One of the few recorded meetings of alto saxophonist
Charlie Mariano and pianist
Toshiko Akioshi in the studio – quite strange given that they were a couple at the time! The session's easily one of the last great American sessions by either player – a work that shows
Mariano's alto really building on the strengths of his work in the 50s, and
Akioshi's piano shedding some of its early bop influences, and going for the richly-toned sound that would serve her greatly in the 70s. The long tracks here offer plenty of space for
Charlie's sharp tone to really do its thing – and that raspy warmth of the 50s is even more deeply soulful at this point – and augmented by a new sense of composition that gives the record some of its best tracks. There's almost a nascent sense of spiritualism here – quite unusual for the time – and titles include "When You Meet Her", "
Toshiko's Elegy", "Deep River", and "Little T".
(180 gram pressing – remastered by Bernie Grundman from the original tapes!)