Alone in Tokuyama

Shoji Aketagawa is an extremely unique character in the history of jazz. The composer and multi-instrumentalist is the owner of the Aketa No Mise jazz club as well as the head of the Aketa’s Disk label, which has put out some of the freakiest selections of Japanese jazz. He’s an extremely freewheeling pianist, smoothly oscillating between structured, lyrical playing and wild improvisation. Strangely, too, he vocalizes with an unusual groan, at times sounding like a farm animal in distress. Alone in Tokuyama is just Aketagawa at his piano without accompaniment, but he manages to bring the force of a full band in his playing. A cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” is the choice cut here, stretching its chorus into an eight minute jam that unravels into free improv, coalesces back into that recognizable melody, and descends into a demented rendition of “Bridal Chorus” by the time it ends.