Hero Bandleader Yoshio Toyama owes his career in jazz to the city of New Orleans. With the Wonderful World Jazz Foundation, he says thank you in a language everyone understands: music.

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YOSHIO TOYAMA HELPS KIDS IN NEW NAME • YOSHIO TOYAMA, 66

ORLEANS TOOT THEIR OWN HORNS. MISSION • Donating musical instruments to schools and aid groups BY SHARON MCDONNELL PHOTOGRAPH BY YUI NATSUYAGI in New Orleans through Wonderful World Jazz Foundation, an organization founded by Toyama and his wife, Keiko. At age 14, Toyama started playing trumpet and fell in love with Louis Armstrong’s music, which inspired him to delve deeper into the culture of Armstrong’s hometown. “It was a shock to learn that schools in the birthplace of jazz had very poor musical instruments,” Toyama says. “I was deeply moved to read in

Armstrong’s autobiography that he came from the poorest slum. He was sent to a boys home, where he learned to play music. It changed his life.”

MOTIVATION • “We want to remind people of Armstrong’s life and spread his music, love and spirit,” Toyama says.

“After World War II, the U.S. helped Japanese people with the kindest of hearts. So this is also a big thanks from

Japanese fans to New Orleans for giving the world such a wonderful present called jazz.”

FAVORITE SONGS • “What a Wonderful World” and “When the Saints Go Marchin’ In.”