Large Jazz Ensemble
*Great River (2019)
Duration: 6’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
Commissioner: Anoka-Ramsey Community College
First Performance: February 28th, 2020, by the Anoka-Ramsey Jazz Band at Anoka-Ramsey Winter Jazz Festival, MN
Still Dark (2018)
Duration: 7’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass Drums)
First Performance: November 18th, 2018, by the Twin Cities Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra at Studio Z in St. Paul, MN
*Deep Water (2018)
Duration: 6’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
Commissioner: Swingin’ Herd Big Band of Rikkyo University
First Performance: August 22nd, 2018, by Swingin’ Herd Big Band at the Yamano Jazz Big Band Competition in Tokyo, Japan
Dark Woods Where the Wolf Lives (2018)
Duration: 9’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
First Performance: July 15th, 2018, by the Twin Cities Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra at Studio Z in St. Paul, MN
*The Fall (2017)
Duration: 6’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
Commissioner: Swingin’ Herd Big Band of Rikkyo University
First Performance: August 12th, 2017, by Swingin’ Herd Big Band at the Yamano Jazz Big Band Competition in Tokyo, Japan
*Foxy Trot (arrangement) (2015)
Duration: 9’
for 12-piece Jazz Ensemble (Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, 3 Bb Trumpets, 2 Trombones, Piano, Bass, Drums)
Commissioner: Robert Washut at the University of Northern Iowa
First Performance: 2015 by Robert Washut Dodectet at the University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA
17 Years (2013)
Duration: 8’
For 18-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocal)
First Performance: 2013 by the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra at Tea Lounge in Brooklyn, NY
A Wing (2012)
Duration: 10’
For 18-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocal)
First Performance: 2012 by the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra at Tea Lounge in Brooklyn, NY
Ja Ja Ja (2012)
Duration: 9’
For 18-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocal)
First Performance: 2012 by the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra at Tea Lounge in Brooklyn, NYC
Intrapersonal Communication (2011)
Duration: 10’
For 18-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocal)
First Performance: 2011 by the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra at Tea Lounge in Brooklyn, NYC
Bumblebee Garden (2011) recording video
Duration: 8’
For 18-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocal)
First Performance: 2011 the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra at Tea Lounge in Brooklyn, NYC
Suite “Homage to Rothko: Rapture and Melancholy Colors ” (2010)
I. Red, Yellow, Red
II. Dark Paintings
III. Blue Cloud
Duration: 30’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
Supported by American Music Center Performance Assistance Grants
First Performance: 2010 by the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra at Bowery Poetry Club in NYC
Suite “Re-imagining My Childhood” (2009)
I. Makka na Aki (Deep Red Fall)
II. Hiraita, Hiraita (Opened, Opened)
III. Tonbo no Megane (Dragonfly’s Glasses)
Duration: 30’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
Supported by American Music Center Performance Assistance Grants
First Performance: 2009 by the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra at Tea Lounge in Brooklyn, NYC
Hermine’s Song (2009)
Duration: 7’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
First Performance: 2009 by the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra at Tea Lounge in Brooklyn, NYC
Electric Images (2008) recording video
Duration: 10’
For 18-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocal)
First Performance: 2008 by the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra at Tea Lounge in Brooklyn, NYC
Homecoming Waltz (2008)
Duration: 7’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
First Performance: 2008 by the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra at Tea Lounge in Brooklyn, NYC
Skip (2008) recording video
Duration: 9’
For 18-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocal)
First Performance: 2008 by the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra at Tea Lounge in Brooklyn, NYC
*Bloom (2007) recording video
Duration: 11’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
Commissioner: BMI Jazz Composers’ Workshop (Manny Album Commission)
First Performance: 2007 by BMI Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in NYC
Dance I (BMI Charlie Parker Award) (2006)
Duration: 10’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
First Performance: 2006 by the BMI Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra at Merkin Hall in NYC
Re: I’ll Remember You (2005)
Duration: 7’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
First Performance: 2005 by the Asuka Kakitani Big Band at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA
VOL DE NUIT (2005)
Duration: 5’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
First Performance: 2005 by the Berklee Jazz Orchestra at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA
Flying (2004)
Duration: 8’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
First Performance: 2005 by the Berklee Jazz Orchestra at Berklee Performance Center, in Boston, MA
Island in the Stream (2004)
Duration: 10’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
First Performance: 2004 by the Berklee Jazz Orchestra at Berklee Performance Center, in Boston, MA
Impressions (arrangement ) (2004)
Duration: 4’
for Studio Orchestra
First Performance: 2004 by the Berklee Studio Orchestra at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA
Amenoti Hare (2004)
Duration: 6’
For 10-piece Jazz Ensemble
First Performance: 2005 by the Asuka Kakitani Band at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA
Blues for Sir Duke (2004)
Duration: 6’
For 17-piece Jazz Big Band (2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Bb Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums)
First Performance: by the Berklee Jazz Orchestra at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA
Twelve Tones (2004)
Duration: 8’
For 10-piece Jazz Ensemble
First Performance: 2004 by the Berklee Band at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA
Heaven (arrangement) (2003)
Duration: 5’
For 10-piece Jazz Ensemble
First Performance: 2005 by the Asuka Kakitani Band at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA
Portrait in Four Colors (2003)
Duration: 8’
For 10-piece Jazz Ensemble
First Performance: 2004 by the Berklee Jazz Orchestra at Berklee Performing Center in Boston, MA
Exercise for Electric Bass 1 (2003)
Duration 8’
For 10-piece Jazz Ensemble
First Performance: 2005 by the Asuka Kakitani Band at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA
A.H.C.M (2003)
Duration: 5’
For 10-piece Jazz Ensemble
First Performance: 2004 by the Asuka Kakitani Band at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA
My Favorite Things (arrangement) (2003)
Duration: 4’
For 10-piece Jazz Ensemble
First Performance: 2005 by the Asuka Kakitani Band at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA
Orchestra
The Shifting Sky (2022)
Duration: 5’
For Orchestra (2.2.2.2/4.2.2+btbn.1/timp.perc/strings)
First Reading: December 2022 by the Stephan F. Augustine University Orchestra at Stephan F. Augustine University
Band
Journey South (2024) Alias Press 2025
Duration: 7’
For Wind Ensemble Grade 5 (Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, Bassoon, 3 Bb Clarinets, Bass Clarinet, 2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, Baritone Saxophone, 3 Bb Trumpets, 3 F Horns, 3 Trombones, Euphonium, Tuba, Timpani, 3 Percussions)
Chamber Ensemble
*Owls and Trees (2024)
Duration: 8’
For String Quartet
Commissioned by Boulanger Initiative for WoCo Festival
First Performance: April 12th, 2024, by Thalea String Quartet at AMP by Strathmore in North Bethesda, MD
* Light and Dark (2023) video
Duration: 7’
For Violin, Cello, and Vocal
Commissioner: Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting for the Blackbird Creative Lab
First Performance: June 4th, 2023, by Maiani de Silva, Daniel Knopp, and Alex Koi at the Eighth Blackbird Creative Lab Final Concert at Yerkes Observatory, WI
*Fractured (2023)
Duration: 7’
For Clarinet, Piano, Violin, Cello, and Fixed Media
Commissioner: Spitting Image Collective for Unheard-of//Ensemble
First Performance: March 16, 2023, by Unheard-of//Ensemble at Studio Z in St. Paul, MN
*The View from the Hill (2022)
Duration: 6’
For Trombone Quartet
Commissioned by Derek Bromme
*Melt (2021)
Duration: 13’
For String Quartet
Commissioned by Ryan Truesdell
Recording: September 17th, 2022, NY Performed by Joyce Hammann, Sara Caswell, Lois Martin, and Jody Redhage at Oktaven Audio in Mount Vernon, NY
*The Tree in front of My House (2020) listen
Duration: 3’
For Violin, Guitar, Tabla
Commissioner: Sprig of That
Recording: 2021 Minneapolis, MN Performed by Sprig of That
*Ghost Story of Yotsuya (2019)
Duration: 10’
For Marimba, Percussion, and Bass Clarinet
Commissioner: Zeitgeist New Music Ensemble,
First Performance: 2019 by Zeitgeist at Studio Z Annual Halloween Concert in St. Paul, MN
*Three Stories for Birds (2019)
Bou’s Birds
My Name is Joy
Night Bird
Duration: 20’
For String Quartet
Commissioner: Bridge Chamber Music Festival
First Performance: 2019 by Artaria Quartet at the Bridge Chamber Music Festival, Kracum Hall
String Quartet No. 1 (2014)
Duration: 5’
For String Quartet,
First Performance: 2014 by Brooklyn Conservatory String Quartet at the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, NY
On the Way Home (2014)
Duration: 7’
For Flexible Chamber Ensemble
First Performance: 2014 by ConTEMPO at the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, NY
Solo
The Nights (2025)
The Night of the First Snow (4:23)
The Scattered Night (3:55)
The Night Before Flying (5:08)
The Night I Held Her for the First Time (6:13)
Some Purple Night (4:02)
Duration:
For Solo Piano
Recorded at Wild Sound Recording Studio, Minneapolis, MN, on January 30 and 31, 2025
Will be Premiered June 13th, 2025, at First United Church of Christ, Northfield
Funded by the Minnesota State Arts Board
*The Place Where Birds Are (2024)
Duration: 5’
For Solo Piano with Recorded Tracks and Video
Commissioned by Minnesota UpStream
Premiered online on July 6th, 2024, performed and recorded by Asuka Kakitani
Twelve Months in Minnesota (2019) recording
January (White Big Devil)
February (Improvisation)
March (Melting Ice)
April (Slow but Coming)
May (Improvisation)
June (Shiny Wet Green)
July (Lost in the Deep Woods)
August (So Quiet)
September (Dance of the Raindrops)
October (Improvisation)
November (Dance of the White Sprites)
December (First Snow)
Duration: 45’
For Solo Percussion (Marimba, Vibraphone, Bongos, Log drums, Woodblocks, Crotales, Cymbal, Tom, Bass Drum, Clay Pots, Kalimba, Triangles)
Funded by JFund for New Music (now ACF|Create) from the Jerome Foundation and the American Composers Forum
First Performance: January 23rd, 2020, by Dave Hagedorn at Urness Hall at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN
Recording: August 22 and 23, 2022, by Eri Isomura at Wild Sound Recording Studio in Minneapolis, MN
Etude for Solo Clarinet (2015)
Duration: 5’
For Solo Clarinet
First Performance: 2015 by Aaron Irwin at The Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, NY
Vocal
The Pillow Book (2024)
春 Haru (Spring)
夏 Natsu (Summer)
秋 Aki (Fall)
冬 Fuyu (Winter)
Duration: 15’
for Solo Vocal and Electronics
Funded by New Music USA Creator’s Fund
Recorded in September and October 2024 by Tammy Scheffer and edited by Asuka Kakitani
What She Wrote (2021) recording
In This Short Life
The Mountain Moving Day
Rooms of One’s Own
No Birds Singing
The Muse
Therefore
Duration: 25’
For Women’s Vocal Quartet
Funded by the Minnesota State Arts Board
First Performance: March 18th, 2022, by Quince Ensemble at Kracum Hall at Carleton College in Northfield, MN
Recorded on December 5th and 6th, 2023, by Quince Ensemble at Wild Sound Recording Studio in Minneapolis, MN
Electroacoustic
*Fractured (2023)
Duration: 7’
For Clarinet, Piano, Violin, Cello, and Fixed Media
Commissioner: Spitting Image Collective for Unheard-of//Ensemble
First Performance: March 16, 2023, by Unheard-of//Ensemble at Studio Z in St. Paul, MN
Film
Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar? (2025) watch
by filmmaker Kazua Melissa Vang
Duration 5’
Screened at the Film Score Fest on April 26th, 2025, at History Theater in St. Paul, MN
Performed by the Film Score Fest Orchestra, directed by Charlie McCarron