Jazz Master Toshiko Akiyoshi

Toshiko Akiyoshi

The National Endowment for the Arts has announced its 2007 NEA Jazz Masters. ASCAP member Toshiko Akiyoshi was one of the honorees. The National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowships are the highest honors that the U.S. government bestows upon jazz musicians. These fellowships are given to recognize that this art form is one of America's greatest gifts to the world. Over the course of a sixdecade career, the Japanese-American pianist, bandleader, and composer- arranger has made a unique and vital contribution to the art of bigband jazz. Born in Manchuria, China and raised in Japan, she was discovered by pianist Oscar Peterson and came to the U.S. to study at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. She went on to form the world-renowned big band that is now known as the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra.