Lew Tabackin
Encyclopedia
Lew Tabackin is a jazz
flautist
and a tenor saxophonist. He is married to Toshiko Akiyoshi
, who is a jazz pianist
and a composer
/arranger
.
and also studied music with composer Vincent Persichetti
. In 1962 he graduated from the Conservatory and, after a stint with the U.S. Army
, worked with Tal Farlow
. He also worked in a combo that included Elvin Jones
, Donald Byrd
, and Roland Hanna
. Later he would have a chair in The Dick Cavett Show
's band.
He formed a quartet with Toshiko Akiyoshi in the late 1960s, and in 1973 co-founded the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
which later became the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin, playing bebop in Duke Ellington
-influenced arrangements and compositions by Akiyoshi. Tabackin was principal soloist for the big band/orchestra from 1973 through 2003.
in their mission to save the homes and the lives of America's elderly jazz and blues musicians including musicians that survived Hurricane Katrina. He sits on the Advisory Committee of the Foundation since 2002.
magazine Critic's Poll winner:
Down Beat Magazine Reader's Poll winner:
Grammy award nominations:
Stereo Review
magazine (US
):
Swing Journal (Japanese jazz magazine) awards:
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
and a tenor saxophonist. He is married to Toshiko Akiyoshi
Toshiko Akiyoshi
is a Japanese American jazz pianist, composer/arranger and bandleader. Among a very few successful female instrumentalists of her generation in jazz, she is also recognized as a major figure in jazz composition. She has received 14 Grammy nominations, and she was the first woman to win the Best...
, who is a jazz pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and a composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
/arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
.
Biography
Tabackin studied flute at the Philadelphia Conservatory of MusicUniversity of the Arts (Philadelphia)
The University of the Arts is one of the United States' oldest universities dedicated to the arts. Its campus makes up part of the Avenue of the Arts in Center City, Philadelphia...
and also studied music with composer Vincent Persichetti
Vincent Persichetti
Vincent Ludwig Persichetti was an American composer, teacher, and pianist. An important musical educator and writer, Persichetti was a native of Philadelphia...
. In 1962 he graduated from the Conservatory and, after a stint with the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, worked with Tal Farlow
Tal Farlow
Talmage Holt Farlow was an American jazz guitarist. Nicknamed the "Octopus", Farlow's extremely large hands spread over the fretboard as if they were tentacles. He is considered one of the all-time great jazz guitarists. Michael G...
. He also worked in a combo that included Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
, Donald Byrd
Donald Byrd
Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II, is an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd is best known as one of the only bebop jazz musicians who successfully pioneered the funk and soul genres while simultaneously remaining a...
, and Roland Hanna
Roland Hanna
Roland Hanna was an American Jazz pianist.Hanna studied classical piano as a boy, but was strongly interested in jazz. This increased after his time in military service.He studied at Eastman School of Music and Juilliard School...
. Later he would have a chair in The Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks, including:* ABC daytime ...
's band.
He formed a quartet with Toshiko Akiyoshi in the late 1960s, and in 1973 co-founded the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
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 principals moved from Los Angeles to New York city and re-formed the group with new members under the name,...
which later became the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin, playing bebop in Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
-influenced arrangements and compositions by Akiyoshi. Tabackin was principal soloist for the big band/orchestra from 1973 through 2003.
Jazz Foundation of America
Tabackin has become a great supporter of The Jazz Foundation of AmericaJazz Foundation of America
The Jazz Foundation of America is a non-profit organization based in Manhattan, New York founded in 1989. The JFA’s programs help jazz and blues musicians in need of emergency funds and connect them with performance opportunities in schools and the community...
in their mission to save the homes and the lives of America's elderly jazz and blues musicians including musicians that survived Hurricane Katrina. He sits on the Advisory Committee of the Foundation since 2002.
As leader or co-leader
- Tabackin (1974) also released as Let the Tape Roll
- Daydream (1976)
- Dual Nature (1976)
- Trackin (1976)
- Tenor Gladness, with Warne Marsh (1976)
- Rites of Pan (1977)
- Vintage Tenor (1978)
- Lew Tabackin Meets the Tadpoles (1979)
- Black and Tan Fantasy (1979)
- Phil Woods & Lew Tabackin (1980)
- Threedom (1980)
- Duo: John Lewis & Lew Tabackin (1981)
- My Old Flame (1982)
- Lew Tabackin Quartet with Randy Brecker,... (1983)
- Angelica (1985)
- Desert Lady (1989)
- I'll Be Seeing You (1992)
- What a Little Moonlight Can Do (1994)
- Live at Vartan's (1994)
- L' Archiduc - Round About Five (1996)
- Tenority (1996)
- In a Sentimental Mood (1998)
- Pyramid (1999)
- Tanuki's Night Out - Lew Tabackin Trio (2002)
- Vintage: Duke Ellington SongbookVintage (Akiyoshi, Tabackin album)Vintage – Duke Ellington Songbook is a jazz duo album recorded by pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi and tenor saxophonist / flutist Lew Tabackin. It was released in Japan in June 2008 on the T-toc Records label...
(2008) - Live in Paris - Lew Tabackin Trio (2008)
- Lew Tabackin Quartet (2010)
Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
- KogunKogunKogun is the first album recorded by the Los Angeles-based Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. It was released in Japan by Victor in 1974 and received the Swing Journal Silver Disk prize for that year...
(1974) - Long Yellow RoadLong Yellow Road, Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big BandLong Yellow Road is the second recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. The album was nominated for a 1976 Grammy award in the category, "Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band" and was named "Jazz album of the year" by Stereo Review magazine.All tracks from this album are also...
(1975) - Tales of a Courtesan (Oirantan)Tales of a Courtesan (Oirantan)Tales of a Courtesan is the third recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. It is also sometimes referred to by the title HANA KAI TAN in rōmaji listings of the Japanese album title....
(1975) also known as HANA KAI TAN (花魁譚) - Road TimeRoad Time, Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big BandRoad Time was the first live concert recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. The recording was made at three concerts in Tōkyō and Ōsaka, during a 1976 Japan tour and the double album received a 1977 Grammy nomination in the "Best Jazz Performance - Big Band" category.-Track...
(1976) - Insights (1976)
- March of the TadpolesMarch of the TadpolesMarch of the Tadpoles was the fifth studio recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. The album was released in Japan in 1977 by Japan Victor Records and much later in the USA on the Ascent Records label...
(1977) - Live at Newport '77Live at Newport '77Live at Newport '77 was the second live recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band and was followed by another release, Live at Newport II recorded on the same day...
(1977) - Live at Newport IILive at Newport IILive at Newport II was the third live recording released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band and the second release of music from the band's performance at the 1977 Newport Jazz Festival ....
(1977) - Salted Gingko NutsSalted Gingko Nutsis the sixth studio album released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. It is also known by the Japanese title, SHIO GIN NAN...
(1978) also known as SHIO GIN NAN (塩銀杏) - Sumi-eSumi-e (Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band)Sumi-e was the seventh studio recording released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. Not to be confused with the 1971 Toshiko Akiyoshi Quartet release, Sumie / The Personal Aspect in Jazz...
(1979) - FarewellFarewell (Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band)Farewell is the eighth studio recording released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. The album received a 1980 Grammy award nomination for "Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band."- Track listing :LP side A# "After Mr...
(1980) - From Toshiko with LoveFrom Toshiko With LoveFrom Toshiko With Love is the twelfth recording released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band . It was released in Japan by Victor Records and in the U.S. by Jazz America Marketing – not to be confused with the 2002 Lew Tabackin Trio recording of the same name ...
(1981) also released as Tanuki's Night Out - European MemoirsEuropean MemoirsEuropean Memoirs is the tenth studio recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. Akiyoshi was nominated for a 1983 Grammy award in the Best Instrumental Arrangement category for the arrangement of "Remembering Bud" on this album.This would be the final recording of the Los...
(1982)
Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin
- Ten Gallon ShuffleTen Gallon ShuffleTen Gallon Shuffle is the first recording released by the New York-based Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin...
(1984) - Wishing PeaceWishing PeaceWishing Peace is the second recording released by the New York based Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin after 13 previous releases with their Los Angeles-based Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band...
(1986) - Carnegie Hall ConcertCarnegie Hall Concert (Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra)Carnegie Hall Concert is the third recording released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin. The album received a 1992 Grammy award nomination in the category "Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance."-Track listing:...
(1992) - Desert Lady / FantasyDesert Lady / FantasyDesert Lady / Fantasy is the fourth recording released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin. Not to be confused with the 1989 Lew Tabackin Concord Records release, Desert Lady...
(1993) - Four Seasons of Morita VillageFour Seasons of Morita VillageFour Seasons of Morita Village is the fifth album recorded by the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin. It was released in 1996 and won the Swing Journal Silver Disk Award for that year. The central "Four Seasons of Morita Village Suite" was commissioned by Morita Village in...
(1996) - Monopoly GameMonopoly Game (Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra)Monopoly Game is the sixth recording released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin. The three tracks, "Kyoto Paradox", Caribbean Dream" and "Urban Rhapsody" make up the three part "Suite for Koto and Jazz Orchestra" commissioned jointly by the San Francisco Jazz Festival...
(1998) - Tribute to Duke Ellington (1999)
- Hiroshima - Rising from the AbyssHiroshima - Rising From The AbyssThe jazz big band album Hiroshima - Rising From The Abyss is the eighth audio recording released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin. It was released in 2001 by Video Arts Music in Japan and True Life in the USA...
(2001) - Last Live in Blue Note TokyoLast Live In Blue Note TokyoLast Live in Blue Note Tokyo is the ninth recording released by the New York-based Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin. Not to be confused with the 1997 Toshiko Akiyoshi Trio release, Live at Blue Note Tokyo '97.-Track listing:...
(2003) - Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra in ShanghaiToshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra in ShanghaiIn Shanghai is a live concert recording made by the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin in October, 2010 in Shanghai. An audio CD version was released by Pony Canyon in Japan in January, 2011 and a DVD video version was released in March of the same year...
(2011)
Video
- My ElegyMy ElegyMy Elegy is a concert video recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin. It was released in Japan in 1984 by LaserDisc Corp...
(1984) - Strive For JiveStrive For JiveThe Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra: Strive for Jive is a live video recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin in a jazz club setting...
(1992) - In ShanghaiToshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra in ShanghaiIn Shanghai is a live concert recording made by the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin in October, 2010 in Shanghai. An audio CD version was released by Pony Canyon in Japan in January, 2011 and a DVD video version was released in March of the same year...
(2011)
Akiyoshi - Tabackin Big Band compilations
- Mosaic Select: Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big BandMosaic Select: Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big BandMosaic Select: Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band is a 3 CD compilation album released by Mosaic Records in October 2008 and is composed of the first five studio albums recorded by the LA-based Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band...
(Mosaic RecordsMosaic RecordsMosaic Records is an American specialist jazz record label, founded in 1983 by Michael Cuscuna and Charlie Lourie to issue coherent limited edition box sets of jazz recordings by individual musicians, which had fallen out-of-print...
, 2008) - NOVUS Series ‘70: The Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big BandToshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band (Novus Series '70)The Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band, Novus Series '70 is a compilation album of songs taken from the band's early RCA releases of 1974~1976.-Track listing:All songs orchestrated by Toshiko Akiyoshi...
(BMG / Novus) - Eternal Best / Best 8Eternal Best (Toshiko Akiyoshi)Eternal Best is a compilation album of songs taken from BMG Japan releases of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band and the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin.-Track listing:...
(BMG) - The Best of Toshiko AkiyoshiThe Best of Toshiko AkiyoshiThe Best of Toshiko Akiyoshi is a compilation album of songs taken from BMG Japan releases of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band and the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin.-Track listing:...
(BMG)
Awards and honors
Down BeatDown Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
magazine Critic's Poll winner:
Down Beat Magazine Reader's Poll winner:
- Big Band: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
- Flute: 1981, 1982
Grammy award nominations:
- Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band: 1976 (Long Yellow RoadLong Yellow Road, Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big BandLong Yellow Road is the second recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. The album was nominated for a 1976 Grammy award in the category, "Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band" and was named "Jazz album of the year" by Stereo Review magazine.All tracks from this album are also...
), 1977 (Road TimeRoad Time, Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big BandRoad Time was the first live concert recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. The recording was made at three concerts in Tōkyō and Ōsaka, during a 1976 Japan tour and the double album received a 1977 Grammy nomination in the "Best Jazz Performance - Big Band" category.-Track...
), 1978 (Insights), 1979 (KogunKogunKogun is the first album recorded by the Los Angeles-based Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. It was released in Japan by Victor in 1974 and received the Swing Journal Silver Disk prize for that year...
), 1980 (FarewellFarewell (Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band)Farewell is the eighth studio recording released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. The album received a 1980 Grammy award nomination for "Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band."- Track listing :LP side A# "After Mr...
), 1981 (Tanuki's Night OutFrom Toshiko With LoveFrom Toshiko With Love is the twelfth recording released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band . It was released in Japan by Victor Records and in the U.S. by Jazz America Marketing – not to be confused with the 2002 Lew Tabackin Trio recording of the same name ...
), 1984 (Ten Gallon ShuffleTen Gallon ShuffleTen Gallon Shuffle is the first recording released by the New York-based Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin...
), 1985 (March of the TadpolesMarch of the TadpolesMarch of the Tadpoles was the fifth studio recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. The album was released in Japan in 1977 by Japan Victor Records and much later in the USA on the Ascent Records label...
), 1992 (Carnegie Hall ConcertCarnegie Hall Concert (Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra)Carnegie Hall Concert is the third recording released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin. The album received a 1992 Grammy award nomination in the category "Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance."-Track listing:...
), 1994 (Desert Lady / FantasyDesert Lady / FantasyDesert Lady / Fantasy is the fourth recording released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin. Not to be confused with the 1989 Lew Tabackin Concord Records release, Desert Lady...
).
Stereo Review
Stereo Review
Stereo Review was an American magazine first published in 1958 by Ziff-Davis with the title HiFi and Music Review. It was one of a handful of magazines then available for the individual interested in high fidelity. Throughout its life it published a blend of record and equipment reviews, articles...
magazine (US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
):
- Jazz Album of the Year: 1976 (Long Yellow RoadLong Yellow Road, Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big BandLong Yellow Road is the second recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. The album was nominated for a 1976 Grammy award in the category, "Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band" and was named "Jazz album of the year" by Stereo Review magazine.All tracks from this album are also...
)
Swing Journal (Japanese jazz magazine) awards:
- Gold Disk: 1976 (Insights), Silver Disk: 1974 (KogunKogunKogun is the first album recorded by the Los Angeles-based Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. It was released in Japan by Victor in 1974 and received the Swing Journal Silver Disk prize for that year...
), 1979 (Salted Gingko NutsSalted Gingko Nutsis the sixth studio album released by the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. It is also known by the Japanese title, SHIO GIN NAN...
), 1996 (Four Seasons of Morita VillageFour Seasons of Morita VillageFour Seasons of Morita Village is the fifth album recorded by the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin. It was released in 1996 and won the Swing Journal Silver Disk Award for that year. The central "Four Seasons of Morita Village Suite" was commissioned by Morita Village in...
)