Search - Lew Tarackin :: What a Little Moonlight Can Do

You Won't Be Disappointed

Gary L Connely | Hercules, CA | 07/11/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Lew Tabackin has been a top-rank jazzer for more than 40 years, playing not one, but two instruments: The tenor sax and the flute. On the tenor, he is often favorably compared to Sonny Rollins and Ben Webster - when it comes to his flute playing, people start talking about zen masters and oriental music. Be that as it may, Mr Tabackin is an outstanding musician, playing in every setting from small combos to full-blown orchestras, (he is married to pianist-composer Toshiko Akiyoshi and often plays with her Big Band).



"What a Little Moonlight Can Do" is a set of mostly standards, ranging from a lovely rendition of the title song, to an extended version of "Easy Living," to a muscular workout with Miles Davis' "Dig," (not my favorite tune by Mr Davis, but it fares well in Mr Tabackin's hands).



Mr Tabackin's quartet is world-class: Pianist Benny Green, (an accomplished leader on his own), Peter Washington on bass, and drummer Lewis Nash. Everybody gets a chance to shine and everybody makes a solid contribution.



The sonics are up to Concord's usual standards: Clear and precise, a little on the "warm side," with excellent instrumental separation.



If you like main stream, straight ahead jazz on the boppish side, "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" is your kind'a record. You won't be disappointed."