Kei Akagi is Professor Emeritus of Music at the University of California, Irvine's Claire Trevor School of the Arts, in the Arts and Culture faculty. As former UCI Chancellor's Professor and Director of Jazz Studies, he specializes in jazz piano. Holding a B.A. from International Christian University in Tokyo, Akagi pursued doctoral studies in philosophy at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he composed and orchestrated for the university jazz band and performed locally before becoming a full-time professional musician at age 25. Born in Sendai, Japan, and raised partly in Cleveland, Ohio, he trained at the Cleveland Music School Settlement in piano, theory, and music history. At UCI, he teaches jazz theory, jazz history, performance, improvisation methods, jazz chamber ensembles, and small-group jazz performance, and presents faculty recitals through the UCI Chamber Series.

Pianist and composer Kei Akagi has been a mainstay of the international jazz world for over four decades, with extended collaborations including Stanley Turrentine (1991-2000), James Newton (1985-2000), Miles Davis (1989-1991), Al Di Meola (1986-1988), Joe Farrell (1984-1985), and Airto Moreira and Flora Purim (1979-1985). He has recorded 12 CDs as a solo artist and leader, including "Playroom" (Moo/Mesa Bluemoon, 1992), "Mirror Puzzle" (Audioquest, 1994), which received widespread critical acclaim, "New Smiles and Traveled Miles" (Media Ring, 1998), "Viewpoint" (Video Arts, 2000), "Palette" (Video Arts, 2001), "A Hint of You" (Video Arts, 2003), and "Modern Ivory" (Video Arts, 2004). Notable co-leader recordings include "AAJT - Sound Circle with Rufus Reid and Akira Tana" (Evidence, 1993), and as sideman he appears on over 40 CDs, including Miles Davis's final works such as "Miles in Paris" (WEA Music Video) and "Live Around the World" (Warner Bros.). Akagi has over 30 published original compositions, some performed internationally by classical pianists, and completed a text on jazz theory and composition used in UCI's jazz studies program. Conducting two major international concert tours annually, he retired from UCI in spring 2023.

Professional Email: kakagi@uci.edu