 Tatsu
Aoki is one of the most recorded, talked-about bassists
on the Chicago music scene. A prolific artist, composer,
musician, educator and a consummate bassist, he works in
a wide range of musical styles, ranging from traditional
Asian music and jazz, to creative free and experimental
music.
Aoki is founder and artistic director of the Chicago Asian
American Jazz Festival, which debuted in October 1996 and
had six straight successful seasons. Currently national
in scope, the annual event is now known as "Asian American
Jazz," and is held in several cities (San Francisco,
Chicago). The 2007 Chicago celebration is scheduled for
October.
Aoki has recorded eight bass albums, eight duet albums
with various other artists, 13 ensemble works, and has appeared
as a guest artist on over 60 other albums internationally.
With works ranging from solo to larger ensemble, from mainstream
to avant garde, Aoki has worked with many musical legends,
including Fred Anderson, Von Freeman, George Freeman, Malachi
Favors Maghostut, Don Moye, Mwata Bowden, Jhon Watson, Sonny
Seals, Eric Leonardson, Francis Wong and Carol Genetti.
Among the variety of works produced in the last 15 years,
his solo bass performance and recordings are internationally
acclaimed, and known for one of the most innovative approaches
of the bass instrument.
Aoki, who was named president of Asian Improv Records (AIR)
in 1999, served as executive producer on Anthony Brown's
Asian American Orchestra piece, Ellington-Strayhorn's "Far
East Suite," (AIR0053), for which the label received
a Grammy Award nomination in 1999.
As a producer, Aoki has produced over 30 albums, including
the legendary Max Roach and Jon Jang’s “Beijing
Trio,” (AIR 0044), as well as projects in the hip
hop arena, and a number of other projects in the Asian Pacific
American arts, such as film and concert series.
Aoki's most prolific work to date is, "ROOTED: Origins
of Now," a four-suite, approximately 50-minute piece,
which featured for its world premiere on August 26, 2001,
a 12-piece big band in performance at Ping Tom Memorial
Park in Chicago's Chinatown. Subsequent full house performances
followed on September 1, 2001 at the Chicago Jazz Fest in
Grant Park, and on October 27, 2001 at the Museum of Contemporary
Art, as the highlight of Asian American Jazz Festival 2001:
Chicago.
Citing "ROOTED" as the most important work of
his career, Aoki was recently named one of 16 inspirational
"Chicagoans of the year" by the Chicago Tribune
(December 30, 2001.) The Tribune stated that "ROOTED"
had "come into its own as an eloquent, often dramatic
merger of ancient Japanese music and experimental American
jazz."
"ROOTED: Origins of Now" the CD (S-SSD 0092 October
2001) is a project of The Jazz Institute of Chicago Sound
Archive and Recordings, and is available via distributors
SOUTHPORT and Asian Improv Records.
As a producer, the Aoki name is behind a number of other
significant projects in the arts, including recordings,
film and concert series. Born in Japan the son of artisans,
Tatsu Aoki is a graduate of The School of the Art Institute
of Chicago, where he received bachelor and master of fine
arts degrees, and where he is currently an assistant professor
in film. |
