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 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

Honors and awards

Down Beat magazine Critic's Poll winner: [Down Beat magazine Critic's Poll archives. [http://www.downbeat.com/artists/window.asp?action=new&aid=712&aname=Down+Beat+Critics+Poll (link)] Accessed 2006 November 10.]
*Jazz Album of the Year: [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=704 1978] ("Insights")
*Big Band: [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=705 1979] , [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=706 1980] , [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=707 1981] , [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=708 1982] , [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=709 1983]
*Arranger: [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=705 1979] , [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=708 1982] , [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=716 1990] , [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=721 1995] , [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=722 1996] (Akiyoshi)
*Composer: [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=707 1981] , [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=708 1982] (Akiyoshi)
*Flute: [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=706 1980] , [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=707 1981] (Tabackin)
Grammy award nominations: ["The Envelope" awards database, Los Angeles Times [http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-landing,0,3713019.htmlstory (link)] . Accessed 2006 November 29.]
*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): [NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships: Toshiko Akiyoshi [http://www.nea.gov/national/jazz/jmCMS/master.php?id=2007_01 (link)] Accessed 2007 November 11]
*Jazz Album of the Year: 1976 ("Long Yellow Road") Swing Journal (Japanese jazz magazine) awards: [Swing Journal Jazz Disk Awards archive at JazzCD.jp [http://jazzcd.jp/award/1974.htm (Japanese link)] Accessed 2007 January 3.]
*Gold Disk: [http://jazzcd.jp/award/1976.htm 1976] ("Insights"), Silver Disk: [http://jazzcd.jp/award/1974.htm 1974] ("Kogun"), [http://jazzcd.jp/award/1979.htm 1979] ("Salted Gingko Nuts"), [http://jazzcd.jp/award/1996.htm 1996] ("Four Seasons of Morita Village")

References / External links

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:seh1z84ajyv6 All Music Guide]
* [http://www.downbeatjazz.com/artists/window.asp?action=new&aid=553&aname=Toshiko+Akiyoshi Down Beat magazine]
* [http://www.view.com/vidpreview1336.html A short (~90 sec.) performance video clip (posted by the copyright holder, VIEW Video)] .

Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band Discography