A wonderfully intimate set from pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi -- quite different than her bigger band records of the 70s, but equally great in its own way! The album's a great throwback to the earliest days of Akiyoshi on record -- as it has the pianist really opening up in a trio setting, but with even more confidence and imagination than in the 50s and 60s -- no Bud Powell burning here, but some really beautiful, lyrical passages that really leave us breathless -- and almost bring into sharper focus some of the ideas she'd explored in her big band. Backing is by Monty Budwig on bass and Jake Hanna on drums -- and titles include "Warning Success May Be Hazardous To Your Health", "American Ballad", "Solvejg's Song", "You Go To My Head", and "Count Your Blessings". - dusty groove.com
Tracks
1. Count Your Blessings (Irvin Berlin)
2. American Ballad (Toshiko Akiyoshi)
3. Love Letters (Edward Heyman/Victor Young)
4. Wouldn't It Be Loverly (Alan Jay Lerner/Frederik Loewe)
5. Mr. Jelly Lord (Jelly Roll Morton)
6. Warning!! Success May Be Hazardous To Your Health (Toshiko Akiyoshi)
7. You Go To My Head (J. Fred Coots/Haven Gillespie)
8. Solvejg's Song (From Grieg·Peer Gynt Suite)
TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI piano
JAKE HANNA drums
MONTY BUDWIG bass
Recorded May 8, 1978
Concord Jazz - CCD-4069