The Return of Akagi

Ten years ago, jazz pianist Kei Akagi was a local phenomenon on the rise, living in Santa Barbara and working the club circuit in bands such as the Eraserheads. After touring and recording with Latin-jazz celebrities and fellow Santa Barbarans Airto and Flora, Akagi moved to Los Angeles. Word of his prodigiousness spread quickly.

Soon, he was playing with such jazz notables as Al Dimeola, Jean-Luc Ponty, Joe Farrell and, most notably, Miles Davis. Akagi played synthesizer in the late jazz great’s final band.

But when Akagi appears at Wheeler Hot Springs in Ojai this weekend, playing Friday and Saturday nights, it will be in the format he now prefers, playing acoustic piano--this time in duet with bassist Darek Oles, a frequent collaborator.

Akagi, whose debut solo album, “Playroom,” was recently released on the Mesa/Blue Moon label, has been working in an acoustic jazz mode in intimate jazz rooms in Los Angeles. Last month, he performed two packed shows at Beto’s Cantina, the newest addition to the jazz club scene in Santa Barbara.

Also at Wheeler’s, on Sunday at 4 p.m., will be the return of jazz vocalist and raconteur Oscar Brown Jr.

Wheeler Hot Springs is at 16825 Maricopa Highway, Ojai. The Akagi shows are free with dinner. Tickets for Brown are $50 with dinner, $25 without dinner. For more information call 646-8131.