Born and raised in Manchuria, Toshiko started piano lessons at the age of six. In 1952 Toshiko formed her own group. A year later during a tour in Japan, pianist Oscar Peterson heard her play and recommended her to Norman Granz, who gave her the chance to make har first recordings with jazz greats such us Herb Ellis and Ray Brown. Not long after, Toshiko accepted a full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Soon she was playing regularly at George Wein’s Storyville Club and recording for his label with Roy Haynes, Ed Thigpen, Paul Chambers and Oscar Pettiford. In 1956 Wein presented her at his Newport Jazz Festival. She had, as they say, arrived.

“Toshiko-Her Trio, Her Quartet” was recorded in New York by pianist Toshiko with such stellar musicians like Boots Mussulli on alto sax, Roy Haynes on drums or Oscar Pettiford on bass.

Bonus album “United Notions” with Toshiko and her International Jazz Sextet was recorded in New York in 1958. The recording features pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi with Nat Adderley or Doc Severinsen alternating on cornet/trumpet, Bobby Jaspar playing tenor and baritone saxophone and flute, Rolf Kühn on alto saxophone and clarinet, René Thomas on guitar, Bert Dale on drums and John Drew on bass.

01 Kelo (J.J. Johnson) 4:20
02 Salute To Shorty (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 3:06
03 *Pea, Bee And Lee (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 3:15
04 Taking A Chance On Love (Latouche-Fetter-Duke) 4:34
05 All The Things You Are (Hammerstein-Kern) 4:34
06 *No Moon At All (Mann-Evans) 4:52
07 I’ll Remember April (Raye-DePaul-Johnston) 5:30
08 *Thou Swell (Rodgers-Hart) 4:55
09 Broadway (Henry Woode-Teddy McRae-Bill Bird) 6:48
10 Sukiyaki (Bobby Jaspar) 6:30
11 Swingin’Till The Girls Come Home (Oscar Pettiford) 6:50
12 Unitid Notions (Toshiko Akiyoshi) 6:19
13 Civilized Folk (Bob Freedman) 4:15
14 Strike Up The Band (George Gershwin) 4:24
15 Jane (Bob Freedman) 4:16

Her Trio, Her Quartet (#1-8) 1956

Trio: TOSHIKO, piano; OSCAR PETTIFORD, bass; ROY HAYNES, drums.
*Quartet: TOSHIKO, piano; BOOTS MUSSULLI, alto; WYATT REUTHER, bass; EDMUND THIGPEN, drums.

United Notions with Toshiko and her International Jazz Sextet (#9-15) 1958

Toshiko Akiyoshi, piano
Nat Adderley (cornet on tracks 1, 2, 3, 5)
Doc Severinsen (trumpet on tracks 4, 6, 7)
Bobby Jaspar (tenorsaxophone, flute, and baritone saxophone)
Rolf Kühn (alto saxophone, clarinet)
René Thomas (guitar)
Bert Dale (Nils-Berttil Dahlander) (drums)
John Drew (bass)

Compiled and manufactured by Mad About Records