JAZZ : RETROSPECTIVE : In Brief

*** 1/2 Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin, “The Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band,” Novus/RCA. Gathering pieces recorded in 1974-76, this set marks the return of Akiyoshi’s distinctive writing and Tabackin’s reed prowess to a major label after a decade’s hiatus. Such pieces as “Kogun” and “Children of the Temple Ground” display Akiyoshi’s one-of-a-kind melding of Asian and Western musical elements, while the roaring “Since Perry” and “Road Time Shuffle” are straight-ahead jazz, though they certainly bear her distinctive sound.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five (a classic).