Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band

The Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
Origin Los Angeles, California
Genres Jazz, Big band, Bebop
Years active 1973–1982
Labels RCA / Victor, others
The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin
Origin New York City
Genres Jazz, Big band, Bebop
Years active 1983–2003
Labels Sony / Columbia, Victor, others

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.

Discography

Honors and awards

Down Beat magazine Critic's Poll winner:[1]

Down Beat Magazine Reader's Poll winner:[2]

  • 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:[3]

Stereo Review magazine (US):[4]

Swing Journal (Japanese jazz magazine) awards:[5]

References / External links

  1. ^ Down Beat magazine Critic's Poll archives. (link) Accessed 10 November 2006.
  2. ^ Down Beat magazine Readers Poll winners database "archives" Accessed 2010 March.
  3. ^ "The Envelope" awards database, Los Angeles Times (link). Accessed 29 November 2006.
  4. ^ NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships: Toshiko Akiyoshi (link) Accessed 11 November 2007
  5. ^ Swing Journal Jazz Disk Awards archive at JazzCD.jp (Japanese link) Accessed 3 January 2007.