Japanese pianist and composer, Toshiko Akiyoshi, made significant strides in reshaping the landscape of jazz music.
Toshiko Akiyoshi, born in 1929 in Manchuria, China, to a Japanese family, has made a significant impact on the world of jazz with her unique blend of American jazz forms and distinctly Japanese sounds and textures.
Akiyoshi's journey into jazz began at a young age. At seven, she started playing the piano and took classical lessons twice a week. At 16, she was introduced to jazz by a local record collector and began to study the genre. By 17, she was playing in a big band in Fukuoka, Japan.
In 1945, after World War II, Akiyoshi's family returned to Japan and settled in the city of Beppu. It was here that her musical journey truly took off.
In 1954, her debut album, Toshiko's Piano, was released, produced by jazz legend Oscar Peterson. This album marked the beginning of a prolific career that spans over seven decades and approximately 75 albums.
Akiyoshi's career took a significant turn in 1956 when she moved to the United States to attend the Berklee College of Music, becoming one of the earliest Japanese jazz students there. After relocating to the U.S., in 1969 she married saxophonist Lew Tabackin, with whom she co-led the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band.
Akiyoshi's compositions are known for their programmatic nature and for reflecting her view of certain things, setting her apart from other jazz musicians. She has been nominated for 14 Grammy Awards, beginning with a nomination in 1976 for "Long Yellow Road" recorded with the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band on RCA Records. She won the Jazz Album of the Year award from Stereo Review for her second album, Long Yellow Road, in 1976.
Akiyoshi has been nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance 10 times and for Best Arrangement on an Instrumental four times at the Grammy Awards. In 1984, she was the subject of a documentary, Jazz Is My Native Language. In 2007, she was awarded the US's National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master honour.
Toshiko Akiyoshi's music continues to captivate audiences around the world. Even at the ripe age of 92, she performed with her daughter, singer-songwriter Monday Michiru, at the Blue Note Tokyo in 2022. Her influence on Japanese jazz and the international jazz scene is undeniable, making her a true pioneer in her field.
Toshiko Akiyoshi's diverse musical background allows her to seamlessly incorporate classical elements into her jazz compositions, broadening the entertainment spectrum. Her prolific career, spanning seven decades, has resulted in approximately 75 albums, each showcasing her unique blend of jazz, American forms, and Japanese textures.
