Third Movement and I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart – 1958

Toshiko Akiyoshi

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Toshiko Akiyoshi has had a long and productive career as a pianist, the leader of a big band, and an arranger-composer, performing into her nineties.

Back in the 1950s it was considered a bit of a novelty to have a young female jazz pianist from Japan playing at such a high level.

At the time she was mostly influenced by Bud Powell (as can be heard on her recordings for the Verve label) although her own musical personality was already starting to shine through.

From the 1958 television series The Subject Is Jazz, with accompaniment by bassist Ed Safranski and drummer Ed Thigpen, the 28-year old pianist is featured on her original “Third Movement” and Duke Ellington’s “I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart.”

-Scott Yanow

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