**606 Club Special** Lew Tabackin
Since his birth in Philadelphia in 1940, saxophonist and flautist Lew Tabackin has developed a rare eloquence on both instruments, taking his place amongst the pantheon of world-class jazz masters. Starting out on flute at the age of 12 and tenor saxophone at the age of 15, Tabackin has recorded over 30 albums as a leader or co-leader as well as winning many Down Beat Critics and Readers polls (including the Critics Poll on Flute). Influenced by his forebears including Coleman Hawkins on sax, Tabackin also studied classical music at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music and this rich heritage was to inform his own development as he crafted his own distinctive approach. Certainly a virtuoso, Tabackin’s style is imbued with energy and vitality, whether exploring the dynamic range of the flute or sax. Moving to New York in 1965, he played in big bands led by Cab Calloway, Maynard Ferguson, Joe Henderson, Chuck Israels and more, while also working with Donald Byrd, Roland Hanna and Elvin Jones. He was also a member of the studio band of Dick Cavett and the Tonight Show, eventually moving to Los Angeles with the Tonight Show band led by Doc Severinsen. While in Los Angeles, Lew joined the award-winning Big Band led by his wife, the jazz pianist/composer/arranger Toshiko Akiyoshi, a partnership that continued until 2003. His many recordings include “Desert Lady”, featuring Hank Jones & Dave Holland, and “I’ll Be Seeing You” with Benny Green, Peter Washington & Lewis Nash. Simply an extraordinary artist, we are delighted to welcome Lew to the 606 for this very special EFG London Jazz Festival performance!
“Tabackin has long been revered as a jazz master… Tabackin's flute voice is about as individual as humanly possible; he simply does not sound like anyone else” Saxophone Journal; “this hard-swinging quartet… with the turbo-charged sax and flute playing of… Lew Tabackin… the dominant force” Jazz Observer.com; “Lew Tabackin, was peerless on tenor and flute” AllAboutJazz