarinet player Akira Sakata is a legend of Japan's free jazz scene. Ken Ikeda is a musician who resided for many years in New York and London, and has been based in Tokyo since his return to Japan from the UK in 2020. In 2021, Ikeda released Signal and Signaless, a duo CD with Rie Nakajima, on the Ftarri label. This album, GAUCHE, is Sakata's first release from Ftarri.
On May 21, 2022, Akira Sakata and Ken Ikeda gave a duo concert at Ftarri, Tokyo. This CD consists of two improvised performances (29 and 36 minutes long) from that concert. Sakata played alto sax, clarinet and several types of bells, while Ikeda played synthesizer.
When people think of Akira Sakata, they usually think of the kind of extremely powerful, ferocious performances he gave many years ago with the Yosuke Yamashita trio-but on this album we hear a different Sakata. Perhaps influenced in part by Ikeda, whose distinctive electronic sound features smooth and supple timbres, Sakata's winds playing throughout is calm and composed-the epitome of self-possession. Partway through, he rings bells in silent spaces, adding further to the broadminded mood.
This superb album was born of the auspicious combination of these two musicians' distinctive musical styles."-Ftarri
Artist Biographies
• Show Bio for Akira Sakata "Akira Sakata (坂田明; born 21 February 1945 in Kure, Hiroshima) is a Japanese free jazz saxophonist. Sakata began studying music seriously at high school, where he played clarinet.[1] He played alto sax in a jazz band when at Hiroshima University.[1] He trained as a marine biologist. Sakata joined the Yamashita Yosuke Trio from 1972 till 1979 and toured internationally with them. In 1986, he performed with Last Exit with Bill Laswell. This performance was released as 1987's Noise of Trouble: Last Exit Live in Tokyo. Laswell went on to play bass on and produce Sakata albums such as Mooko, Silent Plankton and Fisherman's.com, the last of which also featured the reclusive Pete Cosey (who had worked with Miles Davis) on guitar.[2] In 1994, Sakata organized a one-month tour of Uzbekistan, Mongolia and China with the Flying Mijinko Band, consisting of 14 members from Japan, Africa and America. Some of those included were Laswell, Anton Fier and Foday Musa Suso. He has more recently worked with DJ Krush[3] and Chikamorachi (Darin Gray and Chris Corsano)." ^ Hide Bio for Akira Sakata • Show Bio for Ken Ikeda "Ken Ikeda is a video artist and composer born in Tokyo (1964) , currently a resident in New York. He has exhibited sound art and visual installations around the world and has collaborated with painter Tadanoori Yokoo and artist Mariko Mori. Mist On The Window is his third album, following Tzuki (2000) and Merge (2003) both from Touch label and Mist on the Window (2007) from SPEKK." ^ Hide Bio for Ken Ikeda
4/24/2024
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
4/24/2024
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Track Listing:
1. Gauche 1 29:58
2. Gauche 2 36:06
Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Jazz
Asian Improvisation & Jazz
Recordings by or featuring Reed & Wind Players
Piano & Keyboards
Duo Recordings
New in Improvised Music
Search for other titles on the label:
Ftarri.
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