Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
Encyclopedia
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, 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 two groups over a 30 year period. Tabackin served as the bands' featured soloist on tenor saxophone and flute. The groups 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 bands' recordings received several Grammy
nominations and regularly scored high in Down Beat
magazine's critic's and reader's polls.
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:
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
created by pianist 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...
and tenor saxophone / flutist Lew Tabackin
Lew Tabackin
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.-Biography:...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1973. In 1982 the principals moved from Los Angeles to New York city
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
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 two groups over a 30 year period. Tabackin served as the bands' featured soloist on tenor saxophone and flute. The groups 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
Birdland (jazz club)
Birdland is a jazz club started in New York City on December 15, 1949. The original Birdland, which was located at 1678 Broadway, just north of West 52nd Street in Manhattan, was closed in 1965 due to increased rents, but it re-opened for one night in 1979...
" before disbanding in 2003. The bands' recordings received several Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nominations and regularly scored high in Down Beat
Down 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's critic's and reader's polls.
Honors and awards
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:
- 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, 1981 (Tabackin)
Down Beat Magazine Reader's Poll winner:
- Big Band: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
- Arranger: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1989, 1995 (Akiyoshi)
- Composer: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986 (Akiyoshi)
- Flute: 1981, 1982 (Tabackin)
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...
). - Best Arrangement on an Instrumental: 1981 (for "A Bit Byas'd"From 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 ...
), 1983 (for "Remembering Bud"European 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...
), 1985 (for "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...
"), 1994 (for "Bebop"Desert 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 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...
)