カリブ海と日本を拠点に両地域で活躍するカリビアンフルートの第一人者。
両地域の文化交流を積極的に展開し、その功績が高く評価され、2005年にはプエルトリコのユネスコから表彰されている。
03年、08年には自身のグループを率いてのカリブ海ツアーを敢行し大きな評判を呼んだ。
グラミー賞受賞ピアニスト、ミシェル・カミロとのデュオ２曲を含む『カリビアン・フルーツ』（07年）に続き、09年に15作目となる『フルーツ・ジャムfeaturing赤木りえ』を発表。
2012年8月、プエルトリコの「カロリーナ・インターナショナル・ジャズフェスティバル」に出演し、オープニング・ナイトのメイン・アクトをつとめ、10000人の観客から喝采をあびた。2014年10月16作目で全曲プエルトリコ録音「カフェ・コン・レチェ」を発表。
またここ数年は後進の育成にも力を注ぎ、各地でのフルート・クリニックや吹奏楽の指導を積極的に行っている。NHK「歴史秘話ヒストリア」「花子とアン」などのフルート演奏でも知られている。東京藝術大学　器楽科（フルート専攻）卒業

By making the full use of her excellently trained classic background, Rie Akagi is the only female flutist in Japan who can perform salsa/latin jazz and soul jazz with a startling aggressiveness. Known to be the leading Caribbean Flutist for her “Magic Flute”, she has gained great reputation from the Caribbean Seas and around the world as one of the promising contemporary performers, ripe and blooming.

The Big Guys of the salsa world such as Tito Puente, Larry Hallow, Willie Colon or Michel Camilo, Dave Valentin from the jazz scene have all recognized the energetic performance and great technique of Rie Akagi.

She has performed at famous jazz festivals such as “The Concord Jazz Festival” in San Francisco, “Jazz Plaza in Cuba”, “Noche y Galería”, ”Carolina International Jazz Festival 2012” in Puerto Rico and has received a full standing ovation from the excited audience everywhere she went.

One opportunity, which made her name known outside Japan was the six months stay in Puerto Rico as a Culture Exchange member dispatched from the Japanese Government. Even though the stay was short, she actively performed in various occasions such as the Japan/Puerto Rico Friendship Concert held at the National Museum of Arts (co-sponsored by the Japanese Consulate in New York) or performing together with Luis Perico Ortiz, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Cacheto Maldonado (Batacumbele & Los Majaderos), Pedro Guzman and many other top artists concerts or recordings.

In 1985, she made her first album debut. She has recorded up to now 17 albums, including the albums, Isla Verde (2011), The Promised Land (Isla del Encanto) (2002), Moon Island (Perla del Caribe) (2003), Café con Leche (2014), the producer of each of these albums was Luis “Perico” Ortiz / producer. The albums were recorded and distributed in Puerto Rico. Caribbean Flutes (Flautas Caribeña) (2007) had the participation of GRAMMY AWARDS® winner Michel Camilo who recorded two songs in New York.

Rie Akagi went to Puerto Rico to promote the Isla Verde album which was welcomed enthusiastically by the people and the media.

In 2020, Rie Akagi made her dream come true with her album La Flauta Mágica which was produced by Fania All Stars Legend, Larry Harlow, and it is sparking big sensation with latin lovers all over the world.
Furthermore, in 2003 and 2008 she made The U.S ~The Caribbean Seas tour with great success. Since then she has been performing periodically in and around Puerto Rico.

In 2005, she was a “Professora Invitada” at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico to give a lecture on Japanese Culture. She has also been invited as Professor for the Conservatorium of Music of Puerto Rico, founded by the late Pablo Cazals. Considering all the important duties she has worked upon with great effort, the UNESCO office in Puerto Rico awarded her for contributing deeply to cultural exchange among different regions. Her vital role between Japan and Puerto Rico has been highly evaluated and appreciated. Her approach towards music is borderless, take a look at her works in Japan.

Rie Akagi has formed a latin/soul jazz unit in 2006, and has also been experimenting with different units adding musical essence from India and Spanish flamenco. Not to mention performances in contemporary music and classical music, she shows her talents by writing and arranging songs .
She has written flute score books such as Flute Pieces by Rie Akagi (Ongaku-no-tomo-sha), Let’s Play the Flute (Ongaku-no-tomo-sha), and Easy Ways to Play the Flute (Seibido).
Graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts & Music, Wind and Percussion Instruments Course (Flute major).

BIOGRAPHY

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