Sunday, October 11, 2009

The Toshiko AKIYOSHI & Lew TABACKIN Big Band - Tales Of A Courtesan (Oirantan) 1975


The Toshiko AKIYOSHI & Lew TABACKIN Big Band - Tales Of A Courtesan (Oirantan)  1975
Label: BMG / RVC
Audio CD: (January 29, 2002)

Jazz
   
Were I forced to choose between this one and "Kogan" among Toshiko's remarkable big band recordings for RCA, it would be a tough call. This one shows off perhaps a bit more of Lew Tabackin's virtuosity as a driving, Rollins-inspired tenorist but also as a killer flautist (especially on the title cut, on which he virtually becomes the subtle, complex, and conflicted courtesan).

But you no longer have to choose. For little more than the cost of this import, you can pick up both "Tales of a Courtesan" and "Kogan" along with several additional sessions the brilliant pianist-composer-conductor made for RCA (including her masterwork, "Minemata"). They're all included in the recent Mosaic Box Set, but best not to linger. It's in a limited edition (about 5,000 copies), and for at least some of these historic collections (though in this case the music is especially timeless) those finite copies disappear in a hurry. Besides Toshiko and Tabackin and arguably the best big band of its time, "Tales" features distinguished solo work by trombonist Britt Woodman, trumpeter Bobby Shew, saxophonist Bill Perkins, and a rhythm section that cooks up a storm with no gratuitous help from the sound engineer.
By Samuel Chell.
**
Virtually every Toshiko Akiyoshi big-band recording is well worth acquiring for not only does Akiyoshi have a highly appealing and original arranging style but her orchestra always boasts top soloists. In addition to Lew Tabackin on tenor and flute, Tales of a Courtesan features worthy improvisations by altoists Gary Foster and Dick Spencer, trombonist Britt Woodman, trumpeter Bobby Shew and pianist Akiyoshi. "Road Time Shuffle" and "Strive for Jive" are particulary memorable.
By Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
**
Toshiko Akiyoshi– Piano
Lew Tabackin– Tenor Sax, Flute, Piccolo
Tom Peterson– Tenor Sax, Alto Flute, Clarinet
Dick Spencer– Alto Sax, Flute, Clarinet
Gary Foster– Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Flute, Clarinet
Bill Perkins– Baritone Sax, Alto Flute, Bass Clarinet
Bobby Shew– Trumpet
Steven Huffsteter– Trumpet
Mike Price– Trumpet
Richard Cooper– Trumpet
Jim Sawyer– Trombone (tracks 3, 6)
Bill Reichenbach– Trombone (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5)
Charlie Loper– Trombone
Britt Woodman– Trombone
Phil Teele– Bass Trombone
Don Baldwin– Bass
Peter Donald– Drums
Guest Artist;
King Errisson– Congas (track 6, "Village")
**
01. Road Time Shuffle 6:30
02. Tales of a Courtesan (Oirantan) 9:15
03. Strive for Jive 7:51
04. I Ain't Gonna Ask No More 6:11
05. Interlude 4:17
06. Village 11:09
**
Nopassword
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