Aki Takase's phenomenal technique and her talent for improvisation is well known, as is her love for the jazz classics. She has already paid tribute to Fats Waller and recorded with Saxophoneophonist Silke Eberhard an "Ornette Coleman Anthology". Now she takes a close look at the arguably most influential jazz pianist of the jazz tradition: Duke Ellington.

Aki Takase examines Ellington's playing from numerous angles throughout the album and within each track. Rather than quote or paraphrase Ellington compositions to contextualize this idea, Takase concentrates on the building blocks of his piano vocabulary – the articulations, voicings and devices that convey colors and fragrances. As a result, she sets a wealth of stylistic markers afloat, untethered to an Ellington composition, where they can be heard anew. Bill Shoemaker writes in the liner notes: "What cannot be overstated is Takase's depth of feeling here and throughout My Ellington; it is something rare and profound."

Cover art and graphic design: Jonas Schoder
Photo: Norbert Guthier
Liner notes: Bill Shoemaker

Compositions by Duke Ellington except «Lotus Pond» by Aki Takase. Recorded April 16, 17, 2012, by Kulturradio vom Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg. Sound supervisor: Wolfgang Hoff. Sound engineer: Nikolaus Löwe. Digital cut and mastering: Anne-Kristin Sölter. Radio producer: Ulf Drechsel. Produced by Intakt Records, Patrik Landolt.