Aki Takase - Carmen Rhapsody

Aki Takase, the Japanese pianist living in Germany – who has already performed with several formations at Opus Jazz Club and whose albums with Japanic and saxophonist Daniel Erdmann in duo has been released by BMC Records – this time extends her experimental attitude towards classical music. She transforms Bizet's Carmen to a contemporary jazz chamber orchestra with opera singer Mayumi Nakamura; saxophonist Daniel Erdmann, a long-time fellow musician and Aki's former student; and cellist Vincent Courtois. During the two-year creative process, Aki Takase combined Bizet’s classic with elements inspired by John Cage, among others, whose compositional technique and vision also had a major impact on Aki Takase’s musical thinking.