The first groups that rehearsed at Giant were Big Bands. Studio A was big enough to comfortably hold 25 musicians sitting down with music stands. It was early 1982 and Studio A was my living room. It was a pleasure to have Toshiko’s band raising the rafters in my house. In those days among the jazz guys, Giant was just known as Fred’s place.
![Toshiko Akiyoshi sax section](https://giantstudios.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/25ToshikoAkiyoshi-600x401.jpg)
![Toshiko Akiyoshi trombone section](https://giantstudios.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/26ToshikoAkiyoshi-600x392.jpg)
![Toshiko Akiyoshi Big Band](https://giantstudios.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/28ToshikoAkiyoshi-600x392.jpg)