#lewtabackinquartet

[musicallyrich]

Crate Digger’s Corner: Lew Tabackin Quartet- Trackin’ (RCA, 1977)

Crate Digger’s Corner…by DJ Musically Rich

Recorded at Warner Bros. Recording Studio North Hollywood, CA Sept. 3, 1976. Recorded live straight to record for the highest possible sound quality.

Lew Tabackin- Tenor Sax, Flute/Toshiko Akiyoshi- Piano/Bob Dougherty- Bass/Shelly Manne- Drums

Today for Crate Digger’s Corner I pulled out the 1977 EP by the Lew Tabackin Quartet, “Trackin’”. Maybe best known for the big band he led with his wife, Toshiko Akiyoshi (who was on this album because the original pianist wasn’t able to make it at the last minute), this finds Tabackin leading a quartet through three standards and one original. I listened to the vinyl 12” (which runs at 45 RPM).

The EP opens with ‘I’m All Smiles’, a tune from the musical “The Yearling”. With Tabackin’s tenor saxophone leading the way on the lilting melody and Akiyoshi doing some wonderful comping, that feels like it should be too busy, but works wonderfully, the quartet takes a fun run through the opening number. That is followed by the famous Ellington tune, ‘Cotton Tail’. Tabackin starts out the song very soulfully, which then gives way to a double time section that gives Tabackin and Akiyoshi chances to shine with their improvisations. As the soulful/double time sections go back and forth, they hit an extended double time section (this is where Akiyoshi brings in her solo), and the fantastic rhythm section builds tension as the soloing reaches a crescendo. It is a great take on the classic tune.

Side 2 opens with the title track (penned by Tabackin), ‘Trackin’, which is a real barn-burner. It starts out as a duet between Tabackin (sax) and the amazing Shelly Manne (drums). After about 30-45 seconds Bob Dougherty creeps in with his bass, and shortly after by the piano with light, but significant, comping. This song is dominated by Tabackin seemingly searching the entire range of his sax to keep this lively track moving from the start to the finish. The EP ends on the Gershwin standard, ‘Summertime’. This is a song that has been done numerous times, and because of that has the opportunity to get lost in the memory to the many memorable versions out there already. However, there is no need to worry about that here. Opening with a groovy repeated bass riff, Tabackin picks up his flute for the only time on the album and proceeds to lead the lush song in a way that isn’t going to have anyone wondering what the song is, but definitely makes it all his own.

The tracks on this were all first takes, as they were recorded live to vinyl in the studio with them cutting the disk as it is being recorded. That means, without a net, Tabackin and the 3 others went in a cut a great EP that sounds great for Audiophiles, but also for any fan of saxophone led quartets, this should be considered essential listening. It’s great to hear Tabackin let loose on these four tunes!

Stars: 4/5

Available on: LP

RIYL: Duke Ellington- Live At The Whitney, Lee Konitz- Another Shade Of Blue, Chris Potter- Moving In, Joshua Redman- s/t

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To listen to a track from the album…