Japanese-American jazz pianist, composer/arranger, and band leader. Born December 12, 1929 in Liaoyang, Manchuria (now part of China).

Among a very few successful female jazz instrumentalists of her generation, she is recognized as a major figure in jazz composition. She has received 14 Grammy nominations, and was the first woman to win the Best Arranger and Composer awards in Down Beat magazine's Readers Poll. In 2007, she was named an NEA Jazz Master by the US National Endowment For The Arts.

Lives in New York City, with her husband, Lew Tabackin.
Mother of Monday Michiru through a previous marriage to saxophonist Charlie Mariano.