Kako Takashi (加古隆) is a renowned composer/pianist for jazz, contemporary Western classical music, and film/TV music. His early free jazz albums are truly amazing, but I'd like to introduce him as a TV music composer in this post. Here is the most famous composition by him "Is Paris Burning" (パリは燃えているか), the theme song of a popular NHK documentary series "The 20th Century on Film" (映像の世紀). (* NHK is something like Japanese BBC.)
He was born in Kyoto in 1947 and grew up being fascinated by Beethoven, Stravinsky, and Art Blakey. After studying at the prestigious Tokyo University of the Arts, he entered the Conservatoire de Paris and started playing free jazz professionally while still attending there. After successful activities in Europe he moved back to Japan to continue his jazz/classical music career. Since 1990s he has became famous as a film/TV music composer as well.
Next one is "Tasogare no Waltz" (黄昏のワルツ), composed for another NHK documentary series "Ningen Document" (にんげんドキュメント). Much more optimistic than "Is Paris Burning"...
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