Toshiko's Piano

Toshiko's Piano
Studio album by Toshiko Akiyoshi
Released	1954
Recorded	Radio Tokyo Studio 2, Tokyo, Japan, 1953 November 13, 14
Genre	Jazz
Length	23:51
Label	Norgran
Producer	Norman Granz
Toshiko Akiyoshi chronology
Toshiko's Piano (1954) Toshiko at Mocambo (1954)
Alternative cover / title
Amazing Toshiko Akiyoshi

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The jazz album Toshiko's Piano (released as Amazing Toshiko Akiyoshi in Japan) was the debut recording of jazz pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi. It was recorded in Japan in 1953 with Oscar Peterson's Jazz at the Philharmonic rhythm section and released as a 10 inch LP album on Norman Granz's Norgran Record label. Later 12 inch LP and (Japanese) CD re-issues also include all 4 Akiyoshi tracks from 1957's Verve Records recording, Toshiko and Leon Sash at Newport. Cover artwork is by David Stone Martin.

Track listing

LP side A^[1]

1. "What Is This Thing Called Love?" (Porter) – 2:45
2. "Gone with the Wind" (Wrubel, Magidson) – 2:33
3. "I Want to Be Happy" (Youmans, Caesar) – 2:14
4. "Toshiko's Blues" (Akiyoshi) – 3:44

LP side B

1. "Shadrach" (MacGimsey) – 2:41
2. "Solidado" (Akiyoshi) – 3:29
3. "Squatty Roo" (Hodges) – 2:38
4. "Laura" (Raksin, Mercer) – 3:27

Additional four bonus tracks on later 12 inch LP and CD re-issues (from 1957 live recording, Toshiko...at Newport):

9. "Between Me and Myself" (Akiyoshi)
10. "Blues for Toshiko" (Akiyoshi)
11. "I'll Remember April" (Raye, DePaul, Johnston)
12. "Lover" (Rodgers, Hart)

Personnel

Tracks 1~8

• Toshiko Akiyoshi – piano
• Herb Ellis – guitar
• Ray Brown – bass
• J. C. Heard – drums

Tracks 9~12

• Toshiko Akiyoshi – piano
• Gene Cherico – bass
• Jake Hanna – drums

References / External links

• Norgran MGN-22
• Universal (J) UCCV 9050
• Allmusic
• Verve Records Discography Project