. >> akiyoshi moved to the u.s. in 1956.azz world was very competitive and she met with discrimination both as a japanese and as a woman. you often choose "long yellow road" to start your live concert. >> we -- what they call yellow rice. when i was in japan i was playing like somebody else because that's the only way i knew how to play, from a record. when i went to states, i realized that it's not okay to be somebody else, i have to find my own idiosyncrasy. it's a tough job. it's a long way to become a decent jazz player. i sought about that. that's where the title came about, "it's a long yellow road." ♪ >> reporter: in 1973, together with her husband, sacks player, akiyoshi formed a big band including many japanese motifs into her bands. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: how did you find your originality? >> it was -- european melody, harmony, what have you, i wasn't born in america. i have a different background and i decided probably it my job it is to try and impute some of my culture into jazz history and perhaps make it a little bi