Toshiko Akiyoshi's second big-band album (closely following Kogun) is a hard-swinging and consistently exciting set that has strong solos from the likes of trumpeter Don Rader, fluegelhornist Bobby Shew, altoist Gary Foster and Toshiko's husband Lew Tabackin on tenor in addition to the pianist/leader. Akiyoshi draws on her culture successfully on "Children in the Temple Ground" and shows throughout this memorable set (which deserves to be reissued on CD) that she had by this early point already developed into one of the most distinctive big-band arrangers around. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
1. Long Yellow Road
2. The First Night
3. Opus No. Zero
4. Quadrille, Anyone?
5. Children in the Temple Ground
6. Since Perry / Yet Another Tear
JOE ROCCISANO alto saxophone (3)
DICK SPENCER alto saxophone, flute, clarinet
GARY FOSTER alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, clarinet (1, 2, 4 & 6)
BILL PERKINS baritone saxophone, alto flute, bass clarinet
GENE CHERICO bass
PHIL TEELE bass trombone
CHUCK FLORES drums (3, 6)
PETER DONALD drums (1,2, 4 & 5)
TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI piano, arrangers
TOM PETERSON tenor saxophone, alto flute, clarinet
LEW TABACKIN tenor saxophone, flute, piccolo flute
BRITT WOODMAN trombone (2-6)
BRUCE PAULSON trombone (2-6)
CHARLIE LOPER trombone (1)
JIM SAWYER trombone (1)
BOBBY SHEW trumpet (1)
DON RADER trumpet (1)
JOHN MADRID trumpet (1)
LYNN NICHOLSON trumpet (4-6)
MIKE PRICE trumpet (2, 3 & 5)
STUART BLUMBERG trumpet (2, 3 & 5)
TOKUKO KAGA vocals (2)
Music composed by Toshiko Akiyoshi, except (6) by Lew Tabackin and Toshiko Akiyoshi
RCA - AFL1-1350