Toshiko AKIYOSHI Quintet - Toshiko at Top of the Gate, Live 1968

Toshiko AKIYOSHI Quintet - Toshiko at Top of the Gate, Live 1968

Jazz

Hear Toshiko play some tunes that would later be made famous by her amazing big band in a small group featuring some of the greatest musicians in modern jazz. KENNY DORHAM & TOSHIKO!!!! (from 1968)
This rare CD is killing!
By  Gary S. Stager.
**
The Toshiko Akiyoshi Quintet was recorded live during a 1969 concert at the Top of the Gate; her group includes her husband Lew Tabackin on tenor sax and flute, the late trumpeter Kenny Dorham (in one of his final recordings prior to his premature death in 1972), plus bassist Ron Carter and drummer Mickey Roker. The distortion on this live date is rather noticeable for a commercial recording made in the late 1960s (Dorham is particularly lost in the mix at times) but this is likely due to the limitations of the venue. "Opus No. Zero" almost sounds as if it would fit in the playbook of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, with its stop-and-go hard bop rhythm, while "The First Night" is a blend of hard bop and a beautiful line featuring Tabackin's flute in unison with his wife's piano. "Let's Roll in Sake" is a gospel-drenched number in the spirit of Cannonball Adderley. Akiyoshi also delves into bossa nova with arrangements of "How Insensitive" and "Morning of the Carnival," the latter featuring a potent solo by Dorham. Only reissued on CD in Japan during 2000, this release was already out of print less than a year later and will be difficult to find if one waits very long to search for it.
By Ken Dryden. AMG.
**
Toshiko Akiyoshi- Piano
Kenny Dorham- Trumpet
Lew Tabackin- Tenor Sax, Flute
Ron Carter- Bass
Mickey Roker- Drums
**
01. Introduction 0:35
02. Opus No. Zero  8:10
03. The First Night  3:15
04. Phrygian Waterfall 3:50
05. Let's Roll in Sake  3:15
06. How Insensitive  3:26
07. Morning of the Carnival  3:17
08. The Night Song  3:30
09. Willow Weep for Me  2:25
10. My Elegy  7:30
**

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Toshiko AKIYOSHI & Lew TABAKIN Big Band - Insights 1976

Toshiko AKIYOSHI & Lew TABAKIN Big Band - Insights 1976

Jazz

Toshiko Akiyoshi co-led (with her husband Lew Tabackin) one of the most exciting post-bop bands for several decades until finally disbanding it early in the 21st century. These 1976 studio sessions make up one of her best overall albums, which includes performances of four originals. "Studio J" actually dates from 1957, while the pianist was studying at Berklee, and was originally recorded in a trio setting. Akiyoshi stretches out for several choruses, and Bill Reichenbach contributes a pair of solid trombone solos. "Transience" is a richly textured ballad that showcases baritone saxophonist Bill Perkins, trombonist Britt Woodman (a Duke Ellington alum), and Gary Foster on soprano sax. "Sumie" features Tabackin's mesmerizing flute (an instrument for which he should receive wider acclaim); he also uses a piccolo later in the piece. "Minamata" is an elaborate three-part suite that features a 13-year-old vocalist (Michiru Mariano), a fine flügelhorn solo by Bobby Shew, and narration by several Japanese artists, resulting in a stunning tone poem. Sadly, this rewarding RCA LP has not been reissued in the United States, though it was put out by BMG in Japan in 2002.
By Ken Dryden.
**
Insights is the fourth studio recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band and was voted "Jazz Album of the Year" in the 1978 Down Beat magazine critic's poll. It received the Swing Journal magazine 1976 Gold Disk prize in Japan and was nominated for a 1978 Grammy award in the USA for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance by a Big Band.
**
Toshiko Akiyoshi– Piano
Lew Tabackin– Tenor Saxophone and Flute
Tom Peterson– Tenor Saxophone
Dick Spencer– Alto Saxophone
Gary Foster– Alto Saxophone
Bill Perkins– Baritone Saxophone
Steven Huffsteter– Trumpet
Bobby Shew– Trumpet
Mike Price– Trumpet
Richard Cooper– Trumpet (Tracks 1, 2, 3)
Jerry Hey– Trumpet (Track 4)
Bill Reichenbach– Trombone
Charlie Loper– Trombone
Britt Woodman– Trombone
Phil Teele– Bass Trombone
Don Baldwin– Bass
Peter Donald– Drums
Guest Artists:
Hisao Kanze– Utai / No Chant (Track 4, "Minamata")
Tadao Kamei– Otsuzumi (Track 4, "Minamata")
Hayao Uzawa– Kotsuzumi (Track 4, "Minamata")
Michiru Mariano– Voice (Track 4, "Minamata")
Hiromitsu Katada– Kakko (Track 3, "SUMIE")
**
01. Studio J 6:07
02. Transience 4:40
03. Sumie 7:55
04. Minamata (suite) 21:36
    a) Peaceful Village
    b) Prosperity & Consequence
    c) Epilogue
**

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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
**
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