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New York-based jazz pianist & composer and de trois cités records recording artist, Takeshi Asai has been performing in jazz clubs and concert halls in New York, Paris, Tokyo, and other cities in Europe and Asia, as a solo pianist or in ensembles. As acclaimed as “amazingly fluid,” “sensuous,” “so romantic, so wise and so beautiful...” by critiques in the three continents, his brilliant piano improvisation and sophisticated compositions have made him an unique talent in today’s international jazz scene.
In addition to his well-established performing career, he has been known as a keen composer and a producer to theaters, films, singer/songwriters and numerous acoustic and electric composition projects. He is an honor graduate from Berklee College of Music. He currently lives in Westchester, New York with his wife.
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“The emerging jazz pianist in New York City (2013)” Takeshi Asai has actively been performing in Europe, Asia and the the United States for the last ten years. Authentic yet eclectic, his piano style has been acclaimed for the highest artistry and the catchiness, which you can find in any pieces he plays, whether it’s his original or a standard. In fact, his latest CD “Takeshi Asai French Trio Vol. 1” which was recorded in France in 2013, was praised for the sophistication and the eclecticism, “A fresh perspective,... jazz, classical and pop that is combined in a way that is fresh and extremely musical."
Takeshi’s previous CD, “Takeshi Asai New York Trio Vol. 1” which was recorded in New York with New York’s cutting-edge jazz musicians has been reviewed as “The biggest surprise since the beginning of the year in the jazz trio category" by Robert Ratajczak, RadioJAZZ.fm. As it shows, Takeshi’s music contains both authenticity to the style of jazz in New York and the most creative styles of music coming from his cultural background, solid piano technique and the highly sophisticated composer’s mind. As a scholarship student, Takeshi has studied jazz piano performance, classical piano technique and composition at Berklee College of Music in Boston, with the notable professors such as Ed Bedner, Ed Tomassi, Joanne Brackeen and Laszlo Gardoney.
As a jazz pianist, he was the pianist/composer for the award-winning jazz ensemble, WaFoo in his early career in New York. Recently, he has been working on the international concert series called “A Tale of Three Cities - Le Conte de Trois Cités” with French pianist Catherine Schneider, and "Barbotte Asai Duo" wtih Masaé Gimbayashi-Barbotte. The duo will tour in Paris, New York, Tokyo and Kobe in 2014/2015 season. In his adapted hometown, New York, he has been working on his “phenomenal” jazz group "Takeshi Asai New York Trio" and have performed in prestigious jazz clubs such as The Kitano New York, Somethin' Jazz Club, Cleopatra's Needle, Caffe Vivaldi, Kavehaz, Drom, The Knitting Factory, Tomi Jazz, Garage, Silvana, Cafe Winberie, Glen Rock Inn, and Lenox Lounge. In Europe, Takeshi plays with his newest jazz project "Takeshi Asai French Trio" in music festivals and clubs in France for the past three years. The new CD of the trio "Takeshi Asai French Trio Vol. 1" received the highest review not only in Europe but also in New York. The trio continues to perform in Europe.
As a composer, he was the arranger and producer for a new theater project called “Hunger - A Love Story.” In 2012, he was commissioned by an internationally acclaimed piano duo, the Long Sisters and wrote a two-piano composition “Shunlai (or Spring Thunder)” to add a jazzy side to duo’s well-established repertoire. The composition was premiered in Boston’s Jordan Hall, and became a sensation. Writing pure classical music, Broadway theaters, film music, and producing singer/song-writers in New York, his schedule is always filled with a variety of music projects.
In 2012, under the concept “Genre is not a boundary,” he has established a new record label, “de trois cités records” to work with the ilk of the same creative minds to spread his musical vision. In the following year, he created a production company and named “DTC Music Productions.” Some of his film compositions have been distributed by an Italian, Rome-based company “Have a Sync” since 2013.
As a modern composer living in the digital age, he has had a keen voice in electric/digital music too, and launched a project called “le projet électrique” in 2012. He has also been collaborating with artists and photographers in France and New York, making him one of the busiest music professional in New York, Paris and Tokyo.
He currently lives in New York with his wife.
Email: i@takeshiasai.com
Official website: www.takeshiasai.com
