One decision that faces jazz musicians toward the start of their careers is whether to continue the traditions of what's gone before them or to try and strike out in a new direction.
Pianist Yuki Futami, 26, has chosen the former path and has just released his debut album, "Banzai Oscar," which is a tribute to the popular and influential Canadian pianist Oscar Peterson (1925-2007).
Peterson is considered by many to be one of the greatest pianists in the history of jazz, with a reputation for technical brilliance. Emerging in the late 1940s and brought to larger audiences by impresario Norman Granz, Peterson enjoyed a successful career that lasted more than six decades.