While remaining steeped in the musical traditions of her native Japan, pianist and composer Aki Takase emerged as one of the most versatile figures in contemporary jazz, her work running the gamut from conventional structures and harmonies to complete abstraction. Born in Osaka in 1948 and raised in Tokyo, she received her first piano lessons at the age of three, going on to study at Tohogakuen Music University. Influenced by the work of Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, and Charles Mingus, Takase soon turned to improvisation, and in 1971 was regularly performing professionally. By the age of 25, she was already leading her own groups. In 1978, she first traveled to the U.S., and later recorded with Dave Liebman. In 1981 she also journeyed to Europe, where she and her trio played the Berlin Jazz Festival. By 1982, Takase was regularly in the studio. In New York, she recorded with artists including Sheila Jordan, Cecil McBee, and Bob Moses. From 1988 to 1994, Takase regularly played in a duo with Maria Joao. Recorded a duet with David Murray. During the mid 90s, she also toured with Coltrane alumni Rashied Ali and Reggie Workman. Since 1987 Aki lives in Berlin, intensively working with her husband Alex von Schlippenbach (in duets and with Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra), as well with a lot of other musicians of the European New Jazz (Evan Parker, Paul Lovens, Han Bennink, Tony Oxley, Rudi Mahall, Nils Wolfgram, luis Sclavis, Silke Eberhard, Fred Frith...), having a numerous different projects. She got a lot German Music awards. In 2004 the German record critics award for one of her most interesting and creative projects - Aki Takase Plays Fats Waller.
