Toshiko Akiyoshi Quintet - Toshiko At Top Of The Gate

Year : 1968
Label : Nippon Columbia
Serie : Takt Jazz Series
Genre : Jazz, Latin Jazz
Style : Hard Bop, Modal, Bossa Nova

Recording live by the best known japanese jazz pianist, Toshiko Akiyoshi (spotted by Oscar Peterson in 1952), performed during a concert at the Top Of the Gate, a famous jazz club of the Village Gate Theater located in Greenwich Village, New York City. Toshiko Akiyoshi Quintet is based on first class musicians, among the best renowned such as Kenny Dorham or Ron Carter from Second Great Miles Davis Quintet (1964-1968), all playing in the Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers way, including Hard Bop arrangements and samba rhythms (How Insensitive, Morning Of The Carnival). The first side contains only Toshiko's songs, while the second is devoted to jazz standards & covers plus original, "Elegy". "Toshiko At Top Of The Gate" features among the Sleep Walker's influences, "Phrygian Waterfall" was included in their Jazz compilation "Shibuya Jazz Classics" supervised for Nippon Columbia.

MUSICIANS : Toshiko Akiyoshi - piano - Ron Carter - bass - Kenny Dorham - trumpet - Lew Tabackin - saxophone - Mickey Rocker - drums

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Nobuo Hara And Sharps & Flats - Double Exposure

Year : 1970
Label : Liberty
Genre : Jazz
Style : Big Band, Modal, Funk/Soul, Folk

A project mixing Jazz with Oriental expressions by the most famous Japanese Big Band featuring the great "Lady of Jazz", pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi as arranger and composer. As the Count Basie Orchestra, "Sharps & Flats" has been a springboard for many outstanding japanese jazz musicians like Hiroshi Suzuki (tb), Takao Naoi from The Count Buffalos (eg), Toshihiko Ogawa (p), Hiroshi Takeuchi (b), Koji Suzuki (as) or Teruyuki Fukushima (tp), all playing on "Double Exposure". Toshiko brings her contribution with four own compositions : "Let's Roll In Sake" including dynamic drums breaks, the oriental piece "Sumie", "Fool" & the extended bluesy tune "Double Exposure". Titles also include "Ostinatism" & "Lonely Girl Of East" composed by Eiichi Fujii.