Akira Sakata (born 21 February 1945) is a Japanese
free jazz
Free jazz is an experimental approach to jazz improvisation that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s when musicians attempted to change or break down jazz conventions, such as regular tempos, tones, and chord changes. Musicians during ...
saxophonist.
Early life
Sakata was born in Hiroshima on 21 February 1945.
He first heard jazz on short-wave radio and
Voice of America
Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the United States of America. It is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international broadcaster. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content ...
, then became more interested in it from listening to film soundtracks.
He began studying music seriously at high school, where he played clarinet.
[Moses, Marc (10 March 1989) "Mixed media event weds new jazz and old film". ''The Japan Times''. p. 15.] He played alto sax in a jazz band when at Hiroshima University.
He trained as a marine biologist and moved to Tokyo in 1969.
Later life and career
Sakata was with the
Yamashita Yosuke
Yamashita (written: lit. "under the mountain") is the 29th most common Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include:
*Akihiko Yamashita (born 1966), Japanese animator
*Ayaka Yamashita (disambiguation), multiple people
*Bruce Yamashit ...
Trio from 1972 to 1979 and toured internationally with them.
In 1986, he performed with
Last Exit with
Bill Laswell
William Otis Laswell (born February 12, 1955) is an American bass guitarist, record producer, and record label owner. He has been involved in thousands of recordings with many collaborators from all over the world. His music draws from funk, ...
.
This performance was released as ''The Noise of Trouble: Live in Tokyo''.
Laswell went on to play bass on and produce Sakata albums such as ''Mooko'', ''Silent Plankton'' and ''Fisherman's.com'', the last of which also featured the reclusive
Pete Cosey
Peter Palus Cosey (October 9, 1943 – May 30, 2012) was an American guitarist who played with Miles Davis' band between 1973 and 1975. His fiercely flanged and distorted guitar invited comparisons to Jimi Hendrix. Cosey kept a low profile for ...
(who had worked with
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of music ...
) on guitar. He later worked with
DJ Krush
, better known by his stage name DJ Krush, is a record producer and DJ. He is known for his atmospheric instrumental production which incorporates sound elements from nature and extensive use of jazz and soul samples.
Early life
Ishi was born in ...
and Chikamorachi (Darin Gray and Chris Corsano).
Sakata's career nearly ended in 2002, when he had a brain haemorrhage.
He had to relearn the saxophone and returned to performing after three months, but still had some remaining restrictions years later.
He is also a television and film actor, as well as being a writer.
"He has created a language of his own which sounds very funny to Japanese listeners and which he uses extensively in his publications and in his appearances as an actor".
Playing style
"His deep commitment to the music is always evident in his playing, as is his humor. In concert, he will occasionally put down his saxophone and simply make vocal sounds into the microphone, the effect of which is often both humorous and musical."
Discography
As leader
* ''Counter Clockwise Trip'' (Frasco, 1975)
* ''Peking'' (Frasco, 1977)
* ''20 Personalities/Akira Sakata Sings'' (Better Days, 1980)
* ''Dance'' (Enja, 1981)
* ''4 O'Clock'' (Better Days, 1981)
* ''Da-Da-Da'' (VariBori, 1985)
* ''Mookoo'' (NEC Avenue, 1988)
* ''Silent Plankton'' (Tokuma, 1990)
* ''Nano Space Odyssey'' (NEC Avenue, 1992)
* ''Friendly Pants'' (Family Vineyard, 2009)
* ''...And That's the Story of Jazz'' (Family Vineyard, 2011)
* ''Soro Wo Tobu'' (King, 2012)
* ''Flying Basket'' (Family Vineyard, 2015)
* ''Proton Pump'' (Family Vineyard, 2018)
* ''Not Seeing Is a Flower'' (Leo, 2018)
References
External links
Official website wit
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sakata, Akira
1945 births
Living people
Japanese musicians
People from Kure, Hiroshima
Musicians from Hiroshima Prefecture
21st-century saxophonists