Akira Sakata (alto sax, cl, vo) is one of the most well known and respected Japanese free jazz players, he will be performing with London-based Japanese performer Yumi Hara Cawkwell (key, vo) and guest drummer Charles Hayward. Performance includes audience participatory pieces devised by Akira Sakata.

AKIRA SAKATA

Akira Sakata is one of the most well

known and respected free jazz players and a household name in Japan, and he has performed in continental Europe, and collaborated with many international musicians such as Bill Laswell and Jim O’Rouke. However, his only appearance in the UK was in the ‘70s with the Yamashita Yousuke Trio, and this will be the first occasion for London audience to experience one of his live performances which will draw on a wide range of musical influences such as Japanese traditional folk music and Western art music.

http://www.warabi.ne.jp/~daphnia-pulex/english/e_profile.html

YUMI HARA CAWKWELL

Yumi Hara Cawkwell is a UK based Japanese composer/performer. Her groundbreaking works, challenging geographical boundaries and the divisions between genres, gained critical acclaim and several awards,and she was a finalist in the British Composer Awards 2006. She is currently collaborating with Hugh Hopper (Soft Machine) as HUMI and Geoff Leigh (ex-Henry Cow). HUMI's debut album 'Dune' gained her international recognition and she is number four jazz keyboard player in the 30th Annual Jazz Station Poll. She is a lecturer in Music at the University of East London.

www.yumiharacawkwell.co.uk

CHARLES HAYWARD

Charles Hayward is known as the pioneering drummer with This Heat and Camberwell Now. He has an ever growing list of solo concerts and cds [most recent release "Abracadabra Information" on Locus Solus label], special collaborative performances, and is in Massacre with Bill LASWELL and Fred FRITH. Committed to song 'but the shapes have to change', his current one-man show is an intoxicating mix of percussive attack, swirling electronics and lyrical fragment collage. Recent projects include Clear Frame with Lol COXHILL, Hugh HOPPER and Orphy ROBINSON.

Official event of JAPAN-UK 150.