Asuka Kakitani

Melt was composed in response to a photograph I stumbled upon during the pandemic: a frail polar bear stranded on rapidly melting sea ice, symbolic of the devastating effects of climate change. My heart sank thinking, “What have humans done to this world?”

While my original intent was to capture the polar bear's plight, the composition evolved into a deeper exploration of shared human experiences amidst the pandemic. The bear's narrative began to blur with my own, as I wrote of the coalescence of joy, fear, struggle, and resilience in the icy landscape of life during these challenging times. Like many, my family and I faced our own trials during the pandemic. Yet, in the darkness, we discovered moments of profound connection and joy. Through Melt, I sought to convey the delicate balance between darkness and light, and to seek and cherish the glimmers of hope in our evolving world.

Japanese-born composer Asuka Kakitani's deep love for nature inspires her to transform her vision into musical stories. Her mostly programmatic music results from the inspiration evoked from her surroundings interweaved with her perspectives and imagination. Kakitani's projects span from jazz large ensemble, string quartet, women's vocal quartet, instrumental solo repertoire, and collaborations with choreographers. Kakitani and her music have been described as "A musical impressionist and supreme colorist" (Hot House Magazine), "the overflowing world of inspirational melody." (DownBeat Magazine), and "absolutely superb." (All About Jazz). Kakitani's 2013 debut record, Bloom , was acknowledged as one of the year's best debut albums by DownBeat Magazine Critics' Poll and NPR Music Jazz Critics' Poll. Numerous colleges and ensembles have commissioned and performed her music, including Rikkyo University and Keio University in Japan, the JazzMN Orchestra, the new music ensemble Zeitgeist, Artaria Quartet, and Quince Ensemble. As an advocate of original music, Kakitani co-founded the Twin Cities Jazz Composers' Workshop and Inatnas Orchestra after relocating to MN in 2016. Kakitani has been the recipient of grants, fellowships, and awards, including the BMI Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize, the Manny Albam Commission, the Jerome Fund for New Music Grant from the American Composers Forum, a Brooklyn Arts Council Grant, two Composer Assistance Grants from the American Music Center, the McKnight Composer Fellowship, Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative and Creative Support grants, and was a finalist for the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship. She is currently working on a new recording of her solo percussion suite with Eri Isomura and a dance collaboration with choreographer Paula Mann.