"As Akiyoshi explains in a liner note that accompanies Hiroshima--Rising From the Abyss, this particular musical project was first suggested to her and later commissioned by a Buddhist priest and jazz fan who hailed from the first city on which the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. Akiyoshi has visited Japan thematically often throughout her career, but she didn't feel she could compose anything about this horrific moment in history, she writes, until she saw a photograph taken at the time of a young woman emerging from a bomb shelter 'with beautiful eyes full of hope.'

"Premiered and recorded at a Hiroshima concert August 6, 2001, the anniversary of this fateful and unforgettable day, Hiroshima--Rising from the Abyss is an extended piece in three parts--Futility-Tragedy, Survivor Tales and Hope. Won Jang-Hyun adds drama and a sense of universality, to this tragedy.

"For more than thirty-five years, Toshiko Akiyoshi has reigned as one of the top composer-arrangers and ensemble leaders in the jazz world. Born in China, she moved to Japan in her teens right after World War Two, and as a pianist-composer, later became a major participant in Tokyo's lively music scene in the mid-1950s. She emigrated to the U. S. in 1956 and studied at Berklee, married alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano, and led groups with him for several years. She also collaborated with Charles Mingus on the bassist's infamous 1962 Town Hall Concert. Married to tenor saxophone and flute player Lew Tabackin since 1969, Akiyoshi settled in Los Angeles and formed a big band there that, in many ways, reflected the deep influence of Ellington and Mingus while incorporating other musical elements as well. Akiyoshi and Tabackin returned to New York in 1982."

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The jazz big band album Hiroshima - Rising From The Abyss is the eighth audio recording released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin. It was released in 2001 by Video Arts Music in Japan and True Life in the USA. Tracks 2~7 form the "Hiroshima - Rising From The Abyss" Suite.

Personnel

* Toshiko Akiyoshi – piano

* Lew Tabackin – tenor saxophone, flute

* Tom Christensen – tenor saxophone, flute

* Dave Pietro – alto saxophone, flute

* Jim Snidero – alto saxophone, flute

* Scott Robinson – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet

* Mike Ponella – trumpet

* Jim O'Conner – trumpet

* John Eckert – trumpet

*Jim Rotondi – trumpet

* Scott Whitfield – trombone

* Steve Armour – trombone

* Pat Hallaran – trombone

* Tim Newman – bass trombone

* Paul Gill – bass

* Andy Watson – drums

* Valtinho – percussion

Special guests:

* George Kawaguchi – drums

* Jang-Hyun Won – traditional Korean flute (daegeum)

* Ryoko Shigemori – reading

References / External Links

*Video Arts Music VACM-1189

*True Life Entertainment TLE-1000082

*Allmusic

*Down Beat magazine

* Larry Appelbaum review, JazzTimes magazine, 2003 July/August issue. () Accessed 14 August 2008.

Category:Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra albums

Category:2001 live albums