Arashi
© Micke
Akira Sakata: alto saxophone, clarinet, voice
Johan Berthling: double bass
Paal Nilssen-Love: drums & percussion
The trio of Scandinavian rhythm section Paal Nilssen-Love (drums) and Johan Berthling (double bass) hooking up with Japanese free jazz legend Akira Sakata (saxophone/clarinet) started in 2013 at the Molde Jazz Festival in Norway. The trio took their name from the legendary 1977 collaborative album by Yosuke Yamashita Trio and dance group Dairakudakan - an album that Sakata was a central part of, that even 40 years later stand solid as a radical and bold musical statement. And this piece of history gives us a clue to where the trio of Nilssen-Love, Berthling and Sakata is aiming for, not by looking back and rethreading what has been done before, but adopting its attitude of kicking the often stale sax/drums/bass-format forward with such force that it feels completely fresh.
“One of the most powerful, exciting working groups... Arashi storms - literally - with an uncompromising force and intensity, as if its own energy produces even more addictive kind of energy, leading to an ecstatic and thunderous tour-de-force.” – Free Jazz Blog
BONESHAKER
PAAL NILSSEN-LOVE
MARTIN KÜCHEN
JOHAN BERTHLING
AKIRA SAKATA / TAKEO MORIYAMA
Johan Berthling: double bass
Paal Nilssen-Love: drums & percussion
The trio of Scandinavian rhythm section Paal Nilssen-Love (drums) and Johan Berthling (double bass) hooking up with Japanese free jazz legend Akira Sakata (saxophone/clarinet) started in 2013 at the Molde Jazz Festival in Norway. The trio took their name from the legendary 1977 collaborative album by Yosuke Yamashita Trio and dance group Dairakudakan - an album that Sakata was a central part of, that even 40 years later stand solid as a radical and bold musical statement. And this piece of history gives us a clue to where the trio of Nilssen-Love, Berthling and Sakata is aiming for, not by looking back and rethreading what has been done before, but adopting its attitude of kicking the often stale sax/drums/bass-format forward with such force that it feels completely fresh.
“One of the most powerful, exciting working groups... Arashi storms - literally - with an uncompromising force and intensity, as if its own energy produces even more addictive kind of energy, leading to an ecstatic and thunderous tour-de-force.” – Free Jazz Blog
RELEASES
LIVE DATES
| 11.12.2025 | JAP – Fukuoka, New Combo |
| 12.12.2025 | JAP – Fukuoka, New Combo (with Otomo Yohihide) |
| 13.12.2025 | JAP – Edaume, |
| 14.12.2025 | JAP – Hiroshima, Lush Life |
| 16.12.2025 | JAP – Kobe, Big Apple |
| 17.12.2025 | JAP – Nagoya, Tokuzo (with Nana Omori) |
| 18.12.2025 | JAP – Chiba, Jazzspot Candy |
| 19.12.2025 | JAP – Tokyo, Koendori Classics (with Suga Dairo) |
| 20.12.2025 | JAP – Tokyo, Koendori Classics (with Yamamoto Tatsu) |
RELATED ARTISTS
AKIRA SAKATABONESHAKER
PAAL NILSSEN-LOVE
MARTIN KÜCHEN
JOHAN BERTHLING
AKIRA SAKATA / TAKEO MORIYAMA
VIDEOS
@ Inage, Candy, Japan
