Kei Agaki, the last pianist of the Miles Davis Band, plays at Grappa’s Cellar for 2 nights only.
9pm Saturday December 9th - $238
8pm Sunday December 10th - $158
Kei Akagi has been a mainstay of the international jazz world for over two decades. While he is perhaps best known for his work as a member of the Miles Davis band in the late 80s his career also includes extended associations with major figures such as Stanley Turrentine, James Newton, Joe Farrell, Al DiMeola, and Airto Moreira/Flow Purim. He has also performed and recorded with Art Pepper, Blue Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter, Charlie Hayden, Charnett Moffett, Tom Harrell, Bobby Shaw, Eddie Harris, Slide Hampton, Steve Turre, Robin Eubanks, Jeff Watts, Jean-Luc Ponty, Allan Holdsworth, and many significant others.
As a solo artist and leader, Akagi has recorded 12 CDs, including “Mirror Puzzle” (1994), which has won widespread critical acclaim. A 1998 release, “New Smiles and Travelled Miles”, is a tribute to Miles Davis. As a sideman and accompanist, he is on over 60 CDs worldwide, including Miles Davis’ last recording works. His latest works, “Modern Ivory” in 2004 and “Shapes in Time” in 2006 are recorded as a trio with Japanese young lions Tamaya Honda (drums) and Tomokazu Sugimoto (bass).
As a composer, Akagi has written numerous original woks for his own and for fellow recording artists with over 30 compositions currently published. He has also composed modern piano pieces performed by classical musicians internationally. His work even extends to electronic programming and composition for major computer music companies. Akagi’s concert schedule revolves around two major international concert tours a year.
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