One of the tightest, most swingin' bands ever. Along with Basie, Jones/Lewis, and Doc, this album, and this tune on particular, was the reason I got into jazz. Simply one of the best.
That glorious bass trombone sound supporting the band belonged to Phil Teele, one of L.A.s most sought-after studio bass trombonists. His son Christian has just informed the musical community that Phil has passed away. Long may his legacy live on. Those of us who know the joy of playing bass trombone in big bands owe a lot to this unsung hero.
I got this record from a book fair in Mexico. I didn't woke up that day thinking on getting such a masterpiece, but man... When I first played it on my stereo it was AWESOME. The opening to tuning up was simply out of this world. Toshiko Akiyoshi and Lew Tabackin are amazing, I swear...
I just happened to hear this recording on SC public radio when I was like 12, recorded it on to cassette and listened to the hell out it. No exaggeration, this is largely responsible for my lifelong continued love for jazz, especially big band. This, plus I found more of Toshiko's albums and became even more hopelessly hooked. :)
101%. I was a big band kid. Not Journey, not ACDC, not Black Sabbath. Glenn Miller, Basie, Ellington filled my listening hours. Then This. Greatest big band composition. Still gives chills. I first heard this in the mid late 70s.
Something similar for me. In Jr. High School there was a jazz radio show on WUJC (John Carroll University) that used to open up the show every week with this tune. And, like you, really hooked me on big band jazz, and especially on playing lead trumpet. One of the tightest, swingingest bands ever!
Funny - I heard this on a local college station while in HS. They played a lot of jazz as well as jazz-influenced music (e.g., Tom Waits). Road Time Shuffle definitely gave me the just one more good reason to stay in jazz band and also inspired me to start screaming on trumpet.
I played this on trombone back in the day in university jazz band. Listen at the break when the woodwinds do their thing - the trombone is doubling the flute but a couple octaves lower. One of the hardest dang things I ever learned to play. I sure don't have the chops for it these days, though.
I loved this recording forty years ago, I love it now. My Lord, what a great band! And Yoko, Miss Akiyoshi is a Japanese woman who has real musical talent.
Funny - the same thing happened to me. I heard it when I was in Jr. High on a college radio station here in Cleveland (WUJC) - and was hooked on playing big band jazz. I've never forgotten it - I have the album. Played it to death.
Beginning at 3:17, Jimmy Kneppner is the trombonist accompanying the flute and bass clarinet throughout the unison soli section. I’m certainly not taking anything away from the flute and bass clarinet players, but, to play that as accurately as Jimmy did on the trombone, is remarkable. What a great player he was!
Saw them at the Ojai Music Festival. At the time their first album had just come out (I think) and she was selling them from the trunk of her car. As I remember some stravinsky was played as well. What a GREAT weekend!
Road Time, Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band Live album by Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band Released 1976 Recorded Nakano Sun Plaza in Tokyo and Sankei Hall and Kosei Nenkin Kaikan in Osaka, 1976 January 30 and February 7, 8 Genre Jazz Length 86:52 Label Victor (Japan), RCA Victor (U.S.) Producer Hiroshi Isaka Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band chronology Tales of a Courtesan (Oirantan) (1976), Road Time, Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band (1976), Insights (1976), RCA Victor (U.S.) LP album cover Road Time was the first live concert recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band. The recording was made at three concerts in Tōkyō and Ōsaka, during a 1976 Japan tour and the double album received a 1977 Grammy nomination in the "Best Jazz Performance - Big Band" category. Track listing LP 1 side A "Tuning Up" - 16:48 "Warning: Success May Be Hazardous To Your Health" - 7:33 LP 1 side B "Henpecked Old Man" - 22:54 LP 2 side A "Soliloquy" - 8:37 "Kogun" - 10:40 LP 2 side B "Since Perry" / "Yet Another Tear" - 13:46 "Road Time Shuffle" - 6:34 All arrangements by Toshiko Akiyoshi. All songs composed by Akiyoshi except "Yet Another Tear" (Tabackin). Personnel Toshiko Akiyoshi - piano Lew Tabackin - tenor saxophone and flute Tom Peterson - tenor saxophone Dick Spencer - alto saxophone Gary Foster - alto saxophone Bill Byrne - baritone saxophone Steven Huffsteter - trumpet Bobby Shew - trumpet Richard Cooper - trumpet Mike Price - trumpet Bill Reichenbach Jr. - trombone Jim Sawyer - trombone Jimmy Knepper - trombone Phil Teele - bass trombone Don Baldwin - bass Peter Donald - drums Guest Artists: Kisaku Katada - kotsuzumi (on "Kogun") Yutaka Yazaki - ōtsuzumi (on "Kogun")
I was fortunate enough to have seen this band live several times. Even more impressive live. Yes, Bobby Shew on lead. He was not the best high note player. Great range, but better scream players. One of the best lead players ever, for sure. If you're a fan, his small group recordings from the 1980s onward are all great. He played lead for Louie Bellson at about the same time. He's a monster.
Bobby's a triple threat man, One of the best lead players ever to lead a section, a great teacher, and one of the nicest cats on the planet. To say nothing of the fact that he's also a killer soloist who can improvise his butt off.
@@jazzbob57 I am so hungry for this music I've got it on loop. My long lost original vinyl was amazing. This upload is a little compromised. But I listen on!
