Mosaic Select: Akiyoshi/Tabackin Big Band (MS-033)
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Mosaic Select: Akiyoshi/Tabackin Big Band
Mosaic Selects
0886971994025
COM 122217
MS-033
JAZZ
3
Mosaic Select: Akiyoshi/Tabackin Big Band
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In 1965, pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi returned to New York after three years in Japan. Soon thereafter, she formed an alliance with saxophonist Lew Tabackin that resulted in a short-lived quartet and a marriage that is thriving some 40 years later. In 1972, they moved to Los Angeles where they would soon change the course of their musical careers.
With the formation of their 16-piece orchestra in 1973, Toshiko's image shifted from being a great bop-inspired pianist to being a composer-arranger of great invention. Her scores are varied and rich in tonal colors, often drawing on traditional Japanese music as well as jazz. The band, loaded with the cream of the LA scene and led by Lew, swings the hell out of her inventive, intricate arrangements.
The orchestra thrived until 1981 when Lew and Toshiko relocated in New York and formed a new jazz orchestra. Keeping a big band together isn't easy, but this group's popularity in Japan, exposure in major festivals and flow of albums on RCA Victor kept them intact and constantly creative.
With the formation of their 16-piece orchestra in 1973, Toshiko's image shifted from being a great bop-inspired pianist to being a composer-arranger of great invention. Her scores are varied and rich in tonal colors, often drawing on traditional Japanese music as well as jazz. The band, loaded with the cream of the LA scene and led by Lew, swings the hell out of her inventive, intricate arrangements.
The orchestra thrived until 1981 when Lew and Toshiko relocated in New York and formed a new jazz orchestra. Keeping a big band together isn't easy, but this group's popularity in Japan, exposure in major festivals and flow of albums on RCA Victor kept them intact and constantly creative.
Their five studio albums (1974-77) form the great initial opus by this distinctive orchestra; they are Kogun, Long Yellow Road, Tales Of A Courtesan, Insights and March Of The Tadpoles.
Personnel & dates:
(A) John Madrid, Don Rader, Mike Price, trumpets; Bobby Shew, trumpet, fluegelhorn; Charles Loper, Jim Sawyer, Britt Woodman, trombones; Phil Teele, bass trombone; Dick Spencer, Gary Foster, alto saxes, flutes, clarinets; Lew Tabackin, tenor sax, flute; Tom Peterson, tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, clarinet; Bill Perkins, baritone sax, soprano sax, bass clarinet; Toshiko Akiyoshi, piano; Gene Cherico, bass; Peter Donald, drums, Scott Elsworth, voice.
Recorded at Sage & Sound, Los Angeles on April 3 & 4, 1974
“Long Yellow Road” originally issued on LONG YELLOW ROAD (RCA JLP1-1350)
All other selections originally issued on KOGUN (RCA JLP1-0236)
(B) Stu Blumberg, Don Rader, Mike Price, Bobby Shew, trumpets
Charles Loper, Bruce Paulson, Britt Woodman, trombones;
Phil Teele, bass trombone, contrabass trombone; Dick Spencer, Gary Foster, alto saxes, flutes, clarinets;
Lew Tabackin, tenor sax, flute, piccolo; Tom Peterson, tenor sax, alto flute, clarinet;
Bill Perkins, baritone sax, alto flute, bass clarinet; Toshiko Akiyoshi, piano; Gene Cherico, bass;
Peter Donald, drums, Tokuko Kaga, vocal on Children In The Temple Ground.
Lynn Nicholson replaces Stu Blumberg on Quadrille, Anyone? and Since Perry/Yet Another Tear.
Joe Roccisano replaces Gary Foster on Opus Number Zero.
Chuck Flores replaces Peter Donald on Opus Number Zero and Since Perry/Yet Another Tearl
Recorded at Sage & Sound, Los Angeles on February 28, March 3 & 4, 1975
Originally issued on LONG YELLOW ROAD (RCA JLP1-1350)
(C1) Steven Huffsteter, Richard Cooper, Mike Price, Bobby Shew, trumpets;
Charles Loper, Bill Reichenbach, Britt Woodman, trombones;
Phil Teele, bass trombone, contrabass trombone; Dick Spencer, alto sax, flute, clarinet;
Gary Foster, alto sax, soprano sax, flute, clarinet: Lew Tabackin, tenor sax, flute, piccolo;
Tom Peterson, tenor sax, alto flute, clarinet; Bill Perkins, baritone sax, alto flute, bass clarinet;
Toshiko Akiyoshi, piano; Don Baldwin, bass; Peter Donald, drums.
Recorded at T.G.G. Inc Sunset-Highland Studio, Los Angeles on December 1 & 3,
Originally issued on TALES OF A COURTESAN (RCA JLP1-0723)
(C2) as above except Jim Sawyer replaces Bill Reichenbach and King Errison, congas is added on Village.
Recorded at T.G.G. Inc Sunset-Highland Studio, Los Angeles on December 2, 1975
Originally issued on TALES OF A COURTESAN (RCA JLP1-0723)
(D1) Steven Huffsteter, Richard Cooper, Mike Price, Bobby Shew, trumpets;
Charles Loper, Bill Reichenbach, Britt Woodman, trombones;
Phil Teele, bass trombone, contrabass trombone; Dick Spencer, alto sax; Gary Foster, alto sax;
Lew Tabackin, tenor sax, flute; Tom Peterson, tenor sax; Bill Perkins, baritone sax;
Toshiko Akiyoshi, piano; Don Baldwin, bass; Peter Donald, drums.
Hiromitsu Katada is added
Recorded at RCA Studio A, Hollywood on June 22-24, 1976
Originally issued on INSIGHTS (RCA AFL1-2678)
(D2) as above except Jerry Hey replaces Richard Cooper and add Michiru Mariano, vocal;
Hisao Kanze, uta; Tadao Kamei, ohtsuzumi; Hayao Uzawa, kotsuzumi.
Recorded at RCA Studio A, Hollywood on June 22-24, 1976
Originally issued on INSIGHTS (RCA AFL1-2678)
(E) Steven Huffsteter, Richard Cooper, Mike Price, Bobby Shew, trumpets;
Charles Loper, Bill Reichenbach, Rick Culver, trombones;
Phil Teele, bass trombone, contrabass trombone; Dick Spencer, alto sax;
Gary Foster, alto sax; Lew Tabackin, tenor sax, flute; Tom Peterson, tenor sax;
Bill Perkins, baritone sax; Toshiko Akiyoshi, piano; Don Baldwin, bass; Peter Donald, drums.
Emil Richards, percussion, is added on Notorious Tourist From The East.
Recorded at RCA Studio A, Hollywood on January 10 & 11, 1977
Originally issued on MARCH OF THE TADPOLES (RCA Japan RVP 6178)
DISC ONE
01. Elegy (A)
02. Memory (A)
03. Kogun (A)
04. American Ballad (A)
05. Henpecked Old Man (A)
06. Long Yellow Road (A)
07. The First Night (B)
08. Opus Number Zero (B)
09. Quardrille, Anyone? (B)
10. Children In The Temple Ground (B)
DISC TWO
01. Since Perry/Yet Another Tear (B)
02. Road Time Shuffle (C1)
03. Tales Of A Courtesan (Oirantan) (C1)
04. Strive For Jive (C2)
05. I Ain’t Gonna Ask No More (C1)
06. Interlude (C1)
07. Village (C2)
08. Studio J (D1)
09. Transcience (D1)
10. Sumie (D1)
DISC THREE
01. Minamata (D2)
a. Peaceful Village
b. Prosperity & Consequence
c Epilogue
02. March Of The Tadpoles (E)
03. Mobile (E)
04. Deracinated Flower (E)
05. Yellow Is Mellow (E)
06. Notorious Tourist From East (E)
All compositions by Toshiko Akiyoshi, except “Yet Another Tear” by Lew Tabackin.
