Talk:Toshiko Akiyoshi

Among the first successful female instrumentalists in jazz?

I say this with all due respect to her many talents, but Toshiko Akiyoshi is not even close to being among the first successful female instrumentalists in jazz. Think of Mary Lou Williams, Marian McPartland, Norma Teagarden, Lil Hardin Armstrong (who was playing piano and leading her own band in Chicago in the Twenties), and others. These were all successful a decade or more before Toshiko became known, in some cases before she was born. --Alan W (talk) 03:39, 9 December 2007 (UTC)

How in the world would when she was born have anything to do with her talent? Absolute rubbish. As far as her piano playing goes, she definitely brought something to the table. Her small solo passages on the original big band albums are a delight. By the way: But Mingus came to my concert, to listen and to take some pictures. He really encouraged me. So did Bud Powell. When we were in Paris he was listening to my record, and—he doesn't talk a lot—he asked me, "Did you write that?" I said, "Yes." He said, "You're the best female jazz musician player." That was so wonderful coming from him. When you're feeling down and someone says something like that . . . those little words help. I don't think that Bud or Mingus realized that they have had a big impact on my career. They probably meant these things very casually, but what they said meant many things to me.HammerFilmFan (talk) 02:13, 22 March 2023 (UTC)

For me, the point is not whether she was one of the first, it is, rather, is she one of the best? I think yes. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.189.31.210 (talk) 07:12, 4 June 2012 (UTC)

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Need citation for Nat Hentoff Ellington article being inspiration to use Japanese themes / instruments.

Today I added a "fact" check flag to the following statements in the "Music" section of the article (I also modified the problematic (IMHO) statement to make it less obviously problematic):

"When Duke Ellington died in 1974, Nat Hentoff wrote in The Village Voice about how Ellington's music reflected his African heritage. Upon reading this, Akiyoshi was inspired to investigate her own Japanese musical heritage. From that point on, she began composing with Japanese themes, Japanese harmonies, and even Japanese instruments (e.g. kotsuzumi, kakko, utai, tsugaru shamisen, etc.)"

I think the phrases, "Upon reading this..." and "From that point on..." are problematic. At the risk of some mild 'original research' it is, I presume, uncontested that Duke Ellington died on May 24 of 1974. This was seven weeks after recording for the Akiyoshi/Tabackin Big Band's first album, Kogun finished (according to the label's liner notes/info). Kogun contains at least two examples of Akiyoshi compositions using "Japanese themes, ... Japanese instruments,..." The songs, "Kogun" (tsuzumi) and "Henpecked Old Man" (regarding "Henpecked Old Man," Leonard Feather's liner notes state that Akiyoshi "...had in mind a traditional melody that came from a Japanese village..."). It's possible the referenced Nat Hentoff article was written well prior to Ellington's death and prior to Akiyoshi's composing the songs for the Kogun album - but the original wording implies Nat Hentoff's article was written / published "when Duke Ellington died..." But even if the Hentoff article had been written more than a year prior to Ellington's death, Akiyoshi had composed other songs with Japanese themes much earlier still. ("Kisarazu Jinku" (1961, 1964), "Sumie" (1971), etc.) So claiming that Akiyoshi, "From that point on...began composing with Japanese themes..." seems to contradict the actual history (since she had already been composing using Japanese themes and instruments long before Ellington's death.)
Pugetbill (talk) 20:30, 13 February 2018 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Music in History Intersectionality and Music

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 17 January 2023 and 9 May 2023. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): William Van Veen (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by William Van Veen (talk) 15:52, 21 March 2023 (UTC)