Artist:Toshiko Akiyoshi
Song:The Village
Album:Toshiko Akiyoshi at Maybeck
Jazz pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi is probably best known for big bands she led with former husband Charlie Mariano and current husband Lew Tabackin. She has recorded as a leader since the 50s and is known for her arranging talents. She was born Dec. 12, 1929 Liaoyang, China. Her parents were Japanese emigrants. Her family returned to Beppu, Japan in 1946. Toshiko was already playing piano when a local record collector played her a Teddy Wilson record. She immediately started to study jazz. While playing in a club on the Ginza in 1952, Oscar Peterson spotted her. He liked her so much he convinced Verve Records owner Norman Granz to sign her and bring her to the US. Her 1953 debut album Toshiko's Piano was recorded with the Verve house band of Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and J.C. Heard. She recorded a few more albums while she studied at Berklee in Boston. She married sax player Charlie Mariano in 1959. They recorded for Charles Mingus' Candid label and eventually she signed with RCA. After divorcing Mariano in 1967, Toshiko married sax player Lew Tabackin in 1969. They moved to Los Angeles in 1972. Her band with Tabackin is her best known band. Toshiko wrote and arranged the music. Tabackin was the featured soloist. Toshiko wrote and arranged The Village. She first recorded it on the 1975 Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band album Tales of a Courtesan (Oiratan) on RCA. They continued the band after they moved to New York in 1982. The albums were big sellers in Japan. Toshiko ended the band in 2003 and she now records solo. The Village is from the 1994 album Toshiko Akiyoshi at Maybeck. This is part of a series Concord has recorded at Maybeck Hall in Berkeley, CA. This one is volume 36. She says she always wanted to record solo more often but the big band got in the way. Her latest recording The Eternal Duo! was released by Sony Japan in 2019. It is a duet album with husband Lew Tabackin. It comes with a live DVD and an interview. Toshiko has received several awards including being named an NEA Jazz Master in 2007. So she's really good. Check her out. Here's Toshiko Akiyoshi performing The Village on the French TV network INA. It doesn't give a date. It looks like it's from the 70s.
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