Biography
By making the full use of her excellently trainedclassic background, Rie Akagi is the only female
flutist in Japan who can perform salsa/latin jazz andsoul jazz with a startling aggressiveness. Known tobe the leading Caribbean Flutist for her “MagicFlute”, she has gained great reputation from theCaribbean Seas and around the world as one of thepromising contemporary performers, ripe andblooming.
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 allrecognized 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, “JazzPlaza in Cuba”, “Noche y Galería”, ”Carolina
International Jazz Festival 2012” in Puerto Rico andhas received a full standing ovation from theexcited 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 dispatchedfrom the Japanese Government. Even though thestay was short, she actively performed in variousoccasions such as the Japan/Puerto Rico Friendship
Concert held at the National Museum of Arts (cosponsored 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 hasrecorded up to now 17 albums, including thealbums, Isla Verde (2011), The Promised Land (Isladel Encanto) (2002), Moon Island (Perla del Caribe)(2003), Café con Leche (2014), the producer of eachof 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 inNew York.
Rie Akagi went to Puerto Rico to promote the Isla
Verde album which was welcomed enthusiasticallyby the people and the media.
IIn 2020, Rie Akagi made her dream come true with
her album La Flauta Mágica which was produced byFania All Stars Legend, Larry Harlow, and it issparking big sensation with latin lovers all over theworld.
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 andaround Puerto Rico.

IIn 2005, she was a “Professora Invitada” at theInter American University of Puerto Rico to give alecture on Japanese Culture. She has also been
invited as Professor for the Conservatorium ofMusic 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 alook 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 andSpanish flamenco. Not to mention performances incontemporary music and classical music, sheshows 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).