Toshiko Akiyoshi

Toshiko Akiyoshi (Dairen, Liaoning, China, 12 de diciembre de 1929): pianista, compositora y

arregladora de jazz. Hija de padres japoneses comenz a estudiar msica clsica mientras
viva en China, pero no se decidi por el jazz hasta su llegada a Japn en 1946.
Durante un viaje a Japn, el pianista Oscar Peterson la escuch tocar en el club Ginza y
qued fascinado, por lo que la incentiv a viajar a Estados Unidos y a unirse al Berklee
College de Boston. Estudi en la prestigiosa escuela durante tres aos, al recibirse se cas
con el saxofonista Charlie Mariano, con quien form Toshiko-Mariano Quartet.

Su carrera[editar]
Fue la primera mujer en triunfar en el jazz como instrumentista, es reconocida como una gran
compositora, sus obras se estudian en numerosas universidades del mundo. En 1984 fue
objeto de un filme documental Toshiko Akiyoshi: Jazz es mi idioma nativo; en 1996 public
su autobiografa Vida con Jazz.
En 1953, y con la produccin de Norman Granz, Toshiko grab su primera placa Toshiko's
Piano acompaada por el prestigioso guitarrista Herb Ellis, el contrabajista Ray Brown y J.C.
Heard en la percusin.
Su apego a la msica tradicional japonesa se fusion con el bop de Peterson y Bud Powell,
para crear un nuevo gnero musical en el que se destaca la profundidad en los arreglos de
Toshiko Akiyoshi. Ella incorpor al jazz el tsuzumi (un pequeo tambor tpico japons) y el
canto de las obras teatrales kogun.
En la dcada de 1970, deja de lado el espritu exclusivo del bop y se interna en una serie de
discos en los que explota a su Big Band en discos que incluyen solos muy largos de todos sus
msicos. Ya separada de Mariano, se cas en 1969 con el saxofonista Lew Tabackin, con
quien contina casada en la actualidad.

En 1991, grab el disco ms importante de su carrera, en el Carnegie Hall de Nueva York, que
logr unanimidad en la critica especializada como uno de los mejores discos de jazz del ao.

Sus premios[editar]
En 1986, recibi la condecoracin New York City's Mayor Liberty Award y un ao ms tarde
en Los ngeles, California la Asociacin de mujeres Asitica-Americanas la distingui
con Mujer luchadora del ao.
El emperador de Japn le otorg la medalla Shijuhohsho en 1997, y en 1999 ingres al Saln
de la fama del Jazz.
Recibi 14 nominaciones al prestigioso premio Grammy a la industria musical y obtuvo el
premio al mejor arreglo y composicin musical en la encuesta de los lectores de Down Beat.

Ingles
Toshiko Akiyoshi (Dairen, Liaoning, China, December 12, 1929): pianist,
composer and arranger of jazz. Daughter of Japanese parents began studying
classical music while living in China, but not decided by the jazz until its arrival
in Japan in 1946.
During a trip to Japan, pianist Oscar Peterson heard playing in the Ginza club
and was fascinated, so he encouraged to travel to the United States and join
the Berklee College of Boston. He studied at the prestigious school for three
years, received married saxophonist Charlie Mariano, with whom he formed
Toshiko-Mariano Quartet.
His career [edit]
She was the first woman to succeed in the jazz instrumentalist, is recognized as
a great composer, his works are studied in many universities worldwide. In
1984 he was the subject of a documentary film Toshiko Akiyoshi: Jazz is my
native language; in 1996 he published his autobiography Life with Jazz.
In 1953, and the production of Norman Granz, Toshiko recorded his first plate
Toshiko's Piano accompanied by prestigious Guitarist Herb Ellis, bassist Ray
Brown and JC Heard on drums.
His attachment to traditional Japanese music merged with the bop of Peterson
and Bud Powell, to create a new musical genre that stands out in depth
arrangements Toshiko Akiyoshi. She joined the jazz tsuzumi (a small Japanese
typical drum) and singing the Kogun plays.

In the 1970s, sets aside the exclusive spirit of bop and goes into a series of
disks that exploits his Big Band albums including lengthy solos all musicians. It
separated from Mariano, married in 1969 with saxophonist Lew Tabackin, who
still married today.
In 1991, he recorded the most important album of his career, at Carnegie Hall
in New York, who won unanimously to critics as one of the best jazz albums of
the year
His awards [edit]
In 1986, he received the decoration New York City's Greater Liberty Award and
a year later in Los Angeles, California Association of women Asian-Americans
distinguished with Woman's fighter of the year.
The Emperor of Japan awarded him the medal Shijuhohsho in 1997, and in
1999 entered the Hall of Fame Jazz.
It received 14 nominations for the prestigious Grammy award for the music
industry and won the award for best musical arrangement and composition in
the survey of the readers of Down Beat.