Description: Personnel: Toshiko Akiyoshi (p), Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Oscar Pettiford, Gene Cherico, Eddie Safranski (b), J.C. Heard, Ed Thigpen, Roy Haynes, Jack Hanna (d) In 1953, during the Japan tour of producer and promoter Norman Granz’s Jazz at the Philharmonic group, pianist Oscar Peterson had the opportunity to witness the performance of 23-year-old pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi at a Ginza club. Peterson was deeply impressed by her talent and successfully convinced Granz to record her. As a result, Toshiko recorded her debut album in Tokyo, accompanied by Peterson’s esteemed rhythm section of Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on double bass, and J.C. Heard on drums. The album was released as “Toshiko’s Piano” in the United States and “Amazing Toshiko Akiyoshi” in Japan. Even at that early stage, it was evident that she held a deep admiration for the modernist Bud Powell, a fact that she has never made any effort to hide. In January 1956, Akiyoshi was granted a prestigious four-year scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston, becoming the first-ever Japanese student to enroll in the school. Her talent and unique background quicklymade her popular among fellow students. Since her arrival in Boston, Toshiko had the valuable opportunity to collaborate with George Wein, the respected owner and manager of the renowned Storyville club and record label. Under his guidance, Toshiko recorded her first two albums in the United States, marking the beginning of her successful musical journey. In addition, George Wein served as the director and founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, where Toshiko had the opportunity to showcase her talents in the 1956 and 1957 editions. Previously, in December 1956, she performed at the London House in Chicago, and in August 1957, she embarked on a highly successful two-month engagement at New York’s Hickory House, which marked her first extended performance outside of Boston. The release of these early Norgran, Storyville, and Verve albums, alongwith Toshiko’s performance on The Subject Is Jazz TV-show, not only gained recognition from the public but also earned her acclaimfromprominent jazzmusicians. These achievements solidified her position as one of the top pianists in modern jazz. —Jordi Pujol TRACKLIST: CD 1 01. What Is This Thing Called Love? (Cole Porter) 2:46 02. Gone with the Wind (Magidson-Wrubel) 2:34 03. I Want To Be Happy (Youmans-Caesar) 2:14 04. Toshiko’s Blues (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 3:43 05. Shadrack (R.H. MacGimsey) 2:41 06. Solidado (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 3:29 07. Squatty Roo (Johnny Hodges) 2:39 08. Laura (solo) (Raksin-Mercer) 3:29 09. Between Me and Myself (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 5:14 10. It Could Happen To You (Van Heusen-Burke) 3:59 11. Kyo-shu (Nostalgia) (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 3:40 12. Homework (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 3:38 13. Manhattan Address (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 2:44 14. Softly as in a Morning Sunrise (Romberg-Hammerstein II) 4:06 15. Soshu Yakyoku (Suzhou Serenade) (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 1:43 16. Sunday Afternoon (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 4:18 17. Blues for Toshiko (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 5:17 18. No Moon at All (Mann-Evans) 5:00 19. Pea, Bee and Lee (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 3:20 20. Thou Swell (Rodgers-Hart) 5:05 CD 2 01. Between Me and Myself (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 5:49 02. Blues for Toshiko (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 5:14 03. I’ll Remember April (Raye-De Paul-Johnston) 7:04 04. Lover (Rodgers-Hart) 5:16 05. The Man I Love (G. & I. Gershwin) 5:27 06. Minor Mood (Clifford Brown) 4:16 07. After You’ve Gone (Layton-Creamer) 3:34 08. We’ll Be Together Again (Fischer-Laine) 4:29 09. Tosh’s Fantasy (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 9:02 -Down a Mountain -Phrygian Waterfull -Running Stream 10. Bags’ Groove (Milt Jackson) 6:48 11. Imagination (Van Heusen-Burke) 3:35 12. Studio J (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 3:17 13. The 3rd Movement (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 1:46 14. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (Duke Ellington) 3:02 Sources CD1: Tracks #1-8, from the album “Toshiko’s Piano” (Norgran MGN 22) Tracks #9-17, from the album “George Wein Presents Toshiko” (Storyville STLP 912) Tracks #18-20, taken from the album “Toshiko, Her Trio Her Quartet” (Storyville STLP 918) Sources CD2: Tracks #1-4, from the album “Toshiko and the Leon Sash Quartet at Newport” (Verve MG V 8236) Tracks #6-12, from the album “The Many Sides of Toshiko” (Verve MGV-8273) Tracks #13 & 14, from NBC TV-show “The Subject Is Jazz” Personnel on “Toshiko’s Piano”: Toshiko Akiyoshi, piano; Herb Ellis, guitar; Ray Brown, bass; J.C. Heard, drums. Recorded in Tokyo, November 13 & 14, 1953 Personnel on “George Wein Presents Toshiko”: Toshiko Akiyoshi, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Ed Thigpen, drums. Recorded in Boston, 1956 Personnel on “Toshiko, Her Trio Her Quartet”: Toshiko Akiyoshi, piano; Oscar Pettiford, bass; Roy Haynes, drums. Recorded in New York, 1956 Personnel on “Toshiko at Newport” & “The Many Sides of Toshiko”: Toshiko Akiyoshi, piano; Gene Cherico, bass; Jack Hanna, drums. CD 2 #1-4, Recorded live at the Newport Jazz Festival, July 5, 1957 CD 2 #5-12, Recorded in New York, September 28, 1957 Personnel on CD 2 #13-14: Toshiko Akiyoshi, piano; Eddie Safranski, bass; Ed Thigpen, drums. Recorded live at “The Subject Is Jazz” TV-show, New York City, May 25, 1958 Original liner notes by Norman Granz, Nat Hentoff & Bill Simon New liner notes written by Jordi Pujol Recordings produced by Norman Granz and George Wein (CD-1: #9-20), and George Norford (CD-2: #13 & 14) This CD release produced by Jordi Pujol
Price: 24.99 USD
Location: Lake Hughes, California
End Time: 2024-11-01T20:59:01.000Z
Shipping Cost: 3.99 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money back or replacement (buyer's choice)
Artist: Toshiko Akiyoshi, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Oscar Pettiford, Gene Cherico, Eddie Safranski, J.C. Heard, Ed Thigpen, Roy Haynes, Jack Hanna
Type: Album
Format: CD
Record Label: Fresh Sound Records
Release Title: Toshiko's Blues Quartet & Trios 1953-1958
Style: Quartet, Trio
Genre: Jazz
