Aki Takase's JAPANIC

The fact that pianist Aki Takase has a knack for exciting projects is not a cheap joke. Again and again, she has rummaged through jazz history from Fats Waller and Conlon Nancarrow to Ornette Coleman and Eric Dolphy, sometimes solo, sometimes with her shrewd and playful "New Blues" project, which thrilled audiences a good decade ago. Now she has (finally!) formed a new band of ex-students (Daniel Erdmann), companions (Carlos Bica), family members (DJ Illvibe) and a newcomer (Dag Magnus Narvesen), in order to celebrate free jazz of a special kind at eye level, with agility and "high energy". For here freedom reigns, which allows itself the luxury of tipping over into pure entertainment within consciously designed structures. Music full of surprises and twists, whose wit makes the heart beat faster.