The Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band was a 16 piece jazz big band created by pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi and tenor saxophone / flutist Lew Tabackin in Los Angeles in 1973. In 1982 the principles moved from Los Angeles to New York city and re-formed the group with new members under the name, The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin. Akiyoshi arranged all of the music for the band and composed nearly all of the music recorded by the group over a 30 year period. Tabackin served as the band's featured soloist on tenor saxophone and flute. The group recorded 22 albums, toured in North America, Japan and Europe and, after the move to New York, had regular performances at the jazz club "Birdland" before disbanding in 2003. The band's recordings received several Grammy nominations and regularly scored high in Down Beat magazine's critic's and reader's polls.
Discography
Awards
Down Beat magazine Critic's Poll winner:
- Jazz Album of the Year: 1978 (Insights)
- Big Band: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
- Arranger: 1979, 1982, 1990, 1995, 1996 (Akiyoshi)
- Composer: 1981, 1982 (Akiyoshi)
- Flute: 1980 (Tabackin)
Grammy award nominations (ref: LA Times Awards database):
- Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band: 1976 (Long Yellow Road), 1977 (Road Time), 1978 (Insights), 1979 (Kogun), 1980 (Farewell), 1981 (Tanuki's Night Out), 1984 (Ten Gallon Shuffle), 1985 (March of the Tadpoles), 1992 (Carnegie Hall Concert), 1994 (Desert Lady / Fantasy).
- Best Arrangement on an Instrumental: 1981 (for "A Bit Byas'd"), 1983 (for "Remembering Bud"), 1985 (for "March of the Tadpoles"), 1994 (for "Bebop").
Stereo Review magazine (US)
- Jazz Album of the Year: 1976[1] (Long Yellow Road)
Swing Journal (Japanese jazz magazine) awards:
- Gold Disk: 1976 (Insights), Silver Disk: 1974 (Kogun), 1979 (Salted Gingko Nuts), 1996 (Four Seasons of Morita Village)
References / External links
- All Music Guide
- Down Beat magazine
- A short (~90 sec.) performance video clip (posted by the copyright holder, VIEW Video).
- LA Times (Grammy) Awards database
| Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band Discography |
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| Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band albums |
| Kogun • Long Yellow Road • Tales of a Courtesan (Oirantan) • Road Time • Insights • March of the Tadpoles • Live at Newport '77 • Live at Newport II • Salted Gingko Nuts • Sumi-e • Farewell • From Toshiko with Love / Tanuki's Night Out • European Memoirs |
| Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra albums |
| Ten Gallon Shuffle • Wishing Peace • Carnegie Hall Concert • Desert Lady – Fantasy • Four Seasons of Morita Village • Monopoly Game • Tribute to Duke Ellington • Hiroshima - Rising from the Abyss • Last Live in Blue Note Tokyo |
| Compilation albums |
| NOVUS Series ‘70: The Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band • Eternal Best / Best 8 • The Best of Toshiko Akiyoshi |
| Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra Video Performances |
| My Elegy • Strive for Jive |
