| Kei Akagi | |
| Background: | non_vocal_instrumentalist |
| Birth Date: | 16 March 1953 |
| Birth Place: | Japan |
| Instrument: | Piano |
| Genre: | Jazz, jazz fusion |
[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.
| 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) |
With Miles Davis
With Frank Gambale
With Allan Holdsworth
With Al di Meola
With James Newton