Dempa - Nine Fragments (2002)

A delightful romp in a modernistic vein, this splendid, upbeat recording by the supremely talented pianist Aki Takase is distinguished both for its wondrous intensity and diversity of endeavor. Through her remarkably eclectic discography, the pianist has shown her respect for the history of jazz. Here, the jazz element might seem secondary, but it is always there beneath the surface, as swirls of electronics (performed by each of the players) and Aleksander Kolkowski's careening violin smash up against Takase's powerful fingers, leading to new and marvelous configurations that absorb the past and twist it in uncommon ways. The melodic content is subordinate to a rhythmic and structural logic, yet there are supremely beautiful sections, and the violinist hints at a plethora of musical influences, from rock to hard bop to modern classical. Kolkowski plays the role of horn, weaving, retreating, and marching forward. The pianist alternates between boppish lines and freestyle clusters, while seemingly random electronic bursts ping-pong off Kolkowski's strings. Tony Buck's drums are finely integrated in an almost orchestral fashion. On the decidedly off-balance "Jasmin Tea," Takase's Chinese koto fast-forwards to a 21st century abstraction that is spurred on by Buck's drums. The joys run through every piece, with the final and lengthy "Where Europe Begins" a highlight of sorts in an album filled with peaks. What Takase accomplishes -- which is no mean feat -- is again to keep the listener off guard, while retaining a surprising accessibility.