Although pianist/arranger
Toshiko Akiyoshi did not come to prominence in the United States until the mid-'70s, she was playing and recording excellent bop-based music from 1953 on, often in Japan. In the early '60s, she was married to altoist Charles Mariano so she was known as
Toshiko Mariano during the era. This Vee Jay CD reissues her first big-band album and her only one before 1974.
Toshiko and
Mariano provided the four big-band arrangements, which include two of the altoist's originals, "Kisarazu Jink" and
Johnny Carisi's "Israel." The Japanese big-band includes two notables (trumpeter
Terumasa Hino and tenor saxophonist
Sleepy Matsumoto) and a pair of ringers (bassist Paul Chambers and drummer
Jimmy Cobb). The band swings quite well. In addition,
Toshiko Mariano is showcased on a trio version of "Lament," in a quintet (with tenors Matsumoto and Akira Miyazawa) on "Walkin'," and a sextet (which adds trombonist Hiroshi Suzuki) for
Leonard Feather's "Land of Peace." A historic and rather interesting (if brief) early release from the future
Toshiko Akiyoshi.