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Asuka Kakitani (2019 McKnight Composer Fellow) Album Release Concert
June 24, 2023 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm CDT
$15
On Saturday, June 24, the Japanese composer Asuka Kakitani presents a concert at Studio Z (St. Paul, Minn.), to support her new solo percussion album Twelve Months in Minnesota (out on June 30), featuring Eri Isomura and inspired by nature in the state. Kakitani is a 2019 McKnight Composer Fellow and a 2016 JFund awardee (now ACF | create). She was described as a “musical impressionist and supreme colorist” by Hot House Magazine.
Kakitani’s deep love for nature inspires her to transform her vision into musical stories; her mostly-programmatic music results from the inspiration evoked by her surroundings, interweaved with her perspectives and imagination.
“When I moved to Northfield from Brooklyn, in 2016, I became captivated by Minnesota’s vibrant nature,” said Kakitani. “Summer is shockingly colorful and brilliant, and winter is unimaginably cold, but its beauty is breathtaking. The winter night is so dark I cannot see my feet as I walk, but when I look up, I can see many stars. The sunrise and sunset are magical, and clouds are often in fascinating shapes, which I could watch for hours.” Twelve Months in Minnesota consists of 12 movements inspired by nature. “I tried to capture the spirit and feel of particular moments from each month of the year.”
Twelve Months in Minnesota CD Release Concert, featuring Eri Isomura
Studio Z (275 East Fourth Street, Suite 200)
Saint Paul, MN 55101
7:30 p.m. / $15
About Asuka Kakitani
Japanese-born composer Asuka Kakitani’s deep love for nature inspires her to transform her vision into musical stories. Her mostly-programmatic music results from the inspiration evoked by her surroundings interweaved with her perspectives and imagination. Kakitani’s projects span jazz big bands, orchestras, chamber ensembles, and soloists. Kakitani was described as “[a] musical impressionist and supreme colorist” (Hot House Magazine) and her music as “the overflowing world of inspirational melody” (DownBeat Magazine) and “absolutely superb” (All About Jazz).
Kakitani has been the recipient of grants, fellowships, and awards, including the New Music USA Creator Fund, the Eighth Blackbird Creative Lab, the ACF McKnight Composer Fellowship, the JFund for New Music Award (now ACF | create), the Composer Assistance Grants, the BMI Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize, Brooklyn Arts Council Grant, and Minnesota State Arts Board Grants.
