Taking time off from her big band, pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi is well showcased on this excellent trio outing with bassist Dennis Irwin and drummer Eddie Marshall. She performs four veteran standards (including "Solitude" and "You Stepped Out of a Dream") and a quartet of originals. Of the new pieces, "Interlude" and "I Know Who Loves You" (the latter is based on the chords of "Somebody Loves Me") are among the highlights. Akiyoshi's piano playing sometimes gets overlooked due to her work with her orchestra so this particularly strong set (reissued on CD) serves as a reminder of her excellent Bud Powell-inspired style. Recommended. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
1. Interlude (Toshiko Akiyoshi)
2. I Know Who Loves You (Toshiko Akiyoshi)
3. Count Basie/Mack David/Jerry Livingston)
4. I Ain't Gonna Ask No More (Toshiko Akiyoshi)
5. Pagliacci (Giacomo Puccini)
6. Solitude (Eddie DeLange/Duke Ellington/Irving Mills)
7. So in Love (Cole Porter)
8. You Stepped Out of a Dream (Nacio Herb Brown/Gus Kahn)
TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI piano
DENNIS IRWIN bass
EDDIE MARSHALL drums
Recorded February 1987 at Coast Recorders, San Francisco, CA
Concord Jazz CCD-4324