Insights is the fourth studio recording of the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band and was voted "Jazz Album of the Year" in the 1978 Down Beat magazine critic's poll. It received the Swing Journal magazine 1976 Gold Disk prize in Japan and was nominated for a 1978 Grammy award in the USA for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance by a Big Band.
All tracks from this album are also included on the 2008 Mosaic 3 CD compilation, Mosaic Select: Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band.
The album also includes the jazz suite Minamata, reflecting the transition of the Minamata Bay area from one of peaceful existence, to prosperity and consequence, amid the spread of the devastating Minamata disease from mercury released into the sea by a chemical factory owned by Chisso.
Track listing All songs composed and arranged by Toshiko Akiyoshi: LP side A "Studio J" – 6:07 "Transience" – 4:40 "SUMIE" – 7:55 LP side B "Minamata" (suite) – 21:36 "Peaceful Village" "Prosperity & Consequence" "Epilogue"
Personnel Toshiko Akiyoshi – piano Lew Tabackin – tenor saxophone and flute Tom Peterson – tenor saxophone Dick Spencer – alto saxophone Gary Foster – alto saxophone Bill Perkins – baritone saxophone Steven Huffsteter – trumpet Bobby Shew – trumpet Mike Price – trumpet Richard Cooper – trumpet (except on "Minamata") Jerry Hey – trumpet (on "Minamata") Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone Charlie Loper – trombone Britt Woodman – trombone Phil Teele – bass trombone Don Baldwin – bass Peter Donald – drums
Guest Artists: Hisao Kanze – utai / Nō chant (on "Minamata") Tadao Kamei – ōtsuzumi (on "Minamata") Hayao Uzawa – kotsuzumi (on "Minamata") (Monday) Michiru Mariano – voice (on "Minamata") Hiromitsu Katada – kakko (on "SUMIE")
References / External Links RCA Victor Records RVC RVP-6106 [ Allmusic] 1978 Down Beat critic's poll award winners 1978 Grammy nomination, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band (LA Times link) 1976 Swing Journal Gold Disk Prize (Japanese link)
References