Thursday Night Jazz: Yoko Suzuki Spotlights the Music of Toshiko Akiyoshi

Dr. Yoko Suzuki, an ethnomusicologist and excellent saxophonist, returns to City of Asylum to pay homage to female musicians who were unappreciated in their time. Artists featured in past renditions of Dr. Yoko’s concerts include pianists Geri Allen and Marian McPartland as well as harpists Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane. With incredible setlists—often featuring original arrangements especially created for the Alphabet City stage—and thorough research, Yoko Suzuki weaves her knowledge as an ethnomusicologist and talent as a musician together to breathe new life into the legacy and music of influential female jazz composers throughout history.

This latest concert in Yoko’s ongoing series features the compositions of Toshiko Akiyoshi as well as some beloved jazz standards. The arrangements will be performed by a jazz quartet plus string quartet, featuring cellist Alicia Storin.

On the performance, Yoko says, “While named an NEA jazz master in 2007, Toshiko Akiyoshi (b. 1929) is one of the underrecognized musicians in jazz. She has been active in the American jazz scene since she moved here in 1956. She is best known as a big band leader and composer/arranger, but I feel that people don’t often have opportunities to hear her music. I worked with Alicia last year and enjoyed the collaboration so much that I decided to feature her for this concert.”

Featured Musicians:

Jason Neukom: violin

Andrew “Gio” Giordano: violin

Sean Neukom: viola

Alicia Storin: cello

Yoko Suzuki: alto sax,

Cliff Barnes: piano

Ava Lintz: bass

James Johnson III: drums

About the Artist:

Yoko Suzuki is a jazz saxophonist and scholar who aspires to illuminate the work of underrecognized musicians through her research and performance.

About Your Visit: 

The in-house restaurant Cucina Alfabeto is open for dinner from 5-9pm. Please visit Open Table or call 412-435-1111 to make a reservation.