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Release Date: 16 October 2026
Label: Enja
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 767522987829
Genres: Jazz Contemporary
Description
Duo recording by Japanese pianist Aki Takase and German saxophonist Daniel Erdmann. Takase now 78 and a long-time resident of Berlin 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. Working alongside her offers a unique opportunity for artistic growth - as was the case for Daniel Erdmann, whom Takase recruited for her Berlin sextet in the 1990s.
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, turntablist DJ Illvibe (Vincent von Schlippenbach) joined the team, contributing sonic textures that weave through the rhythms. Yet the foundation remains the duo's own energy.
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.
Tracklisting
Ya Voy
the bottomline
Franco Ambrosetti
Claus Raible
ADHD
Brainteaser Orchestra
Aki Takase & Daniel Erdmann
Or Bareket
Aki Takase & Daniel Erdmann
