Recorded on June 22 - 24, 1976
Reissued as part of Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band: Mosaic Select 33 in 2008.
In the 1970s, husband and wife team Toshiko Akiyoshi and Lew Tabackin recorded a series of albums for RCA. Among them, I like Insights best because it contains some of their most subtle and expressive music. Akiyoshi's compositions here are particularly striking. She's able to express aspects of her Japanese heritage and fully integrate them in a big band context.
This is the 3rd of 7 albums released by RCA in the 1970s, and all are worth careful attention. The band later recorded on the Ascent label and was given great exposure on CD to the present day. It's tempting to focus on the Japanese elements of the music, but basically this is a swinging big band that plays Toshiko's compositions and arrangements. One unique feature of the arrangements is the 5 or 6-part sections played by either the reeds or the brass. Each instrument locks into a part of a chord and roars through rapid ensemble sections in tight formation. It must be exhausting to play this music, and the effect is almost overwhelming. Lew Tabackin is a strong soloist on tenor and flute. The band is first rate.
ReplyDeleteYou might find an old video of a concert called Strive for Jive, where you can see how the leader directs the band and how the section ensembles are executed. (Warning, the titles shown to identify the musicians as they solo are all mixed up).
Obviously, it was a huge economic undertaking in the 1970s to maintain a big band, especially one based in LA and Tokyo simultaneously. Credit to Toshiko!