Shoko Nagai’s tAKE’N sHADOWS (KAGEFUMI)
Shoko Nagai, composition, piano, Moog
Todd Reynolds, violin
Jonathan Goldberger, guitar & effects
Stomu Takeishi, electric bass
Jim Black, drums
Luke DuBois, video art
The worst curse for a demon who lives between the living
and the dead is the inability to die.
By stepping on a mortal’s shadow, a demon can become a human.
And a demon can die.
On the other hand, a human whose shadow has been stepped
by a demon becomes a demon.
And he or she, now has to find and step on another mortal’s shadow…
An adventurous sonic risk-taker, composer, and pianist, Shoko Nagai creates a new ensemble project that explores the mystery and the wonder of what lies at the essence of contemporary music in tAKE’N sHADOWS (KAGEFUMI). From the elements from contemporary western music and experimental electronic music, Nagai has crafted a white-hot sound – searing and abstract – that surrenders to the ebb and flow of time, evoking another realm, a time and a place, and evokes a dramatic new tale of suspense and intrigue.
Born in Nagoya, Japan, composer, pianist, accordionist, and improviser Shoko Nagai has been evolving as a professional musician for more than 15 years. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in 1999 she moved to New York City and quickly established herself in various scenes performing with such renowned artists as John Zorn, Butch Morris, Frank London, Miho Hatori (CiboMatto), Matana Roberts, Satoshi Takeishi, Erik Friedlander, Elliott Sharp to name a few. Nagai has performed in Paris (at Banlieues Bleues, 2012), in Switzerland (at Rote Fabrik 2012), in Holland (at Bimhuis 2012) Germany (Moers jazzfestival 2006), Japan, Switzerland, Brasil (resfest 2007), Canada (Suoni Popolo festival 2008), and the United States (Freihofer’s Jazz festival 2008). She is a winner of grant from NYFA (2010) and Jazz Jaunts (2008). Nagai also composes and performs for film scores: L’AMOURCACHE (2007), directed by Alessandro Capone and conducted by Butch Morris; ANPO, a documentary film directed by Linda Hoaglund (selected 2011 Toronto film festival, Vancouver film festival, Hong Kong film festival, Poland film festival). In 2013, Nagai composed for a Japanese TV network NHK documentary, Things Left Behind, directed by Linda Hoaglund, which was shown in Japan and in DOC NY film festival.
