Aki Takase Japanic

Another one of Japanese-German pianist Aki Takase’s idiosyncratic projects, Forte is a free-wheeling session influenced both by her faux-swing bands with Rudi Mahall, and her probing chamber style exploratory with Silke Eberhard among others. For further variety she’s expanded her Japanic band for several tracks on this session. On hand are the group’s regular members, saxophonist Daniel Erdmann, percussionist Dag Magnus Narvesen, newish bassist Carlos Bica and turntablist Vincent von Schlippenbach. Guest trombonist Nils Wogram is prominently featured throughout, while pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach, Takase’s husband and Vincent’s father, joins Takase for an affecting reflective and multi-voiced keyboard duet..

Although conflicts could have arisen as dance hall cadences brushed up against DJ vinyl-tricks from the younger Schlippenbach, for the most part his contributions to the otherwise acoustic surroundings are apt. Manipulating backwards running flanges or variations in playback speeds, his processes create counterpoint by altering the timbres of mumbling or pontificating German or English voices. as well as machine-sourced whooshes and vibrations. These novel textures suggest weather changing sounds that at various junctures intersect with piano key clips, cymbal cracks, brass doits and reed growls before restricting themselves to become part of ongoing melodic expositions.

Erdman’s and Wogram’s contributions are more comprehensive and are often presented in tandem. The saxophonist’s ability to excel both at slap-tongue sound fragmentation and heavy, Hard Bop tenor sax pressure sets up tunes whether melodic or martial, while the trombonist’s fleet gutbucket slurs or reflective tone-extending puffs animate tracks from either side of the tonal continuum. Narvesen’s rhythms combine upfront pops and ruffs with restrained rim shots and paradiddles depending on the circumstances, while Takase’s playing is balanced, barrelhouse and on the beat in equal measures.

Expressed with different aims and tempos, the introductory “Festa Magdalena” and the quirky “Japanic Makrokosmos” are distinctive instances of the band’s definition. The first abandons initial formal piano chording for high-pitch glissandi as the harmonized horns slide from horizontal flutter to a soaring marching-band-like motif, doubled with drum beats and culminating in a happy sounding tutti finale. Turntable rumbles muted in “Festa Magdalena” are given free rein on “Japanic Makrokosmos” as rugged buzzes, flanged reconstructions and platter scrapes meet thick double bass stops, gong-like resonations and piano key shakes. By the end percussion thrusts come from both turntable and drum outputs.

As singular as the band title,  Forte moves at a good pace and demonstrates one realized vision of contemporary Jazz.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Festa Magdalena 2. Step Skip Stop 3. An jeder Kreuzung liegt eine Erinnerung begraben 4. Ma non Troppo 5. I Want to Know Sweet Music 6. Japanic Makrokosmos 7. Alinamin Drink 8. Timeless Story* 9. Woe the Row of Foes 10. I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You)

Personnel: Nils Wogram (trombone): Daniel Erdmann (tenor, soprano saxophones); Aki Takase and Alexander von Schlippenbach* (piano); Carlos Bica (bass); Dag Magnus Narvesen (drums, percussion); Vincent von Schlippenbach (turntable)