Akira Sakata, Triple Edge

The fourth album by Akira Sakata x Triple Edge is a live recording made in 2024 at Takutaku, the long-established live house in Kyoto. Around Akira Sakata, giant of improvisation, on alto saxophone, clarinet and vocals, the quartet's unchanging line-up of Masayasu Tsuboguchi on piano and synthesizer, Takeharu Hayakawa on bass and Masataka Fujikake on drums is joined by special guest Takayuki Kato, who travelled with the band on its 2024 tour, on electric guitar for three of the four pieces, and by Kyoto's own Hiroshi Funato on contrabass for one: a torrential, once-only performance.

Recorded on February 28, 2024, the set runs 65 minutes. A short Overture opens onto the two parts of the Takutaku Suite, named after Bukkoji and Tominokoji, the two Kyoto streets where the club stands: the first part alone lasts almost 34 minutes, the second over 20. Rakuchu Rhapsody closes the night.

Sakata was born in Hiroshima in 1945 and played in the Yosuke Yamashita Trio in the 1970s. With Triple Edge he had already released a studio album, Live At Pit Inn and Hokuriku on Fulldesign Records. Digipak.

(English translation of the label's Japanese notes, with additional details.)