KEI AKAGI, pianist and composer, has been a mainstay of the international jazz world for over two decades. Perhaps best known for his work as a member of the Miles Davis band in the late 1980’s, his career also includes extended associations with major figures such as Stanley Turrentine, James Newton, Al DiMeola, and Airto Moreira. He has performed or recorded with Art Pepper, Blue Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter, Charlie Haden, Charnett Moffett, Tom Harrell, Eddie Harris, Slide Hampton, Steve Turre, Robin Eubanks, Jean-Luc Ponty, Allan Holdsworth, and others. Akagi has recorded 13 CDs as a solo artist and leader. As a sideman and accompanist, he is on over 70 CDs worldwide, including Miles Davis’ last recorded works. He has written numerous works for his own and others’ recordings, with over 40 compositions currently in publication. His main interest recently has been the issue of compositional intent versus interpretational freedom: What is it for a performer to internalize information specified by a composer? What is the minimum amount of information required for a composition to stand as a separate and identifiable entity? Akagi has concentrated on disseminating to Asia the methods and values of American non-notated music; his main concert tours are currently with an ensemble based in Tokyo. He is a recipient of the distinguished title of UCI Chancellor’s Professor. Email: kakagi@uci.edu