Takashi Kako


Takashi Kako is a Japanese pianist and composer, who works in both jazz and art-music idioms.
WWW takashikako.com

Early life

Kako was born in Osaka. He began playing piano at eight years old and learned to play jazz while in his teens.

Later life and career

He attended the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music, receiving both his bachelor's and master's in composition there. Upon graduating, he matriculated at the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied composition under Olivier Messiaen; concurrently, he played jazz in clubs, beginning a long-term association with Kent Carter and Oliver Johnson as a trio. He played with Noah Howard, Masahiko Togashi, and Steve Lacy in the 1970s, and with Togashi again as a duo in the early 1980s. Starting in the mid-1980s, he increasingly moved toward playing solo piano, although he occasionally toured with ensembles as well.
In addition to his performance career, Kako has worked extensively as a composer. He has written scores for traditional ensembles and for film and television, including the 1998 film The Quarry.

Discography

As Emergency

Homage to Peace - Recorded in 1972

As leader/co-leader

Jazz A Maison De Japon, Paris with Mototeru Takagi - livePassage Micro World Paris Days - recorded in 1976Night Music - recorded in 1974Legend of The Sea-Myself - liveTOK with Oliver Johnson, Kent Carter El Al with Toshiyuki Miyama and his New Herd Valencia with Masahiko Togashi L'Aube Twilight Monologues with Masahiko Sato, Aki Takase, Ichiko Hashimoto Solo Concert Poesie Klee Scrawl Kenji Long Journey Symphonic Poem: Spring: Homage to Flowers Estampe Sonore Apocalypse La Collection de l'art du vent Prelude De L'Eau Norwegian Wood Presentimen Moments Tranquilles Waltz With The Wind Kumano Qualtet Blue Sea with Mototeru Takagi, Sabu Toyozumi New Sea with Mototeru Takagi, Sabu Toyozumi

Soundtracks

NHK Special The 20th Century In Moving Images Original Soundtrack Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture The Quarry Shiki-Jitsu Original Soundtrack A Single Drop of Water in a Mighty River Original Soundtrack Letters from the Mountains Original Soundtrack The Great White Tower Original Soundtrack