Jazz pianist Kei Akagi clearly relishes the dual nature of the human mind. This is no surprise coming from someone who has divided his time between the United States and Japan, his college studies between philosophy and music, his musical training between classical and jazz, his jazz playing between electric and acoustic, and his working life between teaching jazz at university by day and performing in jazz clubs at night. These bifurcating experiences have influenced his view of jazz as "heterogeneous" and "inherently unstable."
Akagi's trajectory -- from church music in Cleveland to touring with Airto Moreiro, Joe Farrell, Stanley Turrentine and Miles Davis, to setting up a jazz program at the University of California at Irvine -- has been a fascinating one. His current trio, touring Japan this summer, reflects his experience with vigor, eloquence and a startlingly open approach. Their just-released CD, "A Hint of You," thrives on the dynamics of Akagi's brash, but buoyant piano, Tomokazu Sugimoto's muscular yet lyrical bass, and Tamaya Honda's lean, complex drumming ("Honda thinks like an orchestra," Akagi noted). He took time two weeks ago before a mid-tour gig at Aoyama's Body and Soul to talk about his new trio, jazz and life. The tour continues through September.
When did you get started with jazz?