Takeshi Asai in conversation with CJ Shearn
Hailing from Nagoya Japan, Takeshi Asai is one of New York’s busiest pianists, and a thoughtful, resourceful improviser and composer. He has a huge following in both France and his native Japan and has released 13 records on his Des Trois Cites label, most recently French Trio, Volume 2 featuring Pascal Combeau, bass and Maxime Legrand on drums, and Takeshi Asai Solo: Live in New York. I discussed these two releases with him, his approach to composition, the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, and jazz education. My thanks to Mr. Asai for his generous, warm spirit during our interview. For adventurous tastes, he has just released an electronic album entitled Le Projet Electronique. Remember this podcast is just part of what the New York Jazz Workshop offers– pro and amateur musicians alike can learn from a world class faculty about improvisation, harmony, big band playing, jazz vocals, amongst many other topics. For the New York Jazz Workshop Podcast, I’m CJ Shearn, peace, love, groove and keep swinging, everybody!
I have been the staff writer for the New York Jazz Workshop School of Music blog in midtown Manhattan since 2014, and that has broadened my freelance writing skills considerably. In addition to writing artist bios, and articles of interest that pertain to the mission of the school, I have interviewed (in print on the site) legendary guitarist and NEA Jazz Master Pat Metheny, trumpeter Cuong Vu, and in 2015 embarked on producing a podcast for the school where I have achieved my dream and interviewed jazz giants such as Dave Liebman, Lenny White, rising talents like Thana Alexa, Logan Richardson, guitarist and bassist Brian Kastan, among others. I also work on SEO optimization for the blog. In 2015 I started my blog Jazz Views with CJ Shearn, and have written liner notes for 5 time Grammy winner and Oscar and Golden Globe nominee, Antonio Sanchez (for his latest recording “Channels of Energy”) and guitarist Gene Ess for his latest recording, scheduled to be released in November 2018.
My passion for jazz music is what drives me, which is an interest I’ve had since I can remember. I initially began writing about jazz at the age of 13 for my high school newspaper, and in my late teens contributed occasionally to jazzreview.com. In college I was member of the Harpur Jazz Project which brought jazz acts to campus. I’ve also contributed in the past to AllAboutJazz where I was mentored by John Kelman. I decided to focus on my passion for jazz music journalism after a job in the social services field as a caseworker went south, and as a person with a physical disability I work on going against the odds, living independently and having accomplished things people had said I’d never do.