Lew Tabackin


Lewis Barry Tabackin is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and flutist. He is married to pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi with whom he has co-led large ensembles since the 1970s.
WWW Official Site

Biography

Tabackin started learning flute at age 12, followed by tenor saxophone at age 15. He has cited Al Cohn and Coleman Hawkins as influences on saxophone, while his flute role models include classical players such as William Kincaid, Julius Baker, and Jean-Pierre Rampal. Tabackin studied flute at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music and also studied music with composer Vincent Persichetti. In 1962 he graduated from the Conservatory and after serving with the U.S. Army worked with Tal Farlow. He also worked with Chuck Israels in New York City and a band that included Elvin Jones, Donald Byrd, and Roland Hanna. Later he was a member of The Dick Cavett Show band and The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen. He moved from New York to California with The Tonight Show in 1972. During this time he played with Shelly Manne and Billy Higgins.
Tabackin met Toshiko Akiyoshi in 1967 while he was playing in Clark Terry's band and she was invited to sit in for Don Friedman. They formed a quartet in the late 1960s, married in 1969, and in 1973 co-founded the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band in Los Angeles, which later became the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin, playing bebop in Duke Ellington-influenced arrangements and compositions by Akiyoshi. Tabackin was principal soloist for the band from 1973 through 2003.
Critic Scott Yanow describes Tabackin as "one of the few jazz musicians who has been able to develop completely different musical personalities on two instruments", with his forceful hard bop style on sax contrasting with his delicate flute playing.

Jazz Foundation of America

Tabackin supports the Jazz Foundation of America in its mission to help elderly jazz and blues musicians, including those affected by Hurricane Katrina. He has sat on the Advisory Committee of the Foundation since 2002.

Discography

As leader or co-leader

Tabackin – also released as Let the Tape Roll Day Dream Tenor Gladness with Warne Marsh Dual Nature Trackin' Rites of Pan Vintage Tenor – with Toshiyuki Miyama And His New Herd Lew Tabackin Meets the Tadpoles Black and Tan Fantasy Phil Woods/Lew Tabackin Threedom Duo: John Lewis & Lew Tabackin My Old Flame Lew Tabackin Quartet with Randy Brecker,... Angelica Desert Lady I'll Be Seeing You What a Little Moonlight Can Do Live at Vartan's L' Archiduc - Round About Five Tenority In a Sentimental Mood Pyramid Tanuki's Night Out - Lew Tabackin Trio Vintage: Duke Ellington Songbook – with Toshiko AkiyoshiLive in Paris - Lew Tabackin Trio Jazz na Hradě, Lew Tabackin Quartet Soundscapes The Eternal Duo! – with Toshiko Akiyoshi

Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band

Kogun Long Yellow Road Tales of a Courtesan (Oirantan) also known as HANA KAI TAN Road Time Insights March of the Tadpoles Live at Newport '77 Live at Newport II Salted Gingko Nuts also known as SHIO GIN NAN Sumi-e Farewell From Toshiko with Love also released as Tanuki's Night Out

Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin

Ten Gallon Shuffle Wishing Peace Carnegie Hall Concert Desert Lady / Fantasy Four Seasons of Morita Village Monopoly Game Tribute to Duke Ellington Hiroshima - Rising from the Abyss Last Live in Blue Note Tokyo

Akiyoshi - Tabackin Big Band compilations

Mosaic Select: Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band NOVUS Series '70: The Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band Eternal Best / Best 8

As sideman

With Toshiko AkiyoshiToshiko at Top of the Gate Toshiko Akiyoshi in Japan aka Long Yellow Road Jazz, the Personal Dimension Meditation Sumie Yes, I Have No 4 Beat Today Time Stream: Toshiko Plays Toshiko 50th Anniversary Concert in Japan
With Donald ByrdFancy Free Electric Byrd Kofi
With Benny Carter
With Harmonie Ensemble/New YorkTchaikovsky, Ellington, Strayhorn: Nutcracker Suites Henry Mancini: Music for Peter Gunn
With Shelly MannePlays Richard Rodgers' Musical "Rex" Essence
With Duke PearsonIntroducing Duke Pearson's Big Band Now Hear This I Don't Care Who Knows It
With Carla WhiteListen Here Mood Swings The Sweetest Sounds
With othersRidin' High, Maynard Ferguson The Jazz Composer's Orchestra, Jazz Composer's OrchestraJimmy Knepper in L.A., Jimmy Knepper Jukin', The Manhattan Transfer White Heat, Barry Miles Night Blooming, Leonard Feather Small Change, Tom Waits Ecue Ritmos Cubanos, Louie Bellson Shortcake, Bill Berry Sweet Return, Freddie Hubbard Blues-O-Matic, John Colianni Take Your Pick, Howard Alden Jazz Takes on Joni Mitchell, David Lahm The Philadelphia Story, Jimmy Amadie

Video

My Elegy Strive For Jive In Shanghai The Eternal Duo! – with Toshiko Akiyoshi

Awards and honors

DownBeat magazine Critic's Poll winner:
  • Jazz Album of the Year: 1978
  • Big Band: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
  • Flute: 1980, 1981, 2010
DownBeat magazine Readers' Poll winner:
  • Big Band: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
  • Flute: 1981, 1982
Grammy Award nominations:
Swing Journal awards:
  • Gold Disk: 1976, Silver Disk: 1974, 1979, 1996