This duo possesses a special quality. The Japanese pianist--now 78 and a long-time resident of Berlin--manages to transform both individuality and universality into immense musical power. She has performed with legends ranging from Joe Henderson to David Murray and garnered numerous awards, most recently the German Jazz Prize for lifetime achievement. Her bands have long served as launchpads for the inventive avant-garde. Daniel Erdmann, whom Takase recruited for her Berlin sextet in the 1990s as a student, the newcomer had already proven his mettle in ensembles at the Hanns Eisler School of Music, where Takase was a visiting professor. It was a stroke of luck for both parties: he was able to launch a strong career in the scene, while she gained a powerful tenor saxophonist with a keen ear for tone.
Recording 'Timeless' took place over two days last autumn in Berlin, with rarely more than two takes per track. The repertoire was already firmly rooted in the duo's shared musical language ('We both really enjoy rehearsing and playing lots of concerts'). They incorporated a Thelonious Monk standard ('In Walked Bud') and a motif by Franz Schubert, while the rest of the material was original. For two tracks, 'DJ Illvibe' (Vincent von Schlippenbach) joined the team, contributing turntables that weave through the rhythms. Musically, this energy leads to subtle associations, as in 'Niigata,' a sonic portrait of the Japanese city of the same name,or to shimmering hints of dance that dissolve into improvisation ('Eyes Of Wind'). It gives rise to storytelling that unfolds like intertwining vines ('Fire And Water'), to soundscapes with Impressionist roots ('Suiteki'), to playing with the shifting elasticity of time ('Miniatur'), and even to rhythmic, percussive power ('Reveal Our Identity'). In doing so, *Timeless* becomes something exceptional: a celebration of creativity born from the dialogue between two personalities who are seriously playful.

Track Listing

• Reveal Our Identity
• Niigata
• Eyes of Wind
• Daniel, My Time
• Fire and Water
• In Walk Bud
• Suiteki
• Dark Carnival
• Ende Gut, Alles Gut
• Love Collection
• Miniatur
• Time Travel
• Reveal My Identity

Additional Details

Label: Enja records

Genre: Jazz

Language: English

Run Time: 52:05 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 11/06/26

UPC: 767522987829