Aki Takase - Plays Fats Waller (Feat. Eugene Chadbourne) (2004)

Pianist and vocalist Fats Waller composed many songs that have become standards known around the globe, and his freewheeling piano style has rarely if ever been equaled. Japan-bred pianist Aki Takase interprets Waller in a manner the old master himself might enjoy, with lots of zany, irreverent humor and amazing keyboard technique. Those seeking more straight-ahead versions of Waller classics might even be baffled by this disc. However, those tuned in to the lighter side of free jazz (Han Bennink, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Rahsaan Roland Kirk) will delight in this set of Waller gems turned upside-down/inside-out. The release also received German Record Critics Award in 2004.