, nicknamed Katsu, is a Japanese

free jazz Free jazz, or free form in the early to mid-1970s, is a style of avant-garde jazz or an experimental approach to jazz improvisation that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when musicians attempted to change or break down jazz conventi ...

pianist. He made his debut in 1962 and has made ten recordings. He has performed throughout Japan, as well as in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and in Europe. In 1995 he performed in London for the 15th anniversary of

Leo Records Leo Records is a British record company and label, founded in 1979, which releases jazz from Russian, American and British musicians. It concentrates on free jazz. This label is different from the Leo Records that was formed by Edward Vesala i ...

. In 2000 he performed at the Florida Jazz and Blues Festival. Itakura began studying classical music at the age of 7. His work combines composition and improvisation and is often humorous in nature. He has performed or recorded with Kenny Millions,

Peter Brötzmann Peter Brötzmann (6 March 1941 – 22 June 2023) was a German jazz saxophonist and clarinetist regarded as a central and pioneering figure in European free jazz. Throughout his career, he released over fifty albums as a bandleader. Amongst his m ...

Dave Holland Dave Holland or David Holland may refer to: *Dave Holland (bassist) David Holland (born 1 October 1946) is an English double bassist, bass guitarist, cellist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has ...

, Scott Robinson, Bruce Eisenbeil and Stephen Flinn. Since 1985, he has curated the music series at Club Ornette in Ashikaga, Japan.

References

External links

Katsuyuki Itakura official site
Japanese jazz pianists 1943 births 2014 deaths 21st-century Japanese pianists Leo Records artists {{Jazz-pianist-stub