A straight-ahead session from 1960, when pianist and bandleader
Toshiko Akiyoshi and alto saxophonist
Charlie Mariano were married and working together. Their regular band included bassist Gene Cherico and drummer
Eddie Marshall, and this was the second album they released.
Akiyoshi's playing was squarely in a
Bud Powell-influenced bop mode, while
Mariano was playing aggressive, surging solos with pronounced
Charlie Parker ties. ~ Ron Wynn