16 Facts About Toshiko Akiyoshi

Toshiko Akiyoshi is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader.

Toshiko Akiyoshi was born in Liaoyang, Manchuria, to a Japanese family, the youngest of four sisters.

In 1945, after World War II, Toshiko Akiyoshi's family lost their home and returned to Japan, settling in Beppu.

Toshiko Akiyoshi studied jazz at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.

Toshiko Akiyoshi offered her a full scholarship, and he mailed her a plane ticket to Boston.

Toshiko Akiyoshi did experience some difficulties as a result of her Japanese heritage after coming to America.

Toshiko Akiyoshi composed and arranged music for the band, and Tabackin served as the band's featured soloist on tenor saxophone and flute.

Toshiko Akiyoshi toured with smaller bands to raise money for her big band.

Years later, BMG continued to release her big band's recordings in Japan but remained skeptical about releasing the music in the United States Although Toshiko Akiyoshi was able to release several albums in the US featuring her piano in solo and small combo settings, many of her later big band albums were released only in Japan.

Toshiko Akiyoshi explained that she disbanded the ensemble because she was frustrated by her inability to obtain American recording contracts for the big band.

Toshiko Akiyoshi said that she wanted to concentrate on her piano playing from which she had been distracted by years of composing and arranging.

Toshiko Akiyoshi has said that although she has rarely recorded as a solo pianist, that is her preferred format.

Toshiko Akiyoshi composed using Japanese themes, harmonies, and instruments.

In 1999, Toshiko Akiyoshi was approached by Kyudo Nakagawa, a Buddhist priest, who asked her to write a piece for his hometown of Hiroshima.

Toshiko Akiyoshi sent her some photos of the aftermath of the nuclear bombing.

Toshiko Akiyoshi said that after seeing this picture, she understood the message: hope.