Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing adjacent track interference in a tape drive data storage system which employs a single read/write head controllably movable to any desired one of a plurality of parallel data tracks extending parallel with the length of the tape. The method consists of intentionally introducing azimuths of opposite direction for accesses to adjacent data tracks, with the magnitude of the introduced opposite azimuths being selected to exceed the azimuth range at which the head is capable of reliably reading data. In the apparatus of the invention the actuator used to move the head from track to track is mounted on a pivotable plate member, and the pivoting of the plate member is controlled by a stepper motor driven by control logic responsive to the access command being executed.